Dimapur, July 31 (MExN): Union minister for DoNER, Mani Shanker Aiyar today said that he sees a bright future for the north eastern region as the region; especially Nagaland is endowed with huge natural resources which might bring about economic changes in the future.
Speaking after the inauguration of the Nagaland Bamboo Research Centre here at Dimapur, the Union Minister said that Nagaland has huge natural resources and congratulated the people of Nagaland for doing outstanding job of propagating agriculture in the state, contrary to the rest of the country
Aiyar said that over the years, Nagaland has registered a huge 15 percent growth while the country’s agriculture growth remained at 2 percent only. Aiyar said that the rest of the country should follow the example of Nagaland and make the agricultural sector grow, adding that a fast growth in the agricultural sector would make the economy grow at a faster rate. He said that growth rate in agriculture will lead to growth rate in economy and development is a need for economic activities among the farmers.
Aiyar said that he would sincerely try to promote the bamboo research centre.
In this regard, he asked the people to work in the right manner, develop partnership, bring in up to date technologies, so that the future of the state might brighten up a bit.
“The future looks extraordinarily bright,” said the DoNER Minster.
The Union Minister who was whisked away with the state Chief Minister right after he reached the Dimapur Airport paid a whirlwind visit to the Referral Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Dimapur.
Speaking about the Referral Hospital, Aiyar said that the development of the hospital, which was initiated twenty two years ago, indicates a process of development. However, interestingly, Aiyar said that the Hospital might start operating from this October; a statement which is contrary to an earlier declaration by the state Governor Sankaranarayanan that the Referral Hoptal will start functioning from this August.
Though, Aiyar lamented about the delays in the commencement of the functioning of the hospital, he however, expressed a sense of accomplishment after imagining what the hospital will look like in the future once it is completely completed.
About the sports scenario in the state, Aiyar expressed his utter shock at the present condition of the college.
He said that he is utterly ashamed of the broken windows and grills. “I am sure that the boys looking though the windows are the only one who did not smile at me,” said Aiyar on the boarders at the Sports Hostel.
Aiyar said that the North East people have excellent sports qualities, which have been dwarfed by the lacked of a comprehensive sports policy. In this regard, Aiyar said that there was a long felt necessity of having a comprehensive Sports Policy, the draft of which has been posted on the website of the Ministry in July 2007. He hoped that sports interested states like Nagaland will read the draft and send constructive comments.
“It is only when we produce sports for all then we will have excellence in sports,” said the Union Minister. The Union Minister said that the centre is trying to have better relations with neighboring countries like Myanmar and Thailand so that the north Eastern region would be opened to the world. “Let us open the North East to the world and the world will see what a remarkable region and what a remarkable place the North East region is,” said Aiyar.
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