Sohra gets ready

The lockdown will have to come to an end one day or the other, while the human race will also be able to defeat COVID-19 sooner or later. And the people will have to get back to business so that normalcy returns faster and the economy is put back on the rails. Given this optimism, Sohra – as Cherrapunjee, once the wettest place on earth, is nowadays called – has already started gearing up to receive tourists once the situation improves. Keeping this in mind Titos W Chyne, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Sundy personally led a team of volunteers to spray disinfectants at various parts of picturesque Sohra, which is one of the biggest tourist hotspots in Meghalaya. The disinfecting team led by the CEM, who also happens to be the MDC of Sohra constituency started from Laitryngew village, and went around the Sohra Market and other localities like Pdendshnong, Marai, Saitsohpen, Lad Thanad, and the Sohra Police Station before concluding the operation at the CRPF Camp. It is not that tourists will rush to Sohra immediately after the lockdown is lifted or COVID-19 disappears. What's however important is that a subtle campaign for keeping Sohra in the minds of the people needs to be carried on, lockdown or no lockdown, so that people planning for a break after the return of normalcy can consider heading for the beautiful place which was once headquarters of the Khasi & Jaintia Hills before it was shifted to Shillong. Governments, local authorities and more particularly tourism officials and the private stakeholders of the tourism industry in other states of the Northeast can their take cue from Sohra and begin launching a subtle campaign now itself.