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17 airports operational in northeast India

March 15, 2023March 15, 2023 - 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.

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.

business

India focuses on huge untapped potential of northeastern part

March 15, 2023September 13, 2023 - 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.

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.

Article

Stitching traditional attire

March 12, 2023October 11, 2023 - 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.

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.

Article

Brisk business of Bamboo in Manipur

March 12, 2023February 23, 2024 - by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 12 March 2023

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.

Article

Northeast India likely to have access to seaport

March 9, 2023March 9, 2023 - by Yenda News Agency

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.

Article

Railways acts as engine of development in northeast India

March 9, 2023September 11, 2023 - by Yenda News Agency

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

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.

News

STATE’S 4 FILMMAKERS INVITED FOR INDIE8 FEST

March 9, 2023September 13, 2023 - 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.

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.

Article

Contemporary dance through the eye of Surjit Nongmeikakpam.

March 8, 2023August 8, 2023 - by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 8 March 2023

When our body touches something it gets reflected in our mind and we move. Our body and mind are always together. We have learned to bath inside the womb of our mother. When the conceived mother is not happy the foetus felt it. Dance is about how we keep up the senses. We are born as a dancer remarked Contemporary dancer Surjit Nongmeikakpam. Surjit after his B.A Choreography course started performing as a professional artist from 2006 onwards.

In his initial stage of being a Contemporary Dancerhe was lacking experience and he made a fusion with some moves from Manipuri dance and Kathak. But he learnt a lot from a Residency (Gati Residency) and it changed his course of career.According to him contemporary dance is a kind of development which helps him bring out the capability of innovation. Human have the capability to sense and predict the weatheruntil electronic equipment invaded to take up the role. And the need to awaken the sense of our body could be achieved by connecting to the body felt Surjit. When he taught kids the tactics of connecting to the body the kids were quite amazed which makes him feel good.

To make people understand contemporary dance they need to see performances. And to develop a piece residency are conducted where performers stays day and night researching on the project. Sharing emotions, introducing about their dancing talents, learning from each other and brainstorming on how they can develop the project are parts of residency conducted. By mentors.

Surjit is an international artists having performed in Europe and Asia. He has been training students since 2008 under an organisation he founded Nachom Arts Foundation. He owns a dancing studio at his home and a dedicated studio space for contemporary dance practice in Imphal. He always teach his students to be unique by incorporating Manipuri traditional dance moves in contemporary dance. Surjit also incorporates traditional Manipuri music in his performances. He also have the skill of Manipuri martial art which makes him stand out in his moves and flexibility.

Surjit opined that contemporary dance movement is new in India but gaining popularity slowly. He had a feeling that people see Contemporary dance as Western dance. But fail to see the concept. He further explained that Contemporary dance is the showing of one’s capability of the body.In classical dance different anatomic personality have to dance the same dance, like a fat and thin person subjected to dance the same thing while it is not in contemporary dance. An individual has different energy and different volume of weight and his comfort in dance needs to be addressed.

He was drawn into contemporary dance as he found it innovative, creative, has feelings and can reflect on social issues. All ofhis works are the expression of what he came across in life. He dances not for the sake of dance but to tell something.

One of his piece ” One Voice’ came after he met traumatic victims at Kolkata. He listened to their stories and learn the root cause of their state of mind.Then he kept on reasoning for his dance movements. Thoughts pour to him like “How the torturer felt before he torture someone. Is it forced by someone, who is ordering to torture the victim? Is it torturing somebody because that is his job? How the torture is executed how one felt tortured.He continued meeting several victims and digested their woes and played a solo on the theme.One Voice is Torturer and the Victim Dance.He put the two characters together and danced. When he pinch hard on his skin he knew he will feel the pain. He slap himself hard to induce more pain. He toucheshis ear and experience what he felt. After he felt the slap, touch etc. it became very natural to him to dance out his feelings and he go dancing, a dance for the traumatic people. A dance to spread message of how the victims felt. A dance to reflect the mind of the torturer in action. A dance he dance after lots of research not just for beauty but beauty with cause.

Article

Roads and highway in Manipur

March 7, 2023March 7, 2023 - by Yenda News Agency

By James Khangenbam Imphal 7 March

The road at our localities became higher every time it gets repaired. The durability of it depends on the quality of construction. How high is determined by a comparative height level study with the floor level of the roadside residence which remains constant.

Roads and highway

Road repairing in an assembly constituency has become the benchmark of a dutiful local MLA. While the celebration continues for a decade or two, a situation arises when an elderly man started claiming that the ground level of his house was the highest at one point of time.

I am still curious as to what he will say in the next decade. By then he might not like the rainy season.

As an outcome a suppressed social economy in constructing public infrastructure is becoming an accepted trend. How this menace could be controlled. Who should be held responsible? What corrective measures should be taken? When do we initiate?

Digging out the damaged road before repairing remains the simplest corrective measure. Else the overlapping road layers appear like a compound interest of a huge debt for the residents in the vicinity. As we know road generally is an accepted reference for a standard ground level of a residential area. When it is unregulated a manifested chaos might take place which has already become a phenomenon in Manipur.

