Efforts on to bring misguided youths to mainstream: Rijiju

Imphal, April 2 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday efforts are on to bring the misguided youths to the national mainstream.

He was speaking here in the Digi Mela — a government initiative that plans to make cashless transactions popular among the people.

"The true identity of the people of the northeast is wrongly interpreted. The natural beauty is also pushed in the background," Rijiju said.

"It pains me when somebody asks me whether it is safe to visit the northeast," the minister said.

People are afraid of bomb blasts and other violent incidents, he added.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who was also present at the function, said that internet connectivity would be provided in the interior regions and appealed to the major banks to open branches in the remote areas.

He said: "Cancer is a common fatal disease in Manipur. Therefore, the central government has allowed us to open a 100-bedded cancer ward in J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences here."

The Chief Minister also said the central government has sanctioned Rs 150 crore for constructing marketing complexes in all the hill districts. "Such developmental projects will help bring the people closer," he said.

Biren said floodlights would be installed in the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal.