SHILLONG: In its bid to further boost tourism sector in the state, Meghalaya Government is keen on formulating a tourism model and a policy
Replying to the debate on Governor’s address, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma on Friday asserted that each and every kind of tourist was important for Meghalaya
Expressing his reservations over the statement of Rongara-Siju MLA Rakkam Sangma that only third class tourists visit South Garo Hills district, Sangma added that there was a need to respect each and every tourist.
He further added that people in the state need to realise that tourists contributed to the economy of the state even as he added that every tourist who visited the state should be treated nicely so that they later spoke the best about the people of the state.
On the issue of village administration Bill, Sangma said that the previous Government did had a meeting with the stakeholders on the issue and the Bill was returned to the District Council with message from the Governor
On issue of District Council bills pending with the District Council Affairs department, the Chief Minister informed that 22 bills were submitted to the department from the year 2014-16 out of which 10 were referred back to the Council for clarification while only one bill is pending with the department.
Admitting that the purpose of setting up the District councils was for protecting the identify and culture of the local people, Sangma added that the purpose of the autonomous councils seemed to have shifted, adding that the Government recently sanctioned a museum and a research centre for the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
On the growing number of cancer cases in the state, Chief Minister informed the House that the State Government was coming out with a policy for free cancer drugs to the people even as he added that the draft for the same is in final stages and the next cabinet meeting would take a call on the matter.
The Chief Minister while replying to the discussion also asserted that as many as 32 sub health centres will be upgraded in this financial year and training would be provided to the nurses for community health officers.
The job of the community health officers would be to provide basic kind of treatment to the patients in the absence of the doctors.
“We are also working on war footing for the construction of medical colleges in Shillong and Tura,” he added.
Later while clarifying to the queries raised by the Opposition members, the Chief Minister also said that prominent agencies had recommended for diversion of traffic from the existing Umiam dam which connects Shillong with the rest of the country
He pointed out the State Government is looking at the possibility of having multiple entry and exit points for Shillong city besides some other roads like Western bypass were also coming up which will provide multi entry and exit points for Shillong.