THOUBAL, September 4: “Economic blockade will not affect only one particular community alone. It will affect every community living together in the State and lead us to economic deformation. So, it is time to raise our collective voice against blockades and bandhs.”
This was stated by Commerce & Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam while laying the foundation stone of the District Industrial Estate of Thoubal district at Kuraopokpi Village today.
The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Industrial Estate constructed under Micro-Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) scheme of Ministry of MSME, Government of India was organised by the department of Commerce and Industries, government of Manipur.
While the Commerce & Industries, Vety. & Animal Husbandary, Sericulture minister attended the ceremony as the chief guest, Kakching MLA Y Surchandra Singhattended as the functional president while Sugnu MLA K Ranjit, Wangjing Tentha MLA Paonam Brojen and Wabagai Md. Fajur Rahim were present as the guests of honour.
Govindas said the Micro Small Enterprises sector is the largest employment providing avenue next to the agricultural sector in the country, however, even after such a long time since Manipur attained statehood, there is only one industrial estate in the State located at Takyel.
After much effort of the present government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, there is now provision of setting up of industrial estates in every districts under the Micro-Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), said the Minister.
He added that setting up of industrial estates will bring economic growth as it will provide employment which in turn will raise the living standard of the people, and it is the local populace who will be getting the maximum benefits from the industrial estates, he added.
The people of Thoubal and Pallel are the first to get maximum benefits from India’s signing of the Free Trade Agreement with other Asian countries and setting up of Multi Logistic Hub at Pallel, as the two lie at the corridor of the Asian Highway, he said.
This will also boost and improve the economy of the State and bring economic development, he added.
The minister however questioned as to how all this growth and development are to be achieved if blockades and bandhs continue unabated halting all economic activities in the State.
The economic blockade is never heard of in other parts of the world except in Gaza, he said and added that in Manipur it has become the only option for some vested interested persons.
Now is the time for the people of Manipur to raise their voice in unison against economic blockades an bandhs in the State, he said.
L Lakher, principal secretary of Commerce & Industries, Tlangtinkhuma, director of Commerce & Industries, Ksh Subadani Devi, chairperson Kakching Municipality also attended the foundation stone laying ceremony besides others.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/time-to-raise-collective-voice-against-economic-blockade-govindas/