NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the North-East should be India’s gateway to South-East Asia and therefore connectivity of television and radio should be strengthened in that region.

He observed that these channels of communication should promote harmony in the states and take the country’s rich culture beyond the borders of India. Javadekar was addressing a delegation led by MP Bezbaruah with whom he had wide-ranging discussion on issues related to the North-Eastern region.

The discussions included recommendations for promoting north-east as a filming destination and featuring North-East films in the various film festivals.

Appreciating the talent among the people of this region, the minister observed that there should be better participation of the North-Eastern people in the various genres of information and entertainment. A constant dialogue and an inclusive approach were realized as the need of the hour in order to integrate the north-eastern brethren into the mainstream.

Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s initiative of better air-connectivity with the North-east, he called for a need to explore plans for integrating the north-east with the rest of India through telecom, digital, radio and TV connectivity.