Month: March 2023

Article

Center approves Mega food park for Manipur 

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 16 March 2023

Ministry of Food Processing industries

Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has approved establishment of one Mega Food Park, one Integrated Cold Chains and two food processing units in Manipur with assistance under corresponding component schemes of Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), according to a written reply given by union minister of state for food processing industries, Prahlad Singh Patel in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Center approves Mega food park for Manipur 

MoFPI provides grants in the form of capital subsidy to eligible project proposals, selected on the basis of Expression of Interest issued from time to time, under its component schemes of PMKSY for setting up of food processing/preservation industries including Agro Processing clusters (Mini Food Parks) and Food Processing Units.

So far, the ministry has provided assistance of Rs 106.34 crore in 2019-20, Rs 61.22 crore in 2020-21, Rs 51.52 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 15.20 crore in 2022-23 for Mega Food Parks. Creation of Infrastructure Development for Agro Processing Cluster (APC), the ministry has provided assistance of Rs 43.53 crore in 2019-20, Rs 48.68 crore in 2020-21, Rs 49.08 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 36.59 crore in 2022-23 .At the same time, assistance of Rs 169.98 crore has been provided in 2019-20, Rs 200.84 crore in 2020-21, Rs 236.58 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 103.35 crore in 2022-23 for Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC) .Figure of financial assistance provided so far for financial year 2022-23 is up to February 28, 2023 .

Processing industries sector

Mention may be made that food processing industries sector is fast developing in Manipur. Since 1991, the Department of Commerce & Industries, Manipur became the State Nodal Agency of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt. of India, a number of Projects, Schemes were taken up with the assistance of the Ministry. Favoured by agro-climatic conditions, Manipur produces variety of fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, etc. suitable for processing and potential for export.

Schemes like Technology Mission

Schemes like Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture with the objective of improving production and productivity of horticultural crops by harnessing the potential of the region makes this field a viable option for commercialization as well as marketing.

Given the agro-climatic conditions, the State has rich agriculture resources. As per the Techno-feasibility Report conducted under the aegis of the National Horticultural Board and NABARD in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Manipur, the potential area identified for horticultural crops is 2,77,064 Ha. Out of this, about 62,200 hectares is covered under horticulture crops and an area of 2,14,864 hectares still remains uncovered; giving ample opportunity for expansion.

Common horticulture crops grown in the State are Kharif vegetables (French bean, Cucurbits, Tomatoes, Brinjal, Bhindi, Colocecia, Alocacia), Rabi vegetables (Cabbage, Cauliflower, Potato, Pea, Broad bean, Radish, Carrot, Broccoli, lettuce, Capsicum), Spices (Onion, Garlic, Chilli, Ginger, Turmeric, Hatkora) Fruits and Plantation Crops (Litchi, Cashew nuts, Wall nuts, Orange, Lemon, Banana, Pineapple, Passion fruit, Peach, Pear, Plum).

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Article

Health Minister underscores importance of digital transformation in health care system

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 16 March 2023 

digital transformation in health care system

Health & IPR Minister

Health & IPR Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh asserted that digital transformation in health care system is rapidly growing. The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the occasion of State Orientation Workshop on Ayushman Bharat Digitization Mission (ABDM) held at Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal today organized by ABDM, Manipur.

Digital platform

While stating that people can be connected with the health care facilities through digital platform, he maintained that digitization of health records of individuals can be done through Ayushman Bharat Digitization Mission by downloading the ABHA App. It is also one of the innovative and advanced ideas of the Prime Minister, he added. He said that digitization of health care services will help in streamlining and improving the health care service in the State.

Benefit the rural people

It will benefit the rural people where there are less health care facilities. The fast- growing Tele Health Care service and digital platform have also made it easily accessible to health check- up and treatment of the individuals, the Minister maintained. He further informed that around five lakh individuals has been linked with health identification number in the State and said that 50 percent of the total population of the State will be covered under Ayushman Bharat Digitization Mission by the end of the year. Monitoring of the health care in the rural areas will be made easier under the mission, he added.


Additional Chief Secretary V Vumlunmang, IAS; CEO, PMJAY, Manipur Lantanpuii, Vanchhong, IAS; Director, AYUSH Dr AK Lokendro and Director NHM Manipur Dr Somorjit Ningombam also graced the occasion as presidium members. Officials from the National Health Agency, CMOs, Medical Superintendents, health officials, representatives from the private hospitals and others also attended the workshop.

