SHILLONG, JAN 20: Meghalaya’s Arts and Culture Minister and BJP MLA from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai, along with the state BJP president and senior party leaders, met Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi to seek the Centre’s support for preserving the state’s indigenous cultures.

Shullai said the delegation requested the Union Minister to initiate cultural schemes in Meghalaya to safeguard the traditional practices of the Seng Khasi, Seng Raid and Songsarek Garo communities.

The minister also proposed the setting up of a cultural heritage traditional market at the Mawlai CRPF camp to showcase the cultural richness of the North East. He said such an initiative would promote cultural tourism and provide a platform for traditional art forms and local artisans. The delegation urged the Union Minister to visit the proposed site to assess the project’s feasibility.

In addition, Shullai sought the Centre’s support for launching a tourism development scheme in the South Shillong constituency, including a proposed ropeway project, aimed at generating direct and indirect employment opportunities for local residents.

The meeting focused on strengthening Meghalaya’s cultural heritage and enhancing tourism infrastructure to support sustainable tourism development in the state.