SHILLONG, Nov 21: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said efforts are on to put Meghalaya among the top 10 states in the country over the next few years.
“We have a goal to create a new Meghalaya. We are trying to do things which are meaningful in the field of tourism, sports, health and education,” he said while inaugurating the second edition of the Shillong Literary Festival at Ward’s Lake here on Monday.
The three-day event concludes on Wednesday.
Sangma said Meghalaya was at the bottom in immunisation when the MDA government took charge in 2018. “We became number two in three years,” he said.
Similarly, the number of households provided piped water under Jal Jeevan Mission increased to 2.5 lakh from 4,000 less than five years ago.
“We are one of the most improved states in the country. We are the only state to receive a bonus for the third consecutive year for fulfilling the water supply targets and utilising the money allocated,” Sangma said.
Informing the audience that a programme to come up with 700 homestays is being implemented, he said the state government has targeted 1,000 five-star rooms in the next three to four years. “We can host any major international event in the near future if we are able to achieve this target,” he said.
The CM said the state’s first five-star hotel, Vivanta Meghalaya was inaugurated recently and the second – Courtyard by Marriott – will start operating soon.
He, however, admitted that 80% of the state’s problems may still exist. These include financial, social and governance issues.
Sangma said Meghalaya is facing challenges of urbanisation that come with traffic congestion, pollution, drug addiction among the youth, deforestation and other issues. Earlier, he said the objective of the Shillong Literary Festival was to celebrate the works of writers, inspire budding authors and encourage young students to inculcate the habit of reading. The event would also project Shillong as an activity-based tourism destination, he added.
“The policies and programmes of the government work towards making Shillong and Meghalaya a high-end tourism destination,” he said.
“This festival will also allow you to meet different writers, listen to them and interact with them and these interactive sessions can leave a strong impression in your mind,” he said.
The government, Sangma said, had planned the festival as an annual calendar event since 2018-19 but the COVID-19 pandemic led to its delayed start last year.
“It (2nd edition) is a huge improvement on the 1st edition. I hope this will become one of the best festivals not just in India but globally,” he said.
Lauding the youth for attending the festival in large numbers, the CM advised them to believe that they are the country’s greatest strength. “I want to ensure you the opportunity to excel in sports, music, fashion or anything else you chose,” he said.
Apart from providing a platform for the children and youth to engage with writers, artists, filmmakers and eminent personalities, the literary festival offers choices for bibliophiles.
