Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, along with Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, today inaugurated tourism amenities named as “The Travellers Nest” at Kyiem village in Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills.
The Travellers Nest has five cottages and a restaurant to cater to the need of visitors.
Inaugurating the infrastructure, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of community engagement in driving the state’s economic model. “Our strength lies in community involvement, which we are leveraging for our economic model,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the collective responsibility of various stakeholders, including the government, community, and public at large, he said, “Meghalaya’s progress cannot be achieved in isolation. Every stakeholder has a role to play, and identifying these roles while keeping the ultimate goal in mind is crucial”.
Sangma expressed his optimism about the role of initiatives under tourism he said, “Our goal is to create close to one lakh job opportunities in the sector through various interventions by stakeholders.”
He also informed that the newly launched CM Elevate program the government is offering substantial subsidies ranging from 30 per cent to 75 per cent for projects initiated by different entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and other entities.
He also informed the gathering on the significance of improved road infrastructure in the state. He said that the ongoing improvement and construction of road from Mawphlang to Weiloi is testimony of government’s commitment to prioritizing road connectivity.
The Chief Minister also flagged off eight Prime Tourism Vehicles.
A bio fertilizer unit was also inaugurated in the village, which aims to promote organic practices and ensure an adequate supply of organic fertilizers.
“Our objective is to promote organic farming across the state, and this bio fertilizer unit is a key component of that strategy,” the Chief Minister he stated.
He emphasized that providing a consistent and affordable supply of organic fertilizers is essential to realize the goals of the organic movement.
“Organic farming relies on the availability of organic fertilizers. If we fail to ensure their accessibility in the right quantities, at the right prices, and at the right time, our efforts are in vain,” he said.
At present, the state’s demand for organic fertilizers is approximately 25,000 metric tonnes. As organic farming gains traction and expands across various regions, this demand is anticipated to increase steadily, he added.
He further informed that the plant is part of the larger mission to promote organic cultivation and protect the environment.