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Article

Manipur State Kala Akademi distributes award to performing artists

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 15 March 2023

Manipur State Kala Akademi distributes award to performing artists Pic source Social media

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey has assured of providing every possible help in developing and promoting the rich culture of Manipur. The Governor was speaking at the presentation ceremony of Manipur State Kala Akademi Awards, 2021, organised by Manipur State Kala Akademi at Maharaj Ghandrakirti auditorium, Palace Compound here on Monday, 13th march, 2023.

While urging one and all to contribute their mite in promoting the beautiful and world famous Manipuri culture, the Governor said that she will inform the President and the Prime Minister about the beautiful culture of the state. Anusuiya Uikey further said that the efforts of Manipur State Kala Akademi (MSKA) will certainly preserve and promote the rare and unique cultural heritage of Manipur.

Since its inception, MSKA has been making efforts on sustained basis for promotion, preservation and propagation of rich cultural traditions such as music, dance, theatre, literature and fine arts within and outside the state. The Akademi organised festivals, workshops, seminars, symposia and cultural exchange programmes.

Governor presented MSKA Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 to Kshetrimayum Randhoni Devi, a noted theatre personality of Manipur.

The award carries a shawl, citation, memento and a cheque of Rs 3 lakh. She also presented MSKA Fellow-2021 to Chabungbam Kondum Singh and Sougaijam Thanil Singh. The Governor also presented MSKA Award to Professor K Sunita (Dance), A Nandita (Dance), A Apabi (Dance)’, Th Sudhir (Music), Y Suren (Music), N Jawaharlal Singh (Music), S Keshoram (Theatre), L Iboyaima Khuman (Shumang Leela), G Latsana (Traditional theatre), Thaba (Thang-ta), Birbabu (Narrative arts) O Iboyaima (narrative arts), Amuba Kamei (Tribal culture), AS Ruwung (Tribal culture), Ch Khomei (Literature), Dr Th Ibohanbi (Literature), S Indrakumar (Literature) M Maningou Singh (Fine Arts) and N Goutam Singh (Fine Arts).


Six young artistes namely Dr Urmika Maibam (Dance), Mangka Mayanglambam (Music), K Sangita Devi (Shumang Leela), M Herojit Singh (Thang-ta), L Phullochand Singh (Arangpham) and Thongin Haokip (Tribal culture) were also awarded MSKA Young Talent Awards on the occasion.

In his address, education minister Th Basantakumar Singh said that our identity is represented by our rich culture. Our cultural heritage is being reflected by classical Manipuri dance, traditional folk art forms and dances of different tribal groups.He also urged all to contribute for the promotion of rich cultural heritage of the state. 

After the award ceremony award winning artists performed their art form before the audience. The award ceremony is the biggest award for performing arts in the State. 

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Manipur State Kala Akademi distributes award to performing artists Pic source Social media

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Article

17 airports operational in northeast India

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 15 March 2023

Indian government is going all out to connect the northeastern part of the country better. As many as 17 airports have been made operational in the northeastern region, India’s Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy said.

17 airports operational in northeast India

Reddy also said the development of a new greenfield airport at Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh, and that of Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Silchar airports in Assam, Imphal airport in Manipur, Barapani airport in Meghalaya and Agartala airport in Tripura are ongoing, reported NDTV.

In the northeastern region, 17 airports have been made operational. Recently Donyi Polo airport (erstwhile Holongi Airport) has been inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh.

Government of India has formulated a Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008 which provides detailed guidelines, procedures and steps related to construction of Greenfield airports across the country, including in Bihar. Under the GFA Policy, the project proponent- an airport developer or the respective state government willing to establish a Greenfield airport is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the prescribed format for two-stage approval process that is, ‘Site Clearance’ followed by ‘In-Principle’ approval.

Under the GFA policy, Government of India has accorded ‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports namely, Mopa in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Shirdi and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Hassan and Shivamogga in Karnataka, Dabra (Gwalior) in Madhya Pradesh, Kushinagar and Noida (Jewar) in Uttar Pradesh, Dholera and Hirasar in Gujarat, Karaikal in Puducherry, Dagadarthi, Bhogapuram and Orvakal (Kurnool) in Andhra Pradesh, Durgapur in West Bengal, Pakyong in Sikkim, Kannur in Kerala and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh across the country.

