Our Correspondent
Imphal, Sep. 1 (EMN): Jet airways want to introduce Imphal-Delhi direct flight on a daily basis. An official team representing Jet airways conveyed this to me, says Governor Dr Najma Heptulla. Jet airways had already introduced Imphal-Delhi direct flight service from Mar. 25.
Currently, budget carrier Air Asia already started to operate Imphal-Delhi direct flight from April 7, 2018 on a daily basis. Earlier considering the public demand, Air India had introduced Imphal-Delhi direct flight service from Jan. 2, 2018.
Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla was speaking at the formal launching of Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC) at a hotel in Imphal on Saturday wherein she appealed to understand that North East does not end at Assam or Guwahati but there are many other places and states which may leave them spellbound.
Stating that Manipur is an unexplored paradise, she said there are many other unexplored potential areas which can be developed in the state. She also appealed to inculcate the sense of dignity of labour in the region. Dr Heptulla also mentioned about the need to include crafts training in the school curriculum so that children are imparted the knowledge of craftsmanship right from the beginning.
MEETAC, an autonomous society set up on Dec. 29 last year under the state textiles, commerce and industries department to provide unified access to the traditional craftsmen/artisans of hills and valley of Manipur for design development of their crafts/arts as per global standards to increase market demand and achieve better economic valuation.
The governor said that though the state’s population is hardly 28 lakhs, artisans and craftsmen concentration is very high in the state. As such, the government should not only provide support to the craftsmen but also create market for them so that they may have sustainable livelihood through arts and crafts, she added.
Narrating her continuous effort to introduce Australian model of ‘flying doctors’ in Manipur considering its hilly terrain, she informed the gathering that she is concerned about the survival of Loktak lake and rivers feeding the lake in order to make it an important tourist destination. Besides she also expressed the need of the hour is to open more road side eateries, public conveniences and also introduction of the highway patrol party on the highways.
In his speech, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that MEETAC is a brainchild of Governor Dr Heptulla adding that many other projects in the state were launched successfully because of her endeavour.
On the scarcity of fertilizer urea in the state, he clarified that it’s because of the sudden sinking of highway near Kohima. However, two racks of fertilizer had been transported by train up to Jiribam from Namrup a day after his appraisal to railways minister. All these consignments would reach Imphal within a few days. He also opined that Manipur can become a model state in the country within 10 years provided there is less unwanted activities including bandh/blockade.
Textiles, Commerce and Industries Minister Th Biswajit who is the chairman of MEETAC said the mission is a new beginning and it would certainly open a huge avenue of opportunities to traditional artisans and craftsmen.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Consumers affairs food and public distribution minister K Shyam, Water resources Minister Letpao Haokip and Directors of National Institute of Designs based in Delhi and Ahmadabad and others attended the day’s launching function.
