Shillong, August 25: The Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma today attended the Valedictory Function of the Two Days’ International Seminar on Cross Border Connectivity & Inclusive Growth: Possibilities and Challenges with Special Reference to the North East Region at Shillong College. The function also marked the closing of the year long Diamond Jubilee Celebration. The function was also attended by Minister, Home etc H D R Lyngdoh.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma said that Shillong College has contributed in the overall growth and prosperity of the state and Shillong in particular. “Institutions are the instruments for effective collaboration and partnership with the government for the overall growth and development,” he said. He added that Education invariably remains as the main instrument in bringing inclusive growth by empowering the people with knowledge, skill and wisdom.
He said that the legacy of Shillong as the centre of Education has to be restored and it is important for all concerned particularly the government to look at how Education can be leveraged upon not just to provide quality education but utilize Education as an instrument for generating the right kind of opportunities and spaces for job seekers.
The Chief Minister added that the seminar is befitting and relevant in the context of North East. He said that the country shares a long international boundary with other countries and the challenge the country faces is that the borders have not been effectively taken advantage of for growth and prosperity of the region. “This is one of the reasons that in spite of the potentialities in the midst of abundance we have the challenges of creating opportunities”, he said. He added that international borders should become borders of prosperity.
Dr Sangma further said that Meghalaya is positioned in such a way that the state has to take the lead role in promoting cross border connectivity. He added that connectivity is multi pronged and the issue of cross border connectivity requires more aggressive participation of all stakeholders and such seminars should be collectively captured, documented and articulated so that it resonates at the highest levels.Earlier, the Chief Minister released ISBN Publications and also felicitated retired staff of the college.