Out of these, 11 Greenfield airports like Durgapur, Shirdi, Kannur, Pakyong, Kalaburagi, Orvakal (Kurnool), Sindhudurg, Kushinagar, Itanagar, Mopa and Shivamogga have been operationalised.

Government of India has also granted the first stage clearance that is, site clearance for construction of three Greenfield airports namely Alwar in Rajasthan, Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.

Coming back to northeast India, referring to the railway projects, Reddy said new projects worth Rs 19,855 crore have been sanctioned for constructing railway tracks of 864.7 km since 2014-15 till date.

Presently, 20 projects, for new lines as well as doubling, costing Rs 74,485 crore for 2,011 km length falling fully or partly in the northeastern region are at different stages of planning or approval or execution, he said.

Out of these, 321 km has been commissioned and for which an expenditure of Rs 26,874 crore has been incurred, he said.

Several infrastructure development projects have been taken up by the ministries and departments concerned of the central government in the Northeastern Region (NER), which, include road connectivity.

Major ongoing capital road connectivity projects in NER include the fourlaneing of Dimapur-Kohima Road (62.9 km) in Nagaland; the four-laneing of Nagaon bypass to Holongi (167 km) in Arunachal Pradesh; alternate two-lane highway from Bagrakote to Pakyong (NH-717A) (152 km) in Sikkim; two laneing of Aizawl – Tuipang NH-54 (351 km) in Mizoram; four laneing of Imphal–Moreh section of NH-39 (20 km) and two-laneing of 75.4 km in Manipur among others, he said.

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business

India focuses on huge untapped potential of northeastern part

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 14 March 2023

India is keenly focussing on developing the resourceful northeastern part of the country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the entire North East the form of Ashta Lakshmi and gave it development, connectivity, infrastructure
development.

India focuses on huge

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy instead of ‘Look East’ policy has seen unprecedented changes in the Ashta Lakshmi states of the Northeast in the last nine years, wrote The Organiser.

The mantra of ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Local for Global’ has given pace to the development. For a long time, there has been a thinking in the country that if there is development in the border area, then the enemy will be benefited. Due to this negative thinking, connectivity could not improve in all the border areas of the country, including the North East. Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the development of HIRA, that is, Highway, Inland Waterway, Railway and Airway. This has bridged the heartland gap between the North Eastern states, the rest of India and Delhi, the article quoted.

Digital connectivity is creating new opportunities for the youth power of the North East. Compared to 2014, the optical fiber coverage in the North East has increased almost four times. In Meghalaya, this increase is more than five times. Thousands of mobile towers are being installed for mobile connectivity.

Northeast India is now not far from Delhi and from ‘dil’ (heart), Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Bharatiya Janata Party workers and leaders at the party headquarters after the saffron party’s stellar performances in the three northeastern states including Nagaland and Tripura.

Prime Minister Modi said his government was investing Rs seven lakh crore to develop the infrastructure in the northeastern region.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebration of the North East Council (NEC) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Ground) in Shillong, the Prime Minister said that the borders of the northeast were not the last areas but would be the security and development gateway with trade and commerce would be undertaken with the neighboring countries. He said that a vibrant border village would be created with all facilities and connectivity in the bordering areas, as was reported by the Business Standard.

The Prime Minister said that the northeast is India’s gateway to South -East Asia and can become a centre for development of the entire region and to realise this potential of the region, work was going on the projects like Indian-Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway and Agartala-Akhaura rail project.

Prime Minister highlighted that the government has gone beyond the conversion of the ‘Look East’ policy to ‘Act East’, and now its policy is ‘Act Fast for Northeast’ and ‘Act First for Northeast’.

Highlighting the success of peace initiatives in the region, he said that many peace agreements have been signed and a large number of insurgents join the mainstream of life, decades old inter-state boundary problems being resolved and there has been a marked reduction in instances of extremism, reported Business Standard.

Referring to the tourism potential of the region, he said that both culture and nature of the region are attracting tourists from across the world. Noting that in the last eight years, the number of airports in the region has jumped from 9 to 16, and the numbers of flights have increased from about 900 before 2014 to around 1,900 now, Modi said that work was now underway to connect all the state capitals of the region by railway networks.

