CM stresses need to uphold fraternal bond
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 30 2022:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has stated that the current Government is committed to empower minority sections of the society and to take them along in the path of development.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the 9th State level Chaga Ngee festival organised at Makuilongdi-II, Liang-Nam, Senapati District today.
N Biren stated that the State Cabinet had earlier recognised the Chaga Ngee festival and announced the day as a restricted holiday, considering the significance of the festival.
Saying "we should know what we are", the Chief Minister stressed the need to remember the aged-old relationship amongst different communities and live together with respect for one another.
Emphasising the need to revive the facts of history, he expressed desire to include the history shared by different communities in the syllabus of school students.
The Chief Minister informed that the Heritage Park which is being constructed at Makhel at the cost of Rs 6 crore would be completed before this year's Sangai Festival.
Continuing that the Liangmai community of the State were deprived of access to certain benefits of Government's welfare programme earlier, he informed that the State Government has decided to open a Sub-Deputy Collector's Office at Makui Village.
The office will be later upgraded to the Sub-Divisional Office, he added.
Stating that development is needed to maintain a peaceful and sound environment, Biren appreciated the Zeliangrong people for electing the right representatives, who always take initiatives for development of their regions.
Considering the historical importance of Makuilongdi village, he further announced that a statue of Haipou Jadonang would be installed at the village and approval of the same would be sanctioned within 15 days.
He also assured to construct a permanent hall, instead of the current bamboo structure, at the ground where the festival was held today.
The Chief Minister further lauded the people of Makuilongdi village for planting organic crops instead of poppy and assured to send officials of Horticulture Department to look for suitable crops which could be provided to the village for plantation.
He further assured to construct a cold storage at the village to prevent wastage of crops and added that the Government would provide a market platform for selling their produce.
Delivering his presidential speech, Water Resources Minister Awangbow Newmai expressed satisfaction that the Chaga Ngee festival is celebrated in a big way.
He continued that the festival, which is also known as the festival of sanctification, had been celebrated since the olden days.
He appreciated the governance of N Biren Singh, adding that the aged-old relationships among different communities had been revived under his leadership.
He added that various development works had also been taken up across the State, bridging the developmental gap between the hills and the valley.
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Leishemba Sanajaoba, speaking on the occasion, said that the tradition of celebrating the Chaga Ngee festival had been known since the olden days.
However, as time changes, the significance of the festival had lost its primacy for some time.
"With the current trend of promoting our own identity, the festival began to be celebrated in a more refined way from 2004", he added.
He also lauded the Liangmai community for such an initiative.
Stating that different communities of the State had been living together since time immemorial, he assured to take up all possible efforts for the progress of the State.
Chairman, Hill Areas Committee Dinganglung Gangmei, MLA Janghemlung Panmei, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Senapati District, office bearers of civil society organisations and students' associations and officials of District Administration, Senapati also attended the programme, among others.
During the programme, the Chief Minister also handed over a reward of Rs 5 lakh to Tapon village, which was announced earlier for voluntarily destroying poppy plantations.
Different troupes presented cultural dance items during the celebration.
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