CM assures increased budget allocation for Start-up scheme

Imphal, Sep 20 (DIPR)
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that Manipur is gifted with rich natural wealth and beauty and the people of the State have enormous talents.
He was speaking at the Manipur Start Up Conclave, 2019 and the launching of MyGov Manipur at City Convention Centre, Imphal, today.
Speaking as the chief guest of the function, the Chief Minister said that he is delighted to see youths coming out with ideas, initiatives and innovations that would bring changes in the society.
He mentioned that for decades, due to insurgency, Manipur has gone through a difficult period when imaginations and innovative ideas were curtailed.
However after the present Government came to power, peace was restored and a new chapter has been started in the State, he added.
Biren said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Startup India was taken up with the objective of building a strong start-up ecosystem for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
Similarly in Manipur, Manipur Start-Up was initiated for enabling the eco-system to support and nurture startups in the region, he said.
Expressing happiness over the potential of the youths and their talents, ideas and innovations, the Chief Minister assured that the Government would increase the budget allocation for Manipur Start-up Scheme.
He mentioned that this year, a total of 3966 applicants were received out of which 798 were shortlisted.
98 startups under revenue stage, 579 startups under idea stage and 177 others were selected to provide loans under the scheme, he said while thanking banks including SBI, Bank of Baroda, UBI, MSCB etc for supporting and encouraging the entrepreneurs of the State.
Stating that the State has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, the Chief Minister said that the future of Manipur lies in the tourism sector.
He maintained that the Government is planning to take up a tourism project where an MLA would develop a tourist spot in their constituency to attract tourists.
In the last two years and half, arrival of foreign tourist has been increasing significantly from 500-600 per year during 2014-15 and 2015-16 to above 10,000 tourists every month since 2017 onwards, he added.
Expressing concern over the steep rise in the price of local rice in the State, he said that the Government is enforcing the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act to save the State's paddy fields.
There is a need for vertical expansion rather than horizontal expansion of construction works in the State, he added.
He stated that the Government is planning to replace the diesel auto-rickshaws with e-rickshaws to minimise air and noise pollution in Imphal city area and urged banks to provide loans to the auto drivers who want to procure e-rickshaws to replace their diesel-autos.
During the programme, brief presentations of six selected successful start-ups were showcased.
The Chief Minister and other dignitaries distributed grants and sanction letters to be borne by the State Government to the selected start-ups and entrepreneurs.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, HoDs of various departments, officials of different departments and others attended the function.