Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today asserted that tourism festival will boost the economy of the state and that wanting to stop such festivals is a “microscopic thought.”
Sangma was replying to a call attention motion moved by opposition VPP MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit who referred to a media report that the living standard in Meghalaya is lowest.
Basaiawmoit said that turning Meghalaya into a 10 billion-dollar economy is a distant dream when all indicators point that the state is lowest in education, health, basic necessity.
While stating that the state is gripped by unemployment, safety and security, tension in the border, monopoly and crony capitalism and also second lowest among the states in per capita income, he said, the government should stop festivals because it is an attempt to divert attention from the real issues.
The Chief Minister however, asserted that the government will reach the target of making the state a 10 billion-dollar economy and one of the top-ten states in the country and that tourism festival will boost the economy of the state.
“I would like to ask a question to all the individuals who are questioning my vision and doubting my goal of trying to reach a 10 billion-dollar economy. As responsible leaders and the government we need to have a direction otherwise we fail,” he said.
“Task is high but we need to put higher goals. It’s the question of the mindset. Every cabinet minister, official is working with the target to make Meghalaya a billion dollar economy. Is that wrong? What is wrong in our thought? Don’t we desire as the government and the citizen to be the best state?
He further said that the indicators of the last five years shows an increase of expenditure from Rs 9000 crores to Rs 21000 crores, which shows that the state is moving forward.
“If Meghalaya has to move forward it is important to have such events. We need investment we need tourism to develop,” the Chief Minister said.
Pointing out that the strength with Meghalaya lies in agriculture, food procession, tourism, human resource, English language proficiency, he said these needs to be tapped for the state to grow. “I feel sad of the narrow vision. The youth will tell you how much opportunity they had in festivals. Yes there are expenditures, but nothing comes for free. We will also earn from sales of tickets.”
“We cannot be microscopic in our thought. We have to think big. If we continue to think in a small way, we will never grow,” he stated.
Basaiawmoit protested and said as per rules a call attention should not be debated and that the Chief Minster was taking advantage. “I am ready to debate with you. But it does not mean you take advantage of this call attention and express what you feel only. We also we have. When you talk about the mindset…, we also we know what is mindset. There is a difference between the mindset of a tribal and those brought up outside the state.”
The VPP leader went on to question the Chief Minister’s reply, “What kind of mindset you are talking. You think just because we raise the issue concerning the state that we are narrow-minded. Don’t try to insinuate,”
TMC leader, Dr Mukul Sangma also quoted the rules, that a brief statement is required in a call attention motion.
“I have understood the mind of the CM and I will debate with him one day,” Basaiawmoit concluded.
