We are Living in the Meghalayan Age, Says Chief Minister Conrad Sangma

Shillong, February 4, 2020:

After the first successful “Cabinet On The Move” initiated by the Government in June last year at Tura, it was held at Jowai in Jaintia Hills today. The initiative saw participation of all cabinet ministers in Jowai, including senior bureaucrats and government officials. At one point, the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, announced that we are living in a "Meghalayan Age" and the world needs to be informed about it.

Interacting with press after the cabinet meeting, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “The objective of the initiative is to ensure that administration is brought closer to the people. It will also enable that the government machinery as a whole to look at issues of specific region with different perspective”.

ALSO READ: Arunachal: Pangsau Pass Market at Indo-Myanmar Border Shut Down amid Coronavirus Scare

After the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister held a separate meeting with members of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and the local MLA of the region, where decision on key projects and initiative for Jaintia Hills were discussed.

He also said that Cabinet On The Move will allow government to focus on very specific issues that would further strengthen the process of delivery of government programmes and interventions.

On pending demand for the establishment of Shopping Complex at Lawmusiang, the Chief Minister informed that the project has been cleared by the Ministry of DoNER under NLCPR, however due to changes in drawings and DPR, certain confusion has been raised by the ministry, which is being clarified by the State government.

The Chief Minister assured that government of Meghalaya will pursue the project with the Ministry of DoNER and in the meantime will release funds from the State for the project to roll out at the earliest.

ALSO READ: Sarbananda or Sarabanananda Sonowal? Asom Sahitya Sabha Misspells CM’s Name, Trolled

“Cabinet On The Move has actually enabled all the functionaries of the State to arrive at Jowai today and take collective decision for starting the project, which has been pending for long,” the Chief Minister added.

The Chief Minister announced that in March this year, the State will host an iconic tourism event at the picturesque Thadlaskein Lake.

The Chief Minister said that the “Meghalayan Age Festival” which will be held in the second week of March tentatively from 6th or 7th for a period of nine days will promote high end tourism.

“We are living in the Meghalayan Era and the world needs to be informed about this. Through this festival, we will brand Meghalaya and invite visitors to experience the State in a different style. We are putting different activities, music and cultural events to make this event a memorable one,” the Chief Minister said. The highlights of this event will be hot air balloons, caving and glamping.

Glamping is being held for the first time in Meghalaya, where 50 5 star luxury tents will be put up for visitors, who can enjoy 5 star facilities in the tent and enjoy the festival, which will be spread over a period of nine days. “We want to promote Meghalaya in a very big way and the Meghalayan Age Festival is just the beginning of our ambitious tourism plan,” the Chief Minister added.

He also said that during the festival, the government will showcase achievers from the State chosen from different fields — farming, education, health care, sportsmen, businessmen and develop stories around them and link their stories with Meghalaya.

The Chief Minister later visited the site for the Lawmusiang Market and Meghalaya Age Festival, along with officials.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.