A two-day conference of Tourism and Culture Ministers of North Eastern States begins today in Guwahati

Tourism can be a game-changer that can bring socio-economic change in the nation especially in NE region: Shri G. Kishan Reddy

Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned under PRASHAD scheme for a number of projects in the region: Shri G. Kishan Reddy

Infrastructural development in North East will enhance the tourism potential: Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the country is seeing development in every sector: MoS, Tourism Shri Ajay Bhatt

“Tourism can be a game-changer that can bring socio-economic change in the nation especially in NE region,” said Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DoNER while addressing the inaugural session of a conference here today. The two-day conference of Tourism and Culture Ministers of North Eastern States has been organized under the Chairmanship of Minister of Tourism, Culture, and DONER, to discuss the development of tourism and issues related to connectivity in the North Eastern Region. Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister of State for Tourism and Defence Shri Ajay Bhatt also graced the inaugural session of the conference.

While addressing the forum, Shri G. Kishan Reddy said that under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme, which focuses on integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits, the Ministry has sanctioned 16 projects in the North-Eastern region. He further added that his ministry is giving special emphasis on developing infrastructure, ground capacity, and skills in the Northeast region. He said that the tourism ministry is also providing branding and marketing assistance to the northeast region through its various schemes and flagship initiatives.

Shri Reddy informed that under the PRASHAD schemes the ministry has sanctioned a number of projects in the region. Approximately Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned for these projects, he added.

Talking about the initiatives under DoNER ministry the minister informed that in the budget of 2021-22, the budget allocation to Northeastern states is Rs 68,020 crore. He urged all the state governments in the region to submit viable proposals so that the full amount allocated across various ministries can be successfully utilized.

Chief Minister of Assam Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that a holistic approach is required for the development of the tourism sector in NE zone. As a whole, the North East as a brand has to be promoted, and connectivity and infrastructure facilities need to be developed, he added.

Union Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwalin his address said that tourism development is the core subject of this conference and North East has all the potential for it. The North Eastern States has made their own identity in various sectors and each State has unique talent and potential, he said. Asserting that the infrastructural development in North East will enhance the tourism development the minister said that the development in the tourism sector will automatically help the other allied sectors to develop and it will help the nation to grow. Talking about Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision he said that according to our Prime Minister without the development of North East India the overall development of the country is not possible.

Union Minister of State for Tourism and Defence Shri Ajay Bhatt said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership the country is seeing development in every sector.

In today’s event, a MoU between the Ministry of Tourism and IRCTC was signed for cooperation in promoting domestic tourism and development of new tourism products.

Senior officials from various Central Ministries, State Governments in the region as well as industry representatives participated in the conference. The conference aimed to apprise the participants about the several projects and initiatives being undertaken by the Central Government for the development of the northeast region.

 

Shri G Kishan Reddy takes charge as Union Tourism Minister
Shri Ajay Bhatt also took charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism

Union Minister Shri G Kishan Reddy took charge as Union Tourism Minister at Transport Bhavan in New Delhi today. Simultaneously, Shri Ajay Bhatt also took charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism. The other new Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik was also present on the occasion.

Shri Kishan Reddy has also been assigned the charge of Union Minister of Culture as well as Development of North-Eastern Region. He was earlier holding the charge of Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Speaking to media, Sh. Reddy said that the Ministry will work to fulfill the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘New India’ by investing in strengthening our cultural roots and promoting the Tourism sector.

Shri G Kishan Reddy was elected as a Member of Parliament to 17th Lok Sabha in 2019, from Secunderabad Constituency, Telangana.

Sh Reddy has led several unique initiatives like his work for the child-heart patients which became a movement and won him the Best Child-Friendly Legislator Award in the AP Legislative Assembly by UNICEF (United Nations). He also started a campaign against terrorism and organised International Youth Conference against Terrorism (IYCT) in New Delhi in which over 193 delegates participated from over 54 countries. He also conducted “Seema Suraksha Jagaran Yatra and ‘Telangana Poru Yatra’.

Sh Reddy has also received the Outstanding Youth Leadership Award for the year 2009 by Maryland India Business Round Table (MIBRT), USA and Conferred a medal by Union of Bulgarian Commandos for his contribution towards Global Peace at Sophia, Bulgaria.

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, who people affectionately and respectfully refer to as ‘Kishananna’, is a live example of what one can achieve through sheer determination and hard work. He has travelled extensively across the world representing India and its young leadership in various for a which includes his visits to USA, Israel, China, Nepal, France, U.K., Canada, Morocco, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Singapore, Egypt, Thailand, Hong Kong.

Shri Ajay Bhatt is an advocate by profession and has been a Member of various important committees at National Level. He is from Uttarakhand and elected to 17th Lok Sabha from Nainital Udham Singh Nagar Constituency. He is Widely travelled and has got keen interest in social and cultural activities.