Saying that the length of national highways has increased by 50 per cent since 2014 in the region, he said that with the launch of the PM-DevINE scheme, the infrastructure projects in the northeast have gained more momentum. He added
that the government was also working on improving digital connectivity in the Northeast by increasing the optical fibre network.

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Article

Stitching traditional attire 

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 12 March 2023

Mosquito nets of all types, bed sheet with sponge or plain, Pillows ( mondum montek), blouse, tops, enaphi all that are required for a lady while getting married as a traditional gift. Ranjana Emporium at Sagolband Moirang Leirak is one such place where you get all the items. Few years back people had to scale the market to gather all the items but the trend now is that you get all the items in a single stop.

Ranjana the lady behind the emporium have received State Award in Embroidery section during 2006-07. Sabitri National Award for Embroidery in 2007, Dr Ambedkar Fellowship Award 2007, and first position in an exhibition held at Hapta Kangjeibung 2008, and Chief Minister of Manipur handed over entrepreneurship successful women award with a cash prize of Rs 5 Lakh in 2013.

Ranjana the lady behind the emporium

How the industry works 

Raw Materials

Materials are from outsides the State, thread, clothes everything. Most of the raw materials come from Delhi and Ludhiana. Cotton Sari full, Silk sari, Half sari, Salwar, are made from the clothes weaved by weavers of Manipur with threads procured from outside the State.

Employment

Current employment is huge as outsource work is also part of the business. Wages also differ according to designs of the garments. 

Marketing

Participation at trade fair in New Delhi helps a lot in connecting to potential customers. Ministry of textiles organizes such trade fair at Guwahati, Delhi etc. Ranjana use to send her students with her products for participation.

Sanatomba, a Silchar based business runner use to buy her material in bulk for supply in Silchar market specially  mosquito net, bed sheet, cotton sari full, wangkhei sari full. In Vidyawada, Andhra Pradesh where her two daughters study in School products like Cotton sari full and Salwar became a huge demand. 

The emporium has sold products to customers at France however they cannot go for the second supply as the customer wanted uniform designs in size for all the pieces they would be sending and the demand was in bulk. Since the working style was not fully automated machine the variation in the print length and breadth differ even in little so they dropped. In Mumbai, they have sold Salwars after receiving orders. In Jaipur 1200 cotton Sari were sold. They asked for the second time but limitation in the working and product output became the barrier. Most of the outside link comes from participation in Trade Fair at Prakirti Maiden, New Delhi.

Fashion Show

So far, Ranjana has organized three mega fashion show which she believe was the real reason why people in large number started liking her designs. She opined that such show promotes her products and people get to know her work and after the show people started to search for her products and she continue to work on supplying the products. Her shows were organized at B.O.A.T where huge spectator turn up couple of years back.

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Article

Brisk business of Bamboo in Manipur 

- by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 12 March 2023

Brisk business of Bamboo in Manipur 

Bamboo is used while constructing concrete houses and making tents for cultural, official occasions. Besides for many handicraft products and Bamboo shoots are eaten fresh or after fermentation in Manipur. It is a gift of the nature and as it grows abundantly many people make a living from Bamboo Business. Let’s us take a look into how few individuals make their living out of selling bamboos.

Accounts of some bamboo growers : 

Procuring 450 to 500 bamboos in a single truck trip from the hill and selling them in retail in Imphal town has been a brisk business for some of the villagers in Manipur. They load around 65 Bamboos in one bullock cart. It is a retail business. The truckload of Bamboo cost around Rs 50 thousand. If calculated a bamboo costs Rs 100, they add transport, labour charge and  sell at Rs 125, Rs 130 or Rs 135 respectively. 

It is a profitable job. By selling Bamboo I can manage a family of five says Tarpon who is 74 Years old. Tarpon has been running the Bamboo business since he was 15 years old. Nowadays he uses to make less profit but definitely sells a bullock cart of Bamboo for a day. He went back home with at least Rs 1800 profit a day. Summing up to Rs 54 thousand a month if he sells a bullock cart of Bamboo per day.

The types of Bamboo that they sell are Nonga, Unan etc.  Torpon also expresses that there is scarcity of Bamboo than earlier times. He is a resident of Sagoltongba. He uses to procure Bamboo from Keithelmanbi side. As such there are Bamboo bullock carts lined up along Moirang leirak till Wahengleikai parking early morning when the traffic is less and the demand is increasing for many construction works taking place in Imphal area where there is minimum Bamboo or no Bamboo grown now.

