Shillong:
Meghalaya government has embarked on 'Destination Meghalaya' with thrust on education, health care, hospitality and investment on renewable natural resources in the next seven years, Deputy Chief Minister R C Laloo said here today.
Unfurling the National tri-colour on the Republic Day at the Polo grounds, Laloo said the investment therefore has to be increased in the sectors to develop human resources.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma unfurled the flag at another government programme at Tura, headquarters of Garo Hills division.
The government also has to focus on increased vegetative coverage across the state which will not only attract investment to generate employment but also help address environmental concerns, Laloo said.
"Certain misguided elements have adopted the path of violence to pursue their nefarious objectives, and in the process, they have caused immense hardship to the people whose interest they profess to be working for," he said.
However, "The congenial environment created after the signing of the peace pact with the ANVC and the ANVC-B has encouraged some other outfits also to come overground and join the mainstream," the deputy chief minister said.
On the long pending boundary dispute with Assam, he said an initiative, "Inter-State Border Area Development Programme", has been launched to address the developmental needs of the people along the border.
Stating that a comprehensive mechanism to deal with the issue of influx will be put in place at the earliest, he said different government agencies have been geared up to accomplish this objective.
While tourism has been put as one of the livelihood missions of the government, the deputy chief minister said a series of cultural events are organised during the festival season between Puja and Christmas every year.
The government is investing in Shillong International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture where sports events of national and international level would be hosted to promote sports tourism, he said.
Similar investments are being made for performing Arts and Cultural Centers in district headquarters besides for better upkeep of places of heritage value as well as the places of tourist attraction, he said.
Banking on the salubrious climate, natural beauty, the rich cultural heritage, Laloo said the youth with strong command over languages need to be leveraged upon to promote our state as destination for high-end tourism.