‘Need leaders of integrity’

SHILLONG, FEB 18: Meghalaya Sport and Youth Affairs minister and Congress leader Zenith Sangma said there are need for leaders with integrity, patience, perseverance and vision to build the party and the nation while inaugurating the three-day State Level Leadership Development Workshop organized by the Indian Youth Congress’ Youth Vision 2015 “Yuva Drishti 2015” in Shillong.

The workshop is aimed at shaping the next generation of leaders into the Congress fold.

Sangma recalled his initial foray into politics by becoming a member of the Youth Congress and how over the years, because of his hard work, he is where he is today.  Even as he stressed on the need for leaders with integrity, patience, perseverance and vision to build the party and the nation  he said how the attendees were fortunate to have been selected to attend the workshop.

“During our days in the Youth Congress, we did not have such facilities and support from the party,” Sangma said.

Besides speaking about his experiences over the years in the party, Sangma spoke at  length about the government’s vision in using the renewable resources of the state to generate revenue and livelihoods for the state’s growing population.   He gave a brief view into the various livelihood programmes being implemented by the government through the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme.

“Fifty percent of the weavers in the country are in the North East, and we are promoting the weavers of the state through the Weaving and Sericulture Mission under the IBDLP programme,” Sangma said.

According to Sangma, the annual consumption of fish in the district of West Garo hills is around 4500 metric tonnes out of which only 1500 metric tonnes are produced indigenously, the rest 3500 metric tonnes being imported from Andhra Pradesh.

“The fish that comes from Andhra Pradesh takes ten days to reach the state and by then, the fish has almost no nutritional value,” said Sangma. He informed that because the demands were more than the production, there is an economic drain in district.

“If the district wa self sufficient in fish an amount of around 100 crores could be circulated annually instead of being drained away from the district,” said Sangma and added that the government is trying to increase the fish production in the state to the level of self-sufficiency through the State Aquaculture Mission, also part of the IBDLP stable.

Sangma told the gathering that the government is also committed to promoting tourism in the state with incentives of 30% government assistance to entrepreneurs willing to invest in tourism in the state.

Besides these programmes, Sangma informed the gathering about the various other schemes of the government like Old Age Pension and Widow’s Pension. “The central government is giving Rs. 250 per month as Old Age Pension, while the state is adding to it and giving Rs. 500 per month,” said Mr Sangma.

Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion were Richard Marak, President, MPYC; Roshan Raikwar, IYC, Secretary-in-charge Training, Daiyan Hussain, IYC Secretary.

The trainers for the workshop are Suresh Sharma, Joint Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Leadership Institute (JNLI), Delhi; Rahul Bal, Regional Co-ordinator, JNLI; Sudeep Mitra, Training Associate, JNLI; John F. Kharshing and other master coaches from the country.- By Our Reporter