350/2022-2023 

Lunglei the 28th February, 2023 - Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Smt Renuka Singh Saruta reached Lunglei town, the capital of Lunglei District in Mizoram for a two days visit yesterday. This is the Hon'ble Minister's maiden visit to Mizoram.

The Minister was accompanied from Aizawl by Shri Madhup Vyas, Secretary, Social Welfare & Tribal Affairs, Government of Mizoram and Pi Zodingpuii, Director, Women & Child Development, Social Welfare & Tribal Affairs Department. They were received at Kawmzawl Helipad in Lunglei by Lunglei DC Smt Ramdinliani and other officials.

The Minister yesterday inaugurated the Mara Tribal Girls’ Hostel at Lunglawn, Lunglei and also held a review meeting with the Heads of Offices of Lunglei District. The Hon’ble Minister also held an interaction with NGO & Tribal leaders of the District and also visited Vocational Training Centre, Chanmari, Civil Hospital Lunglei Chanmari, & Eklavya Model Residential School, Pukpui on her second day in Lunglei.

The Hon’ble Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Smt Renuka Singh Saruta informed the people of Lunglei District that her visit to Mizoram is as per instructions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. The Hon’ble Minister said that the Union Government has been implementing many schemes and measures for the upliftment of minorities and tribals, and that the people of Mizoram should make maximum use of these schemes for further development of the State. The Minister also stressed on the importance of gender equality & women empowerment, and stated that the Union Government, under the able leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, is encouraging more women to take up leadership positions, as is evidenced by the President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu, Finance Minister of India Smt Nirmala Sitharaman & other women leaders. She expressed hope that the Mara Tribal Girls’ Hostel would go a long way in fostering growth & development of tribal girls of Mizoram. The Minister also praised the people of Mizoram for their peace loving culture, and their commitment to safeguarding the international border.

At the review meeting with the Heads of Offices of Lunglei District, Deputy Commissioner Pi Ramdinliani gave a presentation on a brief profile of Lunglei District and projects undertaken by various Departments in the District.  Various Centrally sponsored schemes in the District were discussed at length in the meeting. The Minister reminded the District level officials to always put citizens’ welfare first, and to always ensure that their schemes reach the grassroots level of the society. She instructed them to thoroughly study the schemes under the Tribal Affairs Ministry so as to take maximum advantage of them for upliftment of citizens.

The Hon’ble Minister also held an interaction with NGO & Tribal leaders of the District and had a long fruitful interaction with them on the socio-economic conditions of the State, and the various gaps that need to be addressed. Leaders of key NGOs in Mizoram such as Young Mizo Association, Mizo Upa Pawl, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl, Village Council leaders, leaders of the Bru community were present at this interaction. The NGOs submitted their requirements in writing to the Hon’ble Minister.

During her visit, the Hon’ble Minister also paid homage to the late freedom fighter Pu Darthawma Renthlei in his home town of Lunglei. 

The Mara Tribal Girls’ Hostel inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister of State is located at Lunglawn, Lunglei, and is funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India under Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub Scheme. It was sanctioned in the year 2019-20 with a project cost of Rs. 210 lakhs, and was constructed by Phako Builders, Khatla, Aizawl. The Hostel building has 4 floors, with a total floor area of 9100 square feet, and has 14 rooms in total, along with 2 kitchens, 11 toilets, 6 bathrooms, one dining hall and other miscellaneous rooms & other facilities. The land for the hostel was donated by the Evangelical Church of Maraland.