Sangma meets Niti Aayog members, talks tourism, agroforestry

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday stressed the need to develop Himalayan states with focus on tourism and agroforestry, during his meeting with Niti Aayog members here, a statement said.

Sangma also said that his government aims to provide sustainable means of livelihood to its people.

"The meeting discussed the need for developing the Himalayan region, which Meghalaya is a part of. Sustainable tourism, spring shed development, agroforestry and plantation of oil seeds during fallow were some of the issues deliberated on during the meeting," the official statement said.

VK Saraswat, who led the Niti Aayog team, maintained that migration of people from the Hill regions to the plains is one of the major causes of concern for the region.

Several members of the policy thinktank, during the meeting, recommended creating a database for springshed management in the state, which in the long run would benefit farming practices, the statement said.

Saraswat, on his part, suggested that regional centres should be set up in the states to generate awareness about the opportunities available in the region, it added.