Manipur Cultural Integration Conference will get a hall

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, October 22, 2018: Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh has said that cultural exchange brings love and amity among people at the concluding function of the year-long Golden Jubilee celebration of Manipur Cultural Integration Conference (MCIC) at its premises at Palace Compound, Thangapat Mapal in Imphal East today.

Biren said he was overwhelmed on hearing the past works and contributions of MCIC towards maintaining cordial relation between the hill people and valley people. The so-called hill-valley divide could have been avoided had the then successive governments sought suggestions from MCIC and adopted its thoughts, he observed.

The chief minister said there has been considerable improvement in the hill-valley ties ever since the ‘Go to Hill’ mission was introduced.

The chief minister said as a result of his suggestions to the Centre regarding the urgent need for a topographical-need-based budget in the states like Manipur where there are both hill and valley areas, the Centre had introduced Hill Areas Development Fund. Biren further said of the 82 districts of the country shortlisted for Hill Areas Development Fund for 2017-18 fiscal year, Tamenglong district had been included. Now the district would receive an additional fund of Rs. 90 crore for developmental works under Hill Areas Development Fund, he informed.

The chief minister also announced that the government would construct a hall for MCIC soon.

Manipur Speaker Yumnam Khemchand, MCIC president A. Brajakumar Sharma MLAs

N. Indrajit andTh. Satyabrata also attended the function among others.

Artistes of Shri Shri Govindaji Nata Sankirtan, Wangkhei, Thadou Cultural Troupe, Motbung and Kalyan Ashram Manipur presented cultural programmes at the function. On the other hand, the dignitaries feted past members of MICIC.

The chief minister and the Speaker led the gathering in paying floral tributes to the late members of MCIC.