Stress on technological advancement

Assam education minister Sarat Borkataky has called for having grassroots-level innovation in technology to help solve real local problems in a meaningful manner.

Addressing a function in Guwahati on Friday, he said to make the state an enterprising one, every household must adopt and use technology. He said there is a dire need for grassroots-level innovation in technology that will help solve real local problems in a meaningful manner.
The exposition aims at enabling and empowering the Northeast through information and communication technology.

Borkataky said the state was ready for the next IT revolution with large number of private engineering colleges along with the existing government engineering colleges that have come up during last 10 years.
In his speech, forest minister Atuwa Munda dwelt at length the benefits of IT in forest department. He  said the forest department uses GPS and camera trapping methods to track and monitor wildlife.

Parliamentary secretary Mansing Rongpi said IT is a necessity and not a luxury and is relevant to areas in Northeast where there is no connectivity in far flung areas.
BJP leader Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it was high time for the region to join hands instead of squabbling over petty issues to become a vibrant economic zone.

The legends comprised Pradip Kumar Sarmah, founder of Rickshaw Bank, from Assam, Hekani Jakhalu, lawyer turned social worker from Nagaland; Ragesh Keisham, founder of CC Team, for empowering people of his state Manipur and Anwaruddin Choudhury, Lalthanzami, a survivor of domestic violence who now runs safe homes for  women in Mizoram; H.H. Mate from Manipur, for contribution to literature, education, science and social work; Charles Born Rapthap, for showing the way for horticulture farmers in a Meghalaya hamlet, Birubala Rabha, a crusader against witch hunting in Assam, Chandrakanta Murasingh, a poet who contributed to the development of Kokborok language, of Tripura; Chekrovolu Swuro, Arjuna awardee archer from Nagaland; Tapi Mra, first Everester from Arunachal Pradesh and Madhusudan Das, an artist who works with street children and prisoners, from Assam.