North East to see dramatic change in connectivity, says Dr Ahluwalia
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 08, 2013: Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission today inaugurated the two-day North-East Festival at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) here which was being organized to showcase the North Eastern region of India, to celebrate its cultural & traditional heritage and to create awareness of the region to the mainstream India.

The festival was organised by Trend MMS, a leading cultural trust of North East in association with Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER), North East MP's Forum, Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) and supported by Northeast India Image Managers (NEIim).

In his address, Dr Ahluwalia said that the North Eastern Region would see a dramatic change in connectivity sector in the region in the next few years.

He said that the Eleventh Five year Plan had the thrust on infrastructure development and connectivity in the North Eastern Region.

The connectivity included road, rail, air and waterway, he added.

He stated that the Planning Commission is organizing a meeting on January 28 next year in New Delhi with the Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh to review the progress made on infrastructure in North East Region.

The meeting will be attended by all Chief Ministers of the region.

Prior to the mega meeting, he said, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will organize another meeting at Guwahati to discuss the aspects on what the people expect on infrastructure development in the region and the private sector�s role in the development.

The meeting will also be attended by all the Chief Ministers of the region.

Pawan Singh Ghatowar, Union Minister of DoNER made the introductory speech of the festival and the North East Region.

He also highlighted the importance of connectivity in the region and the need to make awareness of the Look East Policy.

Arnab Goswami, Editor in Chief of Times Now expressed his view that the North East Region had been divided into many pieces and there was no totality of the region.

He proposed to establish a common identity and integration.

He announced that the Times Now would launch the debates on the Central Political Parties� commitment on the North East Region in the coming General election.

Dr Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya said that there was a wrong perception of the foreigners towards the North East Region that the region was with insurgency problems.

The advisory of the Embassies in India stated that the tourists should visit the region in their own risk.

He should erase such negative image of the region.

He also stated that the bureaucrat red- tapism in the Centre had created a lot of hurdles in the development of the region.

He cited an example that the Thai Airline wanted to open its office at Guwahati International Airport and it had been delayed.

He expressed the good governance at the Centre so that the issues of the Region were not lingering.

T R Zeliang, Planning Minister of Nagaland said that there was no State- to- State connectivity in the Region as such it always failed to organize package conducted tour in the region.

Referring to the statement that the North East Region was the corridor of the South East Asia, he asked where the corridor was without connectivity.

Theatre and Film actor Adil Hussain who acted in Oscar winning film Life of Pie narrated his recent visit to his hometown Goalpara in Assam and the beautiful life in the village.

He described the life of Delhi was very rough.

He appealed to work with sincerity for humanity.

The Tourism & Culture, Entrepreneurship was the key focus of the event.

The Manipur Tourism Forum showcased the tourism potentials of Manipur by distributing leaflets and exhibiting audio-visuals.

The President of Forum Dr Thangjam Dhabali and the Secretary Hanjabam Radhakrisna Sharma who attended the Festival will participate in the B2B session on the North East Tourism- Paradise Explored to be held tomorrow.

The Sija Hospitals and Research Institute showcased its yeoman service towards changing the healthcare landscape of South East Asia.

The Chairman cum Managing Director Dr Kh Palin said that the service of 200-bedded hospital had extended health care services not only in the region but also the neighbouring country Myanmar.

Recently a 12-member team of Shija Hospital and Research Institute, Imphal, led by him rendered free corrective surgeries to 87 cleft-lip and palate patients at Monywa General Hospital in Myanmar.

The hospital was awarded with Guinness World Record in the year 2003 for removing the largest neck tumour in the world from a 12 day old baby, he added.

Pawan Singh Ghatowar visited the stall.

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