SHILLONG, OCT 31: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has robustly defended the state government’s decision to hold festivals, including the Shillong Cherry Blossom festival citing impressive returns on investment.
He revealed that the government earned over ₹130 crore in revenue from an investment of around ₹20 crore made during the previous year’s edition, underscoring the festival’s significant economic impact.
“…roughly about Rs 20 crore plus minus was spent and we managed to get a return of almost Rs130 plus crores… So these are clear numbers which show that concerts and economies around festivals are productive and they prove that they do create jobs and they prove that it does bring up the brand value of the state,” Sangma told reporters on Friday.
Addressing criticism that the government is prioritizing festivals over other sectors, Sangma said, “When we look at development, then we have to see every aspect of development… We budget funds for every different sector and different activity.”
He also highlighted the government’s investments in various sectors, including education, health, and infrastructure.
“Education gets Rs3500 crores of our budget… We put funds in every sector because every sector has to grow,” the CM stated.
He emphasized that festivals like the Cherry Blossom have contributed to Shillong’s popularity as a tourist destination.
“Today Shillong is one of the most sought after destinations… Because of festivals and programs like these,” Sangma added further.
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