State will see changes in next 5 years: CM

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma (middle) during the two-day North East Connectivity Summit held on Monday.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma (middle) during the two-day North East Connectivity Summit held on Monday.

SHILLONG, NOV 16: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma assured that the situation in Meghalaya will see a change in the next three years where youths will no longer be lured into the jungles.

“Meghalaya, I believe in another 3 or 4-5 years, will not see situation where our youths will be lured to the jungles but will lured by initiatives which are already in the pipeline,” Sangma said.

According to him, people will get money by engaging themselves with the many activities which revolves around rural areas and there will be no reasons for them to continue to be in the jungles.

The chief minister was reacting to query as one can expect business environment to grow in situation like in the western region of Meghalaya, which is infested by militancy and also states like Manipur, posed during the two-day North East Connectivity Summit held on Monday.

“We definitely have a problem in Manipur, we also have a problem in the western region of Meghalaya but we are working hard, and we are already having measures that will take care of these issues,” Sangma said.

Sangma, however, said, “Interestingly in respect to my state, Meghalaya, the eastern part of the state is very peaceful so it can supplement, it can be an eye-opener for others and continue with optimism and continue to deal with the situation.”

Stating that the issue of challenges for investment will always be there in the states of the north east, Sangma said, “It is known to the people of this region and many of the friends who understands North East,” adding “However for friends who are yet to understand the complexity of the North East region, it will be a new thing for them to actually comprehend the problem and the complexity which makes this problem.”

Informing that the state governments of the NE and the centre have aggressively engage in  geo-political dialogue with neigbouring countries on the issue, Sangma  said, “We have seen earlier how Bhutan had proactively participated with Government of India and Government of Assam to see that particular part is sanitized from being save haven for training camp of the insurgents operating in the NE.”

“Today, we are happy to see that the geo-political engagement with the neighbouring countries and the concerted effort of union government which is based on the assistance of the state governments of the NE is continuing and it is showing results,” he added.

He also said, “I have said that there will be diversity of problems, there will be challenges, but in the meantime it is important as to how we look at opportunity.”

“I always believe in doing things simultaneously, we can’t say that it should be peaceful environment first to generate the momentum of growth but it has to go simultaneously,” Sangma asserted.

Asserting that the complexity of the problem need to be address through multi-pronged approach, he said, “When we talk of multi-pronged approach, one important aspect is always our comprehensive measure for dealing with the issue of creating opportunities for the people of the NE and the state and that can happen only when ‘investment’ is taking place and when growth is taking place.”- By Our Reporter

 

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