Dr Singh reviews preparations for forthcoming Madhavpur Mela in Gujarat

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on January 29, 2020, chaired a high level meeting with senior officials of the Gujarat Government here, to review preparations for the forthcoming Madhavpur Mela of Gujarat.

Secretary, DoNER, Dr Inder Jit Singh, Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), K Moses Chalai, and senior officers of NEC, besides Resident Commissioners/representatives of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur also participated.

Dr Singh directed the officials that events including cultural performances, crafts display and food festivals of the NER region be showcased in major cities of Gujarat including Ahmedabad to generate wider interest among the local population. He said the Madhavpur Mela will mark the cultural integration of Gujarat with the North-East under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ announced by PM Narendra Modi.

The annual fair is held at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar district and this year it will commence on April 2, 2020, a day after the Ram Navami festival. The eight States of the Northern Eastern Region will participate in a big way at the Madhavpur Mela

Madhavpur Ghed, a small but culturally significant village, is the place where, according to folklore, Lord Krishna married Rukmini, the daughter of King Bhishmaka. Madhavpur lies on the seashore, close to Porbandar. A 15th century Madhavrai temple marks the site. This event is commemorated by a cultural fair held every year commencing on Ram Navami. A colourful chariot carrying the idol of Lord Krishna circumnavigates the village and the festivities usually continue for five days, according to a PIB release.

The week-long ‘Utsav’ will see a vibrant cultural trail of art, dance, music, poetry, story-telling, and folk drama from Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and other North-Eastern States with the aim to integrate the rich cultures of the two regions.

Dr Singh later held a Review Meeting of the Ministry of DoNER. He was informed about the progress of utilisation of funds by different States under various schemes of NEC and MDoNER with special focus on Manipur, setting up of Bamboo Industrial Park in Dima Hasao district of Assam and digital/virtual classrooms in the NER, student hostels at JNU and Rohini and North-East Convention Centre (NECC) at Dwarka in New Delhi besides examining viability of introduction of sea plane at Brahmaputra River Front and Umrangso Reservoir under UDAN 3.0 of Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

During the meeting, Dr Singh, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the NEC, lauded the decision of the Union Cabinet on January 29,2020, approving allocation of thirty percent of the NEC’s allocation for new projects for focused development of deprived areas, neglected sections of society and emerging priority sectors.