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Sushma stresses on greater northeast India-southeast Asia connectivity
New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) With India continuing to boost its ties with the Asean regional bloc under New Delhi’s Act East Policy, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called for greater connectivity between the northeastern states of India and southeast Asia.
At an interactive session with the Chief Ministers of the northeastern states on the Act East Policy, she said that state governments of the northeastern region were active stakeholders in the Policy.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, she said that “greater connectivity and economic integration of India’s northeast with its eastern neighbours was considered a key focus area for growth and development of the region”.
“India’s Act East Policy had received a major boost following the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Commemorative Summit, which was held in New Delhi on January 25, 2018,” the statement said.
The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Look East Policy, launched by then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in the 1990s, was formally enunciated as the Act East Policy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Asean-India Summit in Myanmar in 2014.
Focussing on India’s extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region, the policy, originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation.
Friday’s interactive session deliberated on the northeast Indian region’s intra-regional and sub-regional surface and air linkages, focusing on seamless connectivity with its contiguous neighbourhood.
“Continued development of relevant infrastructure both within the state and at international borders was also discussed with a view to enhancing trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties,” the statement said.
The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh (Manipur), Chief Minister Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland), Chief Minister Biplab Deb (Tripur) and Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar were also present as also officials from other central government ministries and departments of the northeastern states.
Addressing the meeting, Sonowal, whose state is the only one with a separate Act East Policy Department, said that connectivity is the most crucial factor in furthering India’s relations with southeast Asia.
“Therefore, it is imperative to focus on improved airways, roadways, waterways, railways and information ways in this region,” he said.
“In order to establish air links with Asean and BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) countries, there is a need to launch direct flights between the capitals of Asean and BBIN countries and Guwahati.”
Sonowal also emphasised on the importance of development of mainland India-Bangladesh-northeast India corridors such as between Agartala-Dhaka-Kolkata, Silchar-Dhaka-Kolkata and Shillong-Dhaka-Kolkata.
“Development of road access to Chittagong port (in Bangladesh) also holds immense potential for growth of the region.”
Stating that waterways is another vital sector, he said that before India’s independence, the region had access to sea route through the Chittagong port and “Assam tea was exported throughout out the world through this route”.
He also called for early completion of the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project that will connect the Sittwe port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India.
On Thursday, in an informal interaction with journalists here, Sonowal said that the Act East Policy is a “golden opportunity” for northeast India.
“The more we strengthen connectivity and transportation with the Asean countries, the more we will prosper,” he said.
Noting that Prime Minister Modi has given a new narrative that the Northeast is the new growth engine for new India, he said that “we have to work as a growth engine in the near future”.
“For that, the states in the Northeast will have to take their own respective initiatives. The Indian government will build the bridge for linkage (with southeast Asia). The rest of the follow-up actions are on us.”
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
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