New Delhi, November 18: Emphasizing the need for paying special attention on the growing unemployment and unrest among the youth in the North Eastern Region of the country, Manipur Governor Dr.S.S.Sidhu urged the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council to take more initiatives towards capacity building through skill upgradation of the youths and for employment generation programmes in the Eleventh Five year Plan.

Speaking at the two-day long 53rd NEC meeting here which concluded on Thursday last, Dr.Sidhu reminded the NEC to vigorously continue to promote and exploit the potential of sports persons of the region.

The NEC might continue to support for infrastructure development of sports and in organizing several national and international meets in the region and Manipur.

Expressing importance for maintenance of security, public order and peace in the region, Manipur Governor said, � While there should be no let up in our commitment and efforts to effectively tackle the insurgency problem, the common people should not be made the casualty of our policies and suffer�.

The door for dialogue with the UG groups should be kept open and infrastructure development of the region be expedited, he said.

He reiterated the importance for development of Moreh, the border town in Manipur as a gateway for border trade with the neighbouring countries in South - East Asia.

He stated that with �Look East� policy of the Government of India, the north eastern states were in an enviable position to capitalise on our locational advantage and go into further for promotion and development of products for export.

He highlighted that Moreh town, with the proposed ASEAN Highway passing through it, should be developed as one of the SEZ programmes of NEC on priority under Eleventh Plan.

Other potential centres of the NE region like Guwahati in Assam and Nathula Pass of Sikkim should also be developed as SEZ for maximum boost of tourism and trade of NE region with the neighbouring countries, he added.

Stressing the importance of tourism activities in the NE region, he said tourism is one such activity that could be taken up profitably in the region in view of its scenic beauty, rich bio-diversity, art, crafts and culture.

He asserted, �Tourism is the fastest track of socio-economic development and its role in poverty alleviation and employment generation is well-organized�.

Recalling to the decision for setting up the North East Tourism Development Council in the last NEC meeting, Manipur Governor said that not much had happened by way of follow-up action since then.

He mentioned that Manipur Government had already submitted an Action Plan for Tourism Development in Manipur.

In the Action Plan, it proposed, among others, to develop Integrated Development of Tourist destination at Mao and Jiribam and Integrated Development of Tourist Circuit on Imphal-Thoubal-Chandel-Tengnoupal-Moreh, he added.

For creation of sustainable employment in the NE region, Dr.Sidhu laid the importance of agriculture and allied activities.

He proposed the NEC to consider accommodating and extending the umbrella sche mes like multiple cropping, horti-silviculture and regeneration of bamboo for Manipur and indicating state-wise outlays for these schemes in the region.

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