Amid pressure to roll back the Cabinet decision to partially lift prohibition, Chief Minister N Biren Singh remains firm. Besides sale and distribution of local brew and IMFL in selected spots, he is now talking of establishing a beer factory based on pineapple and ginger in the state.
Speaking at a function at City Convention Centre in Imphal on Friday, he said the government is planning to establish a beer factory in the state using locally produced raw ingredients like pineapple and ginger.
As people from outside the state are becoming fond of our horticulture products, our local brews could be exported outside, he said, adding this would also encourage those people who had earlier carried poppy plantations to replace it with alternative crops like pineapple and ginger.
On lifting of prohibition, the Chief Minister stated that the Cabinet decision was taken after holding thorough discussion and taking recommendation from committees formed earlier in this regard. Elaborating on the matter he stated that some communities have been producing local liquor as part of their custom and as such the Government hadn’t been able to ban such production.
He informed that a team from outside the State had been engaged to check the process of the production in such places and to bring up to a certain level of standard so that the liquors could be exported outside the State.
Expressing that the State Government has taken the step not only for earning revenue but in consideration of the health of people, he informed that the Government is drafting a rule in this regard and sought suggestions from Civil Society Organisations and experts.
The Chief Minister was speaking at the launch of the 1st Batch Trainees of the State Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (SIHM), Manipur and Interaction of Chief Minister Manipur through video conferencing with trainees of “Industry Link Training Programme of 2000 Trainees for ITES” held at City Convention Centre today.
The programme was organized by the Department of Tourism and Department of Information & Technology, Government of Manipur.
Continuing his speech, Biren stated that the State’s future lies in the tourism sector and so the State Government has been putting in every effort to bring positive change in the State.
Mentioning that the State’s scenic beauty, its climate and the decency of people are praised by many tourists, he added that the State Government has started developing many tourist spots including Sangai Ethnic Park at Moirang Khunou, Loktak Lake, INA Memorial and the 120 feet tall Sagol Kangjei statue at Marjing.
The Chief Minister also informed that the State Government had completed recruitment and announcement of the result of 4,500 posts of Government services in the last five years out of 12,500 vacant posts of various Departments of the State. Results for around 5,500 posts are yet to be announced. The Government is working to fill various other vacant posts, he added.
Shri N. Biren expressed happiness on learning that staff appointed for functioning of the State Institute of Hotel Management are from the State itself and that students from different parts of the State are pursuing the course. Wishing all the students in their future endeavours, he appealed to the youths to work for the service of the State adding that the future of Manipur lies with the youths.
Chairman, Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd Karam Shyam stated that youths should take a bigger role in taking the State towards development. Stating that tourism sectors hold a crucial stake in development, he urged youths to showcase beautiful places of the State harnessing the advanced technology.
Mentioning that improved law and order is important for development of the tourism sector in the State, Shri Karam Shyam added that Manipur Tourism will take a key role in shaping the youths of the State. He also appealed to the public to share only valuable knowledge and information about the State to attract more tourists.
Chief Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, while delivering the keynote address, stated that the day was historic in the State so far as skilling and employment is concerned as two important sectors including Tourism and Information Technology had come together in the programme. This shows that the State was serious in harnessing the potentials of skill, IT manpower and people in hospitality industries, he added.
He continued that the State Institute of Hotel Management has 60 seats for Degree Course and can go up to 240 students for Diploma Course per Year. The institute will give the much-needed platform for getting good job opportunities, he added. He was also hopeful that the institute would provide trained manpower for the domestic tourism industry within the State.
He informed that the State Government is taking up an ambitious ADB funded Loktak Mega Eco-Tourism Project and the project would most likely be sanctioned by May next year. With this, the State will have a world class eco-tourism destination, he added.
During the programme, a video on State Institute of Hotel Management (SIHM) and a testimonial video of ITES students sponsored by the Department of Information & Technology, Government of Manipur were shown. The Chief Minister also distributed study materials to SIHM students.
Later, N Biren Singh had a virtual interaction with ITES students in Jaipur and Guwahati.
Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar, Transport Minister Khashim Vashum, Administrative Secretaries, officials of Department of Tourism, Department of Information & Technology, students and staff of SIHM also attended the programme among others.
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