Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Northeast holds immense potential to propel the country’s growth. He said, the 21st century belongs to the East, to Asia, and to India. Mr. Modi underscored that several north-eastern cities like Agartala, Guwahati, Gangtok, Aizawl, Shillong, Itanagar, and Kohima have huge potential like big cities.
The Prime Minister today inaugurated Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Friday. Highlighting the importance of Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, Mr. Modi said, this is the first and unique event which will open the huge investment opportunities in the North-eastern states. He said, this is a great opportunity for the farmers, artisans and craftsmen of the Northeast as well as investors from all over the world. He said, the government is connecting the Northeast with the trinity of Emotion, Economy and Ecology. The Prime Minister pointed out that Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav is a celebration of the brighter future of the Northeast and it is a festival of a new dawn of development, propelling the mission of a Viksit Bharat.
Prime Minister added that the North East had a major role to play in the solutions that today’s India wants to give to the world related to healthy lifestyle and nutrition. Mr Modi said that the Government had taken every possible step to connect the states of the North East with India’s growth story. He said, the Government had worked tirelessly to reduce the distance between Delhi and people of North East. The Prime Minister noted that the Government had started many special schemes for the North East like PM-DevINE, Special Infrastructure Development Scheme and North East Venture Fund. He added that these schemes had created many new employment opportunities. Highlighting the unprecedented work done in the social infrastructure in the North East, Prime Minister Modi remarked that Medical colleges were expanded along with construction of modern facilities for the treatment of diseases like cancer. He added that under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, lakhs of patients in the North East had received free treatment.
Earlier, at the event, children from North-Eastern states presented a sapling of Peepal tree Ashtalakshmi Plant to the Prime Minister. The three-day Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav highlights the vast cultural tapestry of Northeast India, bringing together an array of traditional arts, crafts, and cultural practices. The Mahotsav is a unique platform to highlight the region’s vibrant textile industry, artisanal crafts, tourism opportunities and unique products of all the eight North Eastern states. The biggest attraction is the Rural Haat Bazaar, showcasing produce and art from farmers and artisans of the region. Over 250 artisans are displaying unique handicrafts, handlooms, including 34 GI-tagged items.