In today’s time whenever an individual plans to build a new house he considers to keep a higher floor level with reference to their neighbor. The fear psychosis indicates the absence of public regulation leaving individuals to take up the task of preventing water logging or manmade flood at their individual space from time to time.

Everybody starts assuming that the road will become higher in due course of time. Forget about the residence, even the culvert at the end of the road is kept so high by the contractor assuming it will get levelled with the road level in the years to come. We are in a situation where the public property like road is becoming a threat to private residents.

The idea of a welfare state holds different

The idea of a welfare state holds different. Perhaps a guideline on maintaining the road level is becoming a must.

On the road durability issue, it always stood firm when the drainage on either side holds strong like a crutch. It is more relevant in Manipur with high annual rainfall. But the alluvial soil type in the region and garbage pile ups lead to frequent water logging of roads. Encroaching of land by residents in due cause of time has also make the drains quite narrow.

The drainage system thus remains not fully efficient and water overflows even at a scanty rainfall. When the road remains under water for a huge number of days the outcome is a broken road in just a season or two. Lack of civic sense among the public and irresponsibility from the authority in maintaining proper drainage seem to go hand in hand.

The continuous effort of repairing and breaking is becoming a rhythmic cycle keeping everyone busy at a different time. Hooked in a musical chair of halt and continue over and over again at the cost of both public and private money. Wondering if the phenomenon was different during the time when road construction was absent in Manipur. Roads and wheel can take us to a different level than the indifferent level.

In a positive development the government of Manipur had announced that concreate roads will be constructed in the municipality area which is a welcome approach. The government also claimed that it will save a lot of public money as it will help do away the periodic repairing of black toppings in the present context.

Article

India keen to resuscitate tourism industry; northeast gets focus

March 2, 2023April 27, 2023 - by Yenda News Agency

The Indian government is going all out to promote northeast as a tourist destination. The region had long remained unexplored despite its high potential. Work has started on construction of nearly 40 viewpoints along highways in the Northeast to promote to tourism in the region, according to Union minister G Kishan Reddy said recently.

Last November, the Union tourism and culture minister announced in Aizawl that 100 viewpoints will be constructed along highways in Northeast region, starting with nine in Mizor am.

He had made the announcement in the Mizoram capital ahead of India assuming the year long presidency of the G20 on December 1, reported EastMojo.

Several G20 meetings are planned to be held across the Northeast region and Aizawl will host one of these.

India is showcasing its power in the world and has “risen” on various indices in the tourism sector, said Reddy, who also holds the portfolio of development of the North East Region (DoNER).

On the tourism specific projects in the Northeast region, he sai d, of the 100 viewpoints which will be constructed along highways in the Northeast region, work has begun on nearly 40 viewpoints.

“We will work with the DoNER ministry and the NHAI for these viewpoints, which will have basic amenities for travellers beside to view for tourists,” Reddy said.

These providing a scenic place These viewpoints will be wayside amenities with toilet facility and a basic cafeteria, and also a selfie point for tourists.

Reddy had also said that his ministry will work together with other promote tourism related projects.

“The BRO (Border Roads Organisation) has built BRO cafes along 75 border area roads in 12 states. Also, the Union Cabinet has given approval to the Vibrant Villages Programme, we will also work to promote it,” he said.

The Tourism Ministry will also focus on tourism infrastructure and amenities under the Vibrant Villages Programme in border villages, the minister said.

The Union Cabinet recently approved the centrally sponsored scheme ‘Vibrant Villages Programm e’ (VVP) for the financial years 2022 23 to 2025 26 with an allocation of Rs 4,800

Overall, the Indian government is focussing a lot on reviving the tourism sector in the country after the pandemic.

To revive international tourism postpandemic and to ensure India is promoted as a holistic destination in the tourism generating markets to increase the country’s share in the global tourism market, the Government of India declared Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023 as its campaign tagline. It was o ver two decades back, in 2002, that the Incredible India initiative was officially branded to promote the country as a destination of choice for the discerning international traveller. Now, using the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency, efforts are on to re suscitate the industry which went through a rough patch during the period of the pandemic. Incidentally, the man behind the campaign then, Amitabh Kant, is now the Sherpa of the summit which presents loads of opportunities for the travel and tourism indust ry to promote India as a global tourist destination, reported Business World Hotelier.

“The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) promotes India as a holistic destination in the tourism generating markets to promote various tourism products and destinations to increase its share of the global tourism market. The objectives are met through an integrated marketing and promotional strategy and a synergised campaign in association with travel trade, state governments and Indian Missions. The Government continuously engage s with industry experts and other relevant stakeholders and take their suggestions and feedback for promotion of varied tourism products of India,” shares Union Tourism Secretary Arvind Singh.

The Indian travel and tourism industry is, at present, undergoing a paradigm shift as the travellers demand curated and thoughtful experiences. “The millennials today make up the fastest growing segment in terms of spending money on trips and exploring new destinations. They are early adopters not only of tech nology but also experiences, exploring top range options the highest of all generations. This drives the growth of the travel industry and a major chunk of it will be driven by the Indian millennials. As a result, post pandemic pent demand in this largest traveller segment drove the recovery in the travel market in 2022,” stated Singh.