STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on North-East, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed here on Tuesday that beginning from this month, the DoNER Ministry will coordinate tours by different Ministers of the Union Council to different States and districts of North-East by rotation in order to give a boost to various ongoing projects and works undertaken by the Central Ministries.
He was speaking in response to certain proposals put forward on behalf of the Government of Manipur by the State Health Minister P. Tonsing, who called on him at his office and handed over a letter from Manipur Chief Minister, O. Ibobi Singh.
In his letter, the Chief Minister of Manipur has put forward the demand for setting up of a 3-star hotel adjacent to Imphal International Airport with the collaboration of North Eastern Council (NEC). According to the CM, such a hotel will go a long way in promoting tourism and entrepreneurship in the region.
Responding to CM’s request, Singh said, the Prime Minister is constantly stressing on rapid development of North-East region and the Ministry of DoNER has taken upon the responsibility of ensuring equitable development of all the eight States and different regions in North-East with due consideration of their diversities, sensitivities and security concerns.
Singh informed that only today a meeting was held to discuss a roadmap for North-East in the New Year. The meeting was attended by senior Cabinet Minister Ananth Kumar, along with two Union Ministers from North-East, Sarbanand Sonowal and Kiren Rijiju. In future also, he said, the DoNER Ministry will keep seeking the benefit of expertise and advice from Ananth Kumar and other two ministers.
Singh said, tourism is high on North-East agenda and in the months to come, a mega North-East festival called “Focus North-East” is also planned to be held in Delhi to showcase potential and viability of North-East to the rest of the world as also to attract tourist operators, film makers and holiday seekers to the region.