Shillong, Sept 28: Rajya Sabha MP Prof. Rakesh Sinha, who has been in the limelight for adopting the Kongthong village, on Tuesday expressed his desire to develop the village in such a way that Bollywood will prefer Kongthong.

Sinha said he has compared Kongthong with Srinagar and he finds it far better than Srinagar. According to him, the village is good but it requires the need to create a situation, infrastructure and all so that they (Bollywood) can come.

“I am approaching people from Bollywood to come and visit this place for their films but my ultimate objective of doing all this is with one paradigm,” stated Sinha while explaining that the paradigm he speaks of means ‘to protecting culture and nature and that nothing should be done which will disturb the local culture and nature’.

The MP, who was in the state to visit Kongthong and take stock of the issues faced by the villagers, informed that he also met with the Chief Minister.

Reconstruction of Shillong – Kongthong road

The MP informed that one of the issues that needs urgent attention is the road connectivity to Kongthong village from Shillong, which is in bad shape. He has taken this up with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who has ordered  reconstruction of the road.

“I am also thankful that he (Conrad) has allotted Rs 1 cr for Kongthong tourism development. He is very serious about the development of Kongthong,” mentioned Sinha.

The MP has now proposed to adopt three more villages which are Mawmang, Mawsohmad and Sder.

Form cooperative society

Sinha said a cluster of 12 villages can form one cluster and there can be cooperative society in which broom industry and honey can be developed so that actual benefit can go to the tribals.

Since the villagers are not getting enough, Sinha has proposed to the tribals to form the cooperative society since the Prime Minister has created a new portfolio, which will benefit them greatly.

R&D lab and museum for whistling practices at Kongthong

Kongthong came to the limelight after Sinha adopted this village and now it is also known internationally.

Sinha informed that he has proposed to the Centre and also solicits the support of state government that there is a kind of curiosity, knowledge and entertainment about the whistling practices, therefore a laboratory and a museum should be established at Kongthong and all other villages which are claiming that they also practice the same should be attached to it.

He added that there should be research and development on this practice of whistling, and also keep a record of it and protect it.

The MP is now pushing to develop the sites in Kongthong so that tourism will increase, which will help with creating more job opportunities, as well as promote local food, all of which will help the locals earn better.

“My focus is protecting nature and also protecting food culture. My focus is on socio economic and culture rather than political and other aspects,” added Sinha.