Shillong, Feb 11: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that the concept of Smart Villages is not to stop urbanization, but to give opportunities to people to stay in villages.

Taking part in the Special Talk on Smart Villages, the Chief Minister in his remarks said, “urbanization is taking place, and the concept of Smart Villages is not to stop urbanization but to give an opportunity to people who want to stay in villages.”

The Special Talk was hosted by Prof Solomon Darwin, Executive Director, Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation, Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley which was organized by Synod College in collaboration with P A Sangma Foundation at the auditorium of the College.

“Lack of opportunities and infrastructure have forced people to move to urban areas,” he said.

He informed that with the help of technology, the basic services of Health, Education and Livelihood would be brought to the doorstep.

The Chief Minister also said that fear of dilution should not be a reason to deprive people of technology and development even at the grassroot level.

Earlier in his address Prof Darwin said that a Smart Village is a community empowered by Digital Technologies and Open Innovation Platforms to access Global Markets.