228/2022-2023
Aizawl, the 4th November 2022 : The Hon’ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu, on her two-day visit to Mizoram, addressed the Special Session of the Eighth Mizoram Legislative Assembly in Aizawl today.

Welcoming the Hon’ble President to the August House, the Hon’ble Speaker of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Shri Lalrinliana Sailo expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the President for being elected as the 15th and the first President of India from the tribal community. He said that with the President’s help and under the guidance of the Hon’ble Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, the state of Mizoram will doubtlessly witness a considerable progress.

In his address, the Hon’ble Governor of Mizoram Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati welcomed and thanked the President for her visit to the state within a few months of occupying the highest office. The Governor said that Mizoram has been an exemplary state in matter of conduct of legislators as well as the peaceful nature of the people themselves, faithfully following the concept of ‘unity in diversity’ among the various ethnic groups in the state. He said that the President’s visit will serve as a source of motivation for the legislators to work even more effectively in the discharge of their duties and will also send a message to the young girls and women of the state that with hard work, they can achieve everything in life. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the visit and wished that the Hon’ble President might grace them with her visit again in the future.

The Hon’ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu, in her Address to the Eighth Mizoram Legislative Assembly today, said that she was glad to be in Mizoram, a land much blessed by nature, for the first time since occupying the office. She thanked them for the warm welcome accorded to her. The Hon’ble President congratulated the Mizoram Legislative Assembly for celebrating its Golden Jubilee in May this year and applauded the past and present Members of the House, who gave their best efforts to give expression to people’s voices, for being true representatives of the citizens and for always keeping the larger interests of the state while fulfilling their duty as lawmakers. Pointing out the fact that India is celebrating ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahatsov’, which marked the 75th year of freedom from colonial rule, the President said that such historical landmarks serve as a useful function to remind us of our living links with the past. She remarked that this is the time when the dreams of those who made sacrifices spoke with urgency, in order that the present citizens of the nation introspect on their dreams and take inspiration from their struggles, in order to continue on the path to people-oriented development. The President mentioned that though the topography of the state posed special challenges for development, Mizoram had done remarkably well on all parameters, especially when it came to human development. The President also observed that the unique ‘Ayushman Bharat’ initiative, which aims to provide an inclusive healthcare coverage, has immensely benefitted the State. Pointing out that the biggest challenge in realizing the potential of such a region was connectivity, the Hon’ble President said that special stress has been placed on the development of village roads, highways and bridges, which will not only help in meeting the education and healthcare goals but could also help unleash economic opportunities. She mentioned that a number of initiatives were underway with the final aim to improve the ease of living and that under Digital India, Mizoram will benefit greatly from the variety of initiatives from the Union and State governments and achieve its true potential. The President also pointed out that the development of Mizoram and the rest of North East was key to the nation scaling new heights. The Act East Policy placed emphasis on the North East for improving the ties with South East Asia and Asia Pacific region. She expressed her hope Mizoram contribute to and benefit from the nation’s endeavour to engage with the neighbours in the region.

Proposing the Vote of Thanks, the Leader of the House, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Zoramthanga thanked the Hon’ble President for addressing the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, mentioning that such an event happened occasionally but not frequently. He thanked the Government of India for proposing and electing a lady from the Scheduled Tribe community to lead the country. He mentioned that the time-tested Peace Accord signed in 1986 has been successful in making Mizoram the most peaceful state in the country. He also said that though Mizoram was not rich materially, the unmatched peace and tranquility in the state were its most valuable features and the envy of neighbours, a priceless product that the state could export to the rest of the world.

After addressing the Special Session of the Eighth Mizoram Legislative Assembly, the Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu immediately left for the airport and departed Aizawl from Lengpui at 1150 hrs. for the next leg of her tour to Sikkim.