MANIPUR: The first congress of tourism professionals from across the country held at Classic Grande in Imphal, Manipur, concluded on 29th September. On September 27, the event was inaugurated on World Tourism Day which was organised by the Department of Tourism in association with the Manipur Association of Tour Operators (MATO) under the theme ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’.
Attendees of Manipur Tourism Congress
The event was attended by representatives from tour operator associations and travel agents looking after the prominent tourism sector, hoteliers from the State and other neighbouring North Eastern as well as other States and homestay owners from Manipur who are looking after tourism. A wide array of tourism products and services available in the State during the inaugural function of the congress was showcased by MATO.
Emphasing the role of Tourism
As a part of the event, a FAM trip (familiarization trip) to various tourist destinations in the State was organised, to give the participants a first hand experience of tourism in the State. W Ibohal Singh, director (Tourism) gave a presentation on the tourism products of the State and emphasised the need for the North Eastern States to come together while promoting the region as a favourite tourist destination for domestic and international travellers.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH: PM Narendra Modi calls Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju “a decent dancer”
The Miji people (also known as Sajolang) of the Kazalang Village in Arunachal Pradesh organized a traditional programme, in which Minister Kiren Rijiju is seen to be rejoicing and dancing to traditional folk songs, among other villagers.
He visited the village to “monitor the Vivekananda Kendra Vindyalaya Projects”. Rijiju posted a video of the jollification; to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Our Law Minister Kiren Rijiju is also a decent dancer! Good to see the vibrant and glorious culture of Arunachal Pradesh”.
ASSAM: National Parks, Orang, Kaziranga and Manas to reopen for explorers in the subsequent days
The monsoon season and the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic had put a pause to tourist visitings to National Parks in Assam. They were closed for some months affecting the tourism sector but will now be reopening keeping in retrospect the prevailing Coronavirus situation. ONP or The Orang National Park reopened from Thursday, 30th September.
However, due to poor route conditions because of the recent Assam floods, only a part of the park’s safari passage/course will be made available to visitors for tracking upon, said Pradipta Baruah, ONP Divisional Forest Officer.
While KNP or The Kaziranga National Park will partially reopen on 1st October with access to three ranges. The elephant ride that is a tourist attraction will initially be unavailable, and the visitors will only have the jeep safari option for the present. The Manas National Park will also welcome tourists who strictly adhere to the Covid-19 protocols, starting from 1st October.
MEGHALAYA: Tura-to-Shillong bus tragedy leave 1 dead, several injured
Five passengers were reported dead and another 16 injured when an MTC (Meghalaya Transport Corporation) bus travelling from Tura to Shillong met with a grave accident in the midnight hours of September 30. The bus crashed over Nongchram bridge; down to Ringdi river in East Garo Hills that had reportedly swollen due to heavy rain in the preceding days.
Soon after news started circulating, rescue officials from Rongjeng and Williamnagar Fire and emergency services rushed to the site. The injured 16 were then rushed to Rongjeng Primary Health Centre where critical cases were recommended to the Williamnagar Civil Hospital
The passengers were said to have been deep asleep when the accident happened. As per IndiaTv reports, Meghalaya Transport Corporation drivers have a long record of reckless driving. Some injured passengers recalled the bus to be exceeding the speed limit when the accident took place.
CM Conrad Sangma via his Twitter handle expressed condolences towards families of those caught in the mishap all the while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. Meantime, police officials released a phone number (+91 87947 65696) for family members of those deceased and injured in the tragedy.
MIZORAM: 4 drug peddlers arrested in Mizoram, heroin worth Rs 4.2 lakh seized
On September 28 and 29, Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department officials and Assam Rifles troopers confiscated 158 grammes of heroin and arrested four drug dealers at two different areas in Aizawl. Excise and Narcotics Department officials and Assam Rifles soldiers launched a joint operation on September 29 in Aizawl’s Tawngtai Mual area and confiscated 133 grammes of heroin, according to a statement.
Lalliansanga (22), a resident of Zokhawthar village in Champhai district, and Lalkhawngaiha (41) from Aizawl’s Saron Veng were arrested for possessing the illicit items, according to the report. On September 28, the excise department found 25 grammes of heroin in the Maubawk region of Aizawl and detained two people: Lalzarliana (45), a resident of Lianpui in Champhai district, and R. Liantluanga (38), a resident of Kulikawn in Aizawl, according to the statement.
All of the recovered contraband, valued at Rs 4.2 lakh, was brought in from Myanmar, according to the report. According to the statement, the accused were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
NAGALAND: Implementation of Sarfaesi Act will adversely affect the people, says Nagaland Bar Association
After being pressurized by some organisations, including the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enact the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (Sarfaesi Act) 2002, in the state, the Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) said that it will adversely affect the people.
The Sarfaesi Act, applied in Nagaland, will not only infringe on the constitutional rights conferred by Article 371A but also “would be highly disastrous to the members of the business community and entrepreneurs as well as the legal heirs and dependants of deceased servicemen, having unpaid money loan”; and also affect the state. economy, said NBA, in a press release.
The Banks and Financial Institutions (BFI) will be empowered by the Sarfaesi Act, to recover dues faster without the intervention of courts and tribunals by deploying Assets reconstruction companies (ARCS) as their legal agent, which can acquire and sell the mortgaged assets of the borrower after 60 days notice even on default of instalment payment.
SIKKIM: Education Department partners with 17000ft foundation to improve learning at remote schools
The Education Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the 17000 Ft Foundation to improve learning levels at the elementary level in Sikkim’s remote areas. According to a press release from the Education Department on September 30, the 17000 Ft Foundation is a non-profit organisation with a vision to convert high altitude frontier communities into self-sustaining, resilient, and prosperous regions.
By improving infrastructure, tourism and learning resources in their government elementary schools, the foundation has impacted over 200 remote frontier villages in Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil districts, reducing the exodus of young children to faraway towns and resulting in strengthened families, educated communities, and a resilient, self-sustaining region.
Through collaborative monitoring, performance reviews, and timely feedback, the Education department will assist and advise the 17000 Ft Foundation in ensuring effective and adequate participation. Reaching out to elementary school children in rural areas, according to Education Additional Chief Secretary G.P. Upadhyaya, is a huge issue, and this partnership will undoubtedly help improve learning levels in Sikkim’s far-flung schools.
TRIPURA: State to observe Gram Sabhas on October 2
The state government in an attempt to ensure transparency and enhance the functioning of Gram Panchayats at the grassroots level is set to organise state-wide Gram Sabhas coming October 2
Rural Development department issued memorandum by Tripura Additional Secretary D Reang, read, the state, aligning with preceding years will observe gram/village sabhas the same on October 2 this year
The Sabhas will strictly ensure active participation from the weaker sections of the society, frontline workers, SHGs, etc. were common discussions on ranging issues will be engaged and sorted out. In the course of the event, the frontline workers will be expected to launch the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) 2021.
A discussion session will also be held on the importance of sanitation and clean drinking water. Concerning the programme, all BDOs (Block Development Officers) have been directed to assign one official each from all block levels to attend the meeting.
