Excelsior Correspondent
CHANDIGARH, Mar 6: As a part of country-wide drive undertaken by the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) to showcase Northeast in different parts of India, a three-day Northeast festival titled “Destination Northeast 2017” began here this morning with a formal inauguration by Union DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who is the motivating force behind this unique initiative to carry Northeast to every corner of India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said that for next three days, Chandigarh will reverberate to the tune of Northeast as the hymns and songs of North Eastern region will be on the lips of every resident of this premium North Indian city. He said, in addition, the wide range of North Eastern food cuisine and ethnic handicraft will also be available at the doorstep of the residents of Chandigarh.
Besides this, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the three-day event will also offer business sessions for potential investors and entrepreneurs to familiarize them with a vast potential of trade and business in the region. There will also be an attempt, he said, to make people aware of the “Startup” opportunities offered by North Eastern region in the field of organic farming, tourism, fruit industry, etc.
Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to the DoNER Ministry’s decision to launch a “Venture Fund” for young “Startups” and entrepreneurs who wish to set up establishments in the region. This, he said, will be an added incentive to all the other incentives already available in the PM’s “Startup India, Standup India” programme. When successful, this will make Northeast a favorite destination for youth from all over India, including Chandigarh, he added.
When he came into the DoNER Ministry, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled, the suggestion that he frequently came across was that we should make the people of Northeast familiar with the rest of India. But, he said, he realized early enough that, instead, a more fruitful campaign could be undertaken to make the people in rest of India familiar with the incredible great attributes of Northeast. Citing examples, he said, the literacy rate in some of the tiny and young States like Mizoram is next only to Kerala, while the growth rate in a small State like Sikkim is already in two digits.
Dr Jitendra Singh hoped that the three-day event in Chandigarh will succeed in sensitizing the people of the important North Indian States like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir with the enormous avenues of livelihood and vocation offered by the eight States of Northeast.
Kirron Kher, Lok Sabha MP from Chandigarh, DG CSIR Dr Girish Sahni, Union Secretary DoNER Naveen Verma and President PHD Chamber of Commerce Gopal Jiwarajka also spoke on the occassion. The event will witness participation of some of the renowned artists and musicians from Northeast including Angaraag Mahanta “Papon” and the “Shillong Chamber Choir”.
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