Governor bats for improving ties with other Asian countries
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2018: Governor Dr Najma Heptulla has said that India need to revive the Indian ethos which have already been scattered around the whole Asian region so as to improve the relation between India and the entire Asian countries.

Speaking as the chief guest in the valedictory session of the 3rd Annual Convention Between North East India/NER (I) - ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, today, the Governor said that India, being an Asian country, must look towards developing cordial relationship with other Asian countries.

Describing Manipur as an undiscovered paradise in India, she also underscored the need for unlocking the potential of the State.

Conveying that Jamia Millia Islamia University has a special centre dedicated to studying the North East region apart from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies which sets long term vision towards Asia in many ways, Najma Heptulla claimed that she has studied the ground reality of Manipur and its deficiencies and always give her best to link/improve communication between the State Government and the Central Government.

She also asserted that she has talked to many authorities concerned including various Central Ministers for the purpose of taking up various developmental and welfare schemes/initiatives for the State as well as the entire North East.

Pointing out that many students and youth from the North East region, including Manipur, have gone to different cities of India for education and in search of jobs (with many of them staying there), the Governor maintained that there is a critical need for creating infrastructure and facilities for job in the North East and Manipur.

She went on to assert that she has even spoken with the heads of few institutions/universities in metro cities to discuss the migration of students and youth from North East region to Delhi, Mumbai and other metro cities, in search of jobs.

If tourism sector in the State is well developed, there will be abundant job opportunities for the youth and the issue of youths and students migrating from the North East as well as Manipur to other cities, can be reduced to a great extent.

Transforming Loktak Lake into a destination for tourists has been visualized and discussions have been held with four /five Ministers in the past.

The Central Government leaders and the delegates in the NEC meeting held in Guwahati were highlighted on the fact that development in the North East must spread beyond Guwahati and many smaller States in the region lack resources, good roads and infrastructure development, Heptulla asserted.

Observing that standardization is much needed in trying to promote the products of the State, Dr Najma Heptulla informed that an exhibition (which will be organized every weekend) will be soon inaugurated in the State.

The Governor asserted that she spoke to DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today and urged him to launch the Air Ambulance (which she has termed as Flying Dispensary) when Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to the State to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress at Manipur University on March 16.The Governor further elaborated the type of service that will be catered to by the Flying Dispensary and explained that many people in the State have misunderstood the service and instead call it as Air Ambulance.

She said that the dispensary will also cater to the remote parts of the State.

The Governor also called for the collective efforts of the Central Government, State Government and private sectors towards promoting tourism sector of the State as well as the North East.

On the other hand, Chief Secretary RR Rashmi stressed on the need for fostering the service sector in the State stating that the State is slowly beginning to realize its necessity.

He maintained that there are many things that can be done in this area and added that a large portion of the State's income comes from the service sector.

The function was also attended by Sh Satyajeet Rajan, DG Tourism, GoI and Dr Gulshan Sharma, DG-ICSI as the guests of honour.

The two day long convention was organized by Manipur Infrastructure Development Agency (MIDA), Government of Manipur and International Chamber for Service Industry (ICSI) under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce, and Industry, Government of India.

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