SHILLONG: With the state going all out preparing for the National Games 2022, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has put emphasis on training local athletes to ensure medals for Meghalaya.
Replying to the debate on the governor’s address on Friday, he said, “Since we are the host state, it is also important to win some medals. We are to ensure that we train our sportsmen/athletes.”
He added that the right support will be given to different disciplines.
According to him, the 2022 National Games is one of the biggest events in the state and it will have the capacity to take the state forward in every aspect.
Stating that the National Games Organising Committee has been set up, the chief minister said, “We are taking up the matter with all sincerity and ensuring that the Games is a complete success.”
Sangma said apart from the requirements for hosting the Games, the state also requires airports, roads, water, power supply and hotels, among others.
“Looking at the current infrastructure that we have, it is definitely not enough for us to host the games,” he added.
Sangma recently met several Union Cabinet Ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss on the infrastructure required for hosting the National Games.
“We will work overtime to make the Games a complete success,” the chief minister said.Sangma is of the view that the Games would boost tourism.
Decongestion of Shillong is another issue and Sangma feels “it is important to have roads in and out of Shillong in multiple directions”.
The government has formed a group of ministers to discuss about the decongestion of main towns and cities headed by the chief minister and ministers not only to look after the decongestion from the National Games viewpoint but the traffic jam faced by the state.
State Youth Policy
On the draft State Youth Policy, Sangma informed that it is in the final stage, which has been put up in public domain in 2017.
He added that the draft is in an advanced stage which emphasises on different aspects to make the youth economically self-reliant and productive.