Industrialisation and development should not be viewed as a threat but as a necessary step to address rising unemployment: Mayralborn Syiem
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 7: Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem set the tone during the debate on the budget urging the state to adopt a more open approach to private investments while ensuring environmental safeguards. He said that industrialisation and development should not be viewed as a threat but as a necessary step to address rising unemployment.
“With unemployment on the rise, how long can we depend on government jobs alone?” Syiem asked, while adding that across party lines, there must be a willingness to welcome private players, provided the projects are subject to environmental verification and proper maintenance. “We have to be open-minded. If proposals come that are eco-friendly and do not harm the environment, we must not shut the door on development,” he added.
This comes after earlier the VPP had accused the state govt of using forest land for industries, while the CM then clarified that those lands belonged to soil and water conservation departments.
Syiem also said that they are open to the idea of industries and private players coming into the state because that will largely help the high unemployment ratio in the state.
Syiem backed the government’s various missions and economic interventions, stating that they had reached ground zero and positively impacted producer groups. “If the CM wants to launch more missions, let him launch even a CM Nongpoh Mission, as long as they benefit the people,” he said.
This came in response to the VPP chief’s allegations about CM only concentrating on his promotion and image, thereby introducing new schemes and missions, all in his name.
Adding a touch of sarcasm to the debate, Mawkyrwat MLA Ollan Singh Suin took a subtle dig at the opposition benches, which remained vacant during the session. “I see the empty chairs from the opposition bench… I believe our CM has taken us in the right direction, and it is very indicative of the development of our state,” he said.
Suin lauded the government’s interventions in sports and the creative economy while making a passionate plea for natural playgrounds in every village instead of expensive artificial turf. He also pushed for the development of the hospitality complex in Mawsynram and thanked the govt for the proposed Rain Museum — a project that would celebrate the region’s unique identity as one of the wettest places on Earth.
While the ruling bench expressed confidence in the government’s economic roadmap, the absence of the opposition during the crucial deliberations became a talking point.
Several other legislators including Sosthenes Sohtun, first-time speaker, Arbinstone B Marak, Jim M Sangma, and Heaving Stone Kharpran took part in the debate.