Shillong, Oct 4: Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated the “New India-We Resolve to Make” programme here on Wednesday.

The five-day Mega exhibition cum seminar was organised by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) and Oil India Limited at All Saints’ Hall, Shillong.
In his address, the Minister said that Sankalp se Siddhi, aimed at good governance, is a five-year plan under which new India movement from 2017 to 2022 would take place.

“The nation has come a long way after gaining independence from the British rule. India has excelled in every sphere of life and created a mark in the world arena. We feel proud about the achievements and landmark moments that have made our nation into one of the fastest developing economies. We are also filled in with a sense of nostalgia when we look back at the invaluable contributions made by our freedom fighters. The freedom movement was a crowning moment of the untiring toil of our leaders like Mahatma Gandhi who made supreme sacrifices for the noble cause of gaining independence,” he said.

Acknowledging the historical significance of Shillong, the Minister said that Meghalaya has seen the sacrifices of many freedom fighters.
He said, the Britishers in Meghalaya were confronted with serious uprisings by the Khasis against foreign occupation of their land under the leadership of the great freedom fighter U Tirot Sing.
The minister expressed his satisfaction that his ministry is culminating the Sankalp Se Siddhi programme, a nationwide programme which started on August 25 this year in Shillong, the beautiful town which also served as the summer capital of the Eastern Bengal for several years.
“Shillong was an integral part of the erstwhile Assam province, during the colonial period and also after the Independence as its capital, till Meghalaya attained statehood in the year 1972,” he said.

Explaining the ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ programme the minister said, “it is the dream of the Prime Minister to see a new India that is free of garbage, poverty, corruption, terrorism, casteism and communalism five years from now, that is by 2022. These are like six diseases which are creating obstacles in the progress of the country. Today in the year 2017 we take pledge that we will get rid of these diseases and come together to build a ‘New India’ by 2022, the 75th year of independent India”.
He appealed that everyone should contribute their share in making this dream a reality and follow the pledge of New India- Sankalp se Siddhi in letter and spirit.

The minister also administered pledge of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ to the gathering.
Replying to a query regarding schemes for the Northeast, the minister said, “Northeast has always been a focus area for us. This government is always exhorting its ministers to visit the states of the Northeast and submit suggestions in their reports as what type of interventions are needed for development and good governance of the North East”.

The programme was also attended by officials of the Ministry of the Parliamentary Affairs, Oil India Limited and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.