Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has said the Centre is launching many big projects "which are in the conceptual stage" and the Himalayan region will get special status keeping in view its strategic locale.
Rijiju stressed on the need to preserve the age-old culture and traditions of the region with the changing times.
He was speaking at a day-long international conference cum workshop on challenges facing the Himalayan Region (Education, Health and Culture) at Tawang, bordering China yesterday.
Emphasising that road connectivity in the border areas of the country is his priority, Rijiju said, "The development of a region or an area is impeded if there is no good connectivity," an official release said today.
On the issue of unemployment in the region, he had already held discussions with the respective DGs of the central paramilitary forces for special relaxation provisions in recruitment policies for candidates belonging to the Northeast and Ladakh region.
"Without knowledge, religion is incomplete. We need to have faith in our religion and it should be a medium to propagate development in our society. We need monasteries and gompas, but along with it we need quality education and better medical facilities," he added.
Speaking on the inclusion of Bhoti language in the VIII schedule of the Constitution, which has been a long demand of the people of the district, Rijiju said there were guidelines for a language to be included in the schedule.
He said everyone needs to work together as a team in the interest of the whole Himalayan region.
Prominent Hollywood actor and Chairman of the Gere Foundation, Richard Gere who is also the Global Envoy of the IBC expressed his views on the proper development of youths in the modern age.
"As you educate your kids, you give them a sense of pride in their culture, in their religion and who they are as human beings, that is the future you can develop for the country," he said.
"I have a great fortune to travel across the world. I have seen some amazing things, amazing people and amazing cultures. You can be very proud of what you have here. Tawang is truly a hidden paradise and you live in a very special place," he said.
