Village connectivity is very significant nowadays because if facilities for communication are available then the jobless youths can venture by taking up business activities like homestay and opening of shops along the roadside. Agricultural produce can be easily transported to the main trading centres including Sohra and Shillong. Thus, employment opportunities like running of buses and taxis by locals will be available. Homestays are avenues for unemployed youths to take advantage of since projects costing about Rs 10 lakh will be provided out of which up to Rs 7 lakh would be subsidy and the remaining Rs 3 lakh would be loan. Imploring youths to be self-reliant and dynamic, he stressed upon gathering required information by visiting government departments to enquire about schemes and projects. Sadly, however, many of the schemes and projects which were started with enthusiasm and high expectation remain incomplete or abandoned due to various reasons. Authorities should, therefore, follow up at regular intervals so that the public’s hopes will not be futile.
Forgotten Trail
By the Editor
Quite a number of historically important places in Meghalaya are being ignored and neglected which may soon fade away from human’s memory. It is, therefore, imperative that they should be revived and revitalised so that citizens may become aware about the great and noble deeds of our heroes who had sacrificed their lives. The authorities need the cooperation and service of historians so that the present generation will be able to understand the heroic deeds of our forefathers in order to preserve distinct culture and identity. After a period of half-a-century, the villagers of Mawstep, Pyrda-Kukon and Rngidiengsai under Sohra constituency have woken up to the good news that their villages will be connected with Shillong-Sohra Highway. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong addressed a function held at Mawstep village after laying the base for the approximately three-kilometer road connecting the three villages at an estimated cost of Rs 11.76 crore under RIDF XXVI. The proposed road is near the famous David Scott’s Trail. The deputy chief minister also announced that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the 12km-long Mawkdok-Mawstep road is under process to be implemented under PMGSY III. Actually, the historical David Scott’s Trail starts from Rangshken village, about two kilometers from Mawngap village, and stretches up to Mawphlang village and down to Pyrda-Kukon. These places are important tourist destinations. Hope that the government will take notice of this.
Great civilisations throughout history paid great attention to the construction of roads and bridges so that trade and travel would flourish and armies could easily move. The Romans were magnificent road builders of the ancient and the statement, “All roads lead to Rome”, was very true. As trade and commerce increased, various European powers competed against each other for domination. Once they settled down, they built roads and bridges for easier communication and to control the natives. After independence in 1947, the Government of India laid great importance on village connectivity and which is being followed by respective state authorities.