Herojit from Heibungpokpi

“A pair of Cow cost Rs. 90 Thousand unlike the olden days. In order to carry on my business I have to own a bullock cart. I have to take loan to start my business “, informed Herojit. Herojit use to earn a profit of more than Rs 20 thousand a month from the Bamboo Business. He is almost seven years into the Business. We use to stock a truckload of Bamboo at his home and sell them in the market. His trip frequency is twenty times a month. The least profit he use to make in a month is Rs 10 thousand depending on his selling capacity. He wakes up in the midnight and get ready to set out in his bullock cart at around 3 am to reach Moirang Leirak to carry on his business.

55 year Old Nimai

“ There are no Bamboos to chop down in the plain area we have to procure them from the hills. At one time ‘Saneibi Waa’ cost only Rs 50 it slowly rise up to Rs 60, Rs  70 and now it cost us Rs 120 or Rs130 or even Rs 140 sometimes . We sold them at Rs 170, Rs 180 or Rs 190 a piece depending on the quality of the Bamboo after transportation and labor charge is added. 

A truckload of Bamboo is easily sold in a month. I can earn a profit of Rs 20 thousand a month comfortably. It is a hard job too as we have to bear the rain or sit in the Sun waiting on a roadside for our customers. 

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Article

Northeast India likely to have access to seaport

- by Yenda News Agency
Northeast India likely to have access to seaport

Northeast India likely to have access to seaport Indian government is not leaving any stone unturned to develop every sector of the northeastern part of the country. Once troubled, isolated and alienated, the northeast will soon be able to use a seaport in neighboring Myanmar for transport and trade. The Sittwe port in the Bay of Bengal is expected to link Mizoram in the far east of India with the ocean through riverine transport and roadways.

Named the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, the venture includes the improvement of Sittwe port in the Arakan State of Myanmar, the construction of an inland waterway on the Kaladan river and the preparation for a highway transportation system connecting Aizawl on way to Guwahati, according to EastMojo

Kaladan enters Myanmar and crosses two underdeveloped states, namely Arakan (Rakhine) and Chin, before culminating in the sea. A feasibility study revealed that the river is navigable from its confluence point at Sittwe to Paletwa. From there, the river becomes shallow and maintains curves. Hence road transport is being proposed from Paletwa to the Indo-Myanmar border. It is
assumed that the vessels will arrive at Sittwe from different sea routes once it becomes operational and the goods will be transported via the Kaladan river towards Paletwa, covering 158 kilometres. Then the goods will be carried by trucks (109 km) to enter India through Zorinpui/Lomasu in southern Mizoram. From the Myanmar border, those will connect to Lawngtlai point (117 km away) on National Highway 54 and proceed further as needed.

The Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project was jointly identified by the India and Myanmar to create a multi-modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the NorthEastern part of India through Myanmar. This project, which will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border, is expected to contribute to the economic development of the North-Eastern States of India, by opening up the sea route for the products. It also provides a strategic link to the northeast, thereby reducing pressure on the Siliguri Corridor. In the absence of an alternate route, the development of this project not only serves the economic, commercial and strategic interests of India, but also contributes to the development of Myanmar, and its economic integration with India. Since the project is of political and strategic significance, it was decided to execute it through India’s grant assistance to Myanmar.

The project was formalised in 2008 under New Delhi’s Look East Policy and its primary aim was to develop trade with Myanmar and other south-east Asian nations. The political observers believed the initiative would help the people in both countries and Naypyidaw to be transformed into a multi-party democratic regime.

But New Delhi’s specific development initiative could not help Myanmar to emerge even as a quasi-democratic nation as the military rulers once again orchestrated a coup ousting a democratically elected government on 1 February 2021.

Very recently, India’s Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal commented that the Sittwe port has been readied for full operation. Designated as an international port for transporting general goods last year, it would help change the traditional trade routes to connect northeast through the Siliguri corridor (which is just 20 km wide). The India’s Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently approved the revised cost for the Kaladan project, reported EastMojo

Final touches to the Paletwa water-to-land terminus have been given amidst all troubles inside the country and a 117 km two-lane road connecting the Myanmar border with Lawngtlai remains under construction. After its construction, the Kaladan project is expected to be operationally provided with the security scenario in western Myanmar significantly improves irrespective of the change of regime after the proposed national elections by this year or the continuation of the same military junta in Naypyitaw.

