Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 3 (EMN): Tamenglong district has been selected under the Hill Area Development Fund, especially designed by the NDA Government for the development of hill areas of the country recently.
This was disclosed by the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Nov. 2 at the launching function of SAMVEG – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Support and Outreach programme held at the Panchayat Bhawan, Porompat in Imphal.
It may be mentioned that Tamnenglong is one of the most backward district of the state which is famous for its orange and wildlife and picturesque eco-tourism destination.
The chief minister said that out of 82 districts has been identified for development of hill districts in the country, Tamenglong district from Manipur was selected and a sum of INR 90 crores has been sanctioned for the development of the district. He maintained that a topographical need based budget is needed to bring inclusive development in the state such as Manipur.
Among the 80 districts selected for having the potential of handloom and handicraft development in the country, he said that Imphal east district of Manipur has been selected in the handloom sector.
Maintaining that the present state government has already started providing soft loans to the weavers, entrepreneurs and others, he said Manipur State Cooperative Bank alone has provided a loan amount of around 15 crore to the people of the State.
Stating that the Northeast region was neglected for the long time by past governments, however he said with the installation of the new government at Centre, much focus has been given to Northeast region by transforming the Look East to Act East.
Direct flight services have been started from Imphal to Delhi, Helicopter services started in the state and flying doctors would be made available in no time, he added.
Participating in the launching session, Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Alphons K highlighted the tourism boom in the country.
He said that at present around 84 million people are being employed in the tourism sector in the country.
Congratulating the State government, the visiting central minister also informed that the country would become the 3rd largest Civil Aviation sector in the world by 2020.
Minister for Commerce and Industries, Public Works Department Th Biswajit Singh, in his presidential speech said that MSME are the backbone of the country’s economy.
“It is indeed pride moment of the State that Manipur has the maximum concentration of weavers in the entire country,” he said.
