From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, April 25: The Northeastern region, especially Meghalaya, seems to have found a place of pride in the Mann Ki Baat programme initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will reach the milestone of 100 episodes on April 30.
The Prime Minister had mentioned the Northeast and Meghalaya on several occasions since the inception of the programme in 2014.
Earlier this month, the PM received a comprehensive report on the iconic Kongthong village popularly known as “whistling village” from Rajya Sabha member, Rakesh Singh who has adopted the village along with several others and initiated several development programmes.
Incidentally, residents of Kongthong will join Sinha during the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat in Shillong.
The PM had even expressed gratitude to the people of Kongthong for composing a special tune in his honour and in appreciation of the Government of India’s efforts in promoting the village as a prime tourism destination.
The crystal clear Umngot River, the Cherry Blossom Festival and Asia’s cleanest village Mawlynnong, have found mention on his Twitter handle and Mann Ki Baat programmes earlier.
Meghalaya has also been praised by the Prime Minister for becoming the first state to have formulated its own water policy. In one of the episodes of Mann Ki Baat, Modi pitched to nature enthusiasts to definitely schedule a visit to the Northeast which he describes as having tremendous tourism potential.
Modi commended Bijay Shanti from Manipur, who founded a start-up that produces silk thread from lotus stems, creating new opportunities in both lotus farming and the textile industry. He also shared the story of forest man and Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng’s unwavering commitment to cultivating a 300-hectare forest on Assam’s Majuli Island.
Similarly, Sange Sherpa’s tireless work towards environmental protection at an altitude of 12,000 feet in Sikkim is just a couple of the inspiring examples which founf mention in Mann Ki Baat. In a recent episode of the programme, Modi mentioned Sikari Tissau from Karbi Anglong district in Assam, who has been documenting the Karbi language for the last 20 years; a self-help library set up in Rayo village in Nirjuli of Arunachal Pradesh by Meena Gurung and Dewang Hosayi from the village who funded the library, among others.
The PM acknowledged the active participation of the Northeastern people and mentioned the central government’s decision to send Union ministers and government officials each month to remote places of the region. “When they return with this pledge, they can easily understand the problems of these states,” he said.
In one of the episodes, Modi had spoken about the introduction of 4G internet services in Jorsing, a remote hamlet in Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, after years of waiting.
The PM has made it a priority to celebrate the vibrant culture and linguistic diversity of the Northeast. While narrating the tales of remarkable individuals and places from this region, he encourages the entire nation to follow in the footsteps of the NE.