Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Friday said that the entire state is moving forward without an iota of doubt.
Biren Singh said our future lies in the tourism sector as the scenic beauty the state has is unparalleled, its climate and the people are praised by many tourists.
Many tourist spots like Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou, Loktak Lake, INA Memorial and the 120 feet tall Sagol Kangjei statue at Marjing, have been developed, he added.
“With access to advanced technology, we can now see what is happening in different parts of the world and we should put all efforts to bring up Manipur in the world platform,” Biren Singh said.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering at the launch programme of the 1st Batch Trainees of the State Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (SIHM), Manipur and Interaction of Chief Minister, Manipur through video conferencing with trainees of “Industry Link Training Programme of 2000 Trainees for ITES” held at City Convention Centre .
Speaking on the recent lifting of prohibition on sale and consumption of liquor from the State, the Chief Minister stated that the Cabinet decision was taken after holding thorough discussion and taking recommendation from committees formed earlier in this regard.
Elaborating on the matter he stated that some communities have been producing local liquor as part of their custom and as such the Government hadn’t been able to ban such production. Therefore, a team from outside the State had been engaged to check the process of the production in such places and to bring up to a certain level of standard so that the liquors could be exported outside the State.
Biren further stated that the Government is planning to establish a beer factory in the State using locally produced raw ingredients like pineapple and ginger.
He continued that as people from outside the State are becoming fond of our horticulture products, our local brews could be exported outside. This would also encourage those people who had earlier carried poppy plantations to replace it with alternative crops like pineapple and ginger.
The Chief Minister also informed that there would be certain regulations on sale of liquor regarding place of sale, age regulation etc.
Government has taken up the step not only for earning revenue but also considering the health of people, he informed. The Government is drafting a rule in this regard and sought suggestions from Civil Society Organisations and experts.
The Chief Minister informed that the State Government had completed recruitment and announcement of the result of 4,500 posts of Government services in the last five years out of 12,500 vacant posts of various Departments of the State.
Results for around 5,500 posts are yet to be announced. The Government is working to fill various other vacant posts, he added.
Chairman, Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd. Karam Shyam stated that youths should take a bigger role in taking the State towards development.
Stating that tourism sectors hold a crucial stake in development, he urged youths to showcase beautiful places of the State harnessing the advanced technology.
Mentioning that improved law and order is important for development of the tourism sector in the State, Karam Shyam added that Manipur Tourism will take a key role in shaping the youths of the State. He also appealed to the public to share only valuable knowledge and information about the State to attract more tourists.
Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar said the State Institute of Hotel Management has 60 seats for Degree Course and can go up to 240 students for Diploma Course per Year.
The institute will give the much-needed platform for getting good job opportunities, he added.
He was also hopeful that the institute would provide trained manpower for the domestic tourism industry within the State. He informed that the State Government is taking up an ambitious ADB funded Loktak Mega Eco-Tourism Project and the project would most likely be sanctioned by May next year.
With this, the State will have a world class eco-tourism destination, he added.