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Article

Railways acts as engine of development in northeast India

- by Yenda News Agency
Railways acts as engine of development in northeast India

The Indian government in the last eight years have done stellar work to ensure footprint of railways expand through the northeastern region of the country.

India’s Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy wrote in an authored article in Arunachal Times that rapid strides in surface transportation are keys to accelerated development of any region, and the Indian Railways is playing a pivotal role in the Northeast. Overcoming decades of neglect and underdevelopment, the government has given an unprecedented impetus to connectivity in the region. Spearheading the efforts, the Indian Railways, in the last nine years has spent over Rs 50,000 crore in the region on building new
railway lines, bridges, tunnels, etc, and has sanctioned new projects close to Rs 80,000 crore.

This focus on capital expenditure has ensured that the capital connectivity project that aims to connect all the Northeast state capitals is a reality now. As part of this, India is building the Jiribam-Imphal rail line, which has the world’s tallest pier bridge at a height of 141 metres. To ensure timely completion of these projects, the government of India has provided its complete support and resources. In comparison to the expenditure of Rs 2,122 crore per year between
2009 and 2014, there has been a 370 percent increase in average annual budget allocation, which now stands at Rs 9,970 crore for the financial year 2022-23.

In 1882, the first locomotive of the Dibru-Sadiya railway connected the distant tea gardens with the Brahmaputra, so that the commodity could eventually reach Kolkata. Over the decades since then, the railways has helped reduce travel time from Dibrugarh to Kolkata from 15 days to 24 hours.

Railways acts as engine of development in northeast India

Railways acts as engine of development in northeast India

The topography of the Northeast has always provided the toughest challenge in the region for any infrastructure development. However, a mix of strong political will and the use of state-of-the-art technologies have ensured that even the farthest corners of the region are being covered. As many as 121 new tunnels are currently being constructed, and this includes the 10.28 kms long Tunnel Number 12, which is the second longest tunnel in the country.

In an effort to promote local businesses and economy, the Northeast Frontier Railway operated the first parcel cargo express train between Assam and Goa in 2022 Rani Gaidinliu is a much-revered spiritual leader of Nagaland and Manipur. It was a fitting tribute that the first ever freight train chugged into the Rani Gaidinliu Railway Station in Tamenglong district of Manipur.

Those who have visited the Northeast would vouch for the tremendous tourism potential that the region possesses. Across the Northeast, the captivating scenery, the wildlife and the intangible heritage in the form of its culture and festivals has been a big draw. In an attempt to allow tourists to savour Northeast India’s breathtaking natural beauty, the Northeast Frontier Railways has introduced several state-of-the art Vistadome coaches. This is expected to increase tourist footfalls, which will further increase employment opportunities, especially for women and disadvantaged communities such as tribals.

Traditionally, the majestic Himalayas and the mighty Brahmaputra have influenced the life of nearly every citizen in the Northeast. Now railways has joined that list as it spreads its operations to different corners of the region. Growth and development in the region will contribute towards the goal of India becoming a US $5 trillion economy.

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News

STATE’S 4 FILMMAKERS INVITED FOR INDIE8 FEST

- by Yenda News Agency

In a major recognition of their filmmaking talent, four filmmakers from the state have been invited to showcase their documentary films at the Indie8 fest 2023. The festival, which is set to run for three days from 8-10 March , will feature a number of acclaimed independent films from across the country.

STATE’S 4 FILMMAKERS INVITED FOR INDIE8 FEST

The four filmmakers who will be representing the state at the festival are, Borun Thokchom, Oinam Doren, Amar Maibam, and James Khangembem.

Their documentaries cover a range of topics, from social issues to cultural heritage and environmental concerns. The Indie8 fest is expected to draw a large audience of film enthusiasts and critics, and is seen as a platform for emerging filmmakers to showcase their work and connect with industry professionals.

The inclusion of the four filmmakers from the state is a testament to the growing reputation of the region’s film industry and its potential to produce world-class cinema. The Film Festival is organised by the Mass Media, St. Anthony’s College, Shillong in collaboration with Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan and the north east india archives.

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