SHILLONG: There is a plan on the part of the Government to create two more districts and a few civil sub-divisions in Meghalaya.
This assurance was made by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma during the closing ceremony of the golden jubilee celebration of Raid Shabong Border Area Govt. U.P. School at Pynursla on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion, and referring to the demand for creation of a sub-division in the area, the Chief Minister said the Government was committed to look at the developmental needs of the area, and said, “As we have created four new districts, we will continue to create two more new districts and a few more civil sub-divisions”.
The Chief Minister also said that the Border Area Development department has special programmes for the border villages and Pynursla, being a border village, should take advantage of the programmes and try to get enough funds with the involvement of the community to promote educational institutions and tourism-related infrastructure.
“Now that we have attracted tourists by putting Mawlynnong on the global tourism map, it’s time to put Pynursla-Mawlynnong-Dawki on the tourism circuit,” he said and proposed one workshop in January on tourism in Pynursla area where discussions could be held on how to promote the area as a tourist destination.
“In the last three years the investment in education sector has been the highest in the State. Meghalaya can become the centre of education,” he said as he spoke on the need to open schools that would attract students from across the world and open up livelihood opportunities for the local people.
He informed that Government has sanctioned three Pine Mount International schools, but added that it had taken a long time for the Government to decide on the location of the schools.
The Chief Minister said that education and tourism sectors alone can provide employment to more than 60 per cent population in the State, and added that “both these sectors require active involvement of motivated members of the community.”
On the demand for setting up of a college in the area, the Chief Minister said that with many feeder schools in the area he understood the need for a centre for higher studies.
“It is grave injustice when students have to run from pillar to post for their education,” he said and urged the people from the area to discuss with their local MLA to identify land to open a college.
The Chief Minister congratulated all those who were associated in the establishment of Raid Shabong UP School and said that a humble beginning 50 years ago stands as a proud monument for the people of the area.
The Chief Minister also released a souvenir to mark the occasion. Mementoes to honour the founding fathers, first students and first teaching staff of the school were also given away by him and other dignitaries.
Local MLA and Border Areas Development Minister Prestone Tynsong along with parliamentary secretaries Celestine Lyngdoh and Justine Dkhar were present on the occasion.