•  Shri La Ganesan, Hon’ble Governor  of Nagaland &     Chairman, NEZCC

•  Officers of the District Administration & NEZCC

•  Dear friends

I am extremely delighted to be present here at the Bharat Ko Jano programme in Vairengte, organized by the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), in collaboration with the Art & Culture Department of Mizoram.

Last night, we also had the Border Area Programme at CIJWS, organized by the NEZCC.

Firstly, I thank the Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland for initiating these programmes in his capacity as the Chairman of NEZCC.

I place on record my sincere appreciation to Hon’ble Governor for his welcome initiatives in my State of Mizoram.

I am very happy that today’s programme is being held in the important town of Vairengte.

As we all know, Vairengte is the gateway to Mizoram, and it is strategically important in the context of our relations with the State of Assam.

The people of this town have a special responsibility to uphold the spirit of brotherhood and unity that we share as Indians.

You are the torchbearers of the values that Mizoram stands for, such as peace, honesty, and hospitality.

Our State of Mizoram can proudly be proclaimed as an “island of peace” in a sea of chaos and violence.

After two decades of Insurgency, the Mizoram Peace Accord has stood the test of time.

Even now, as we are surrounded by unfortunate events and upheavals all around us, we remain steadfast in holding on to the virtues of valuable peace.

I am very happy that we will be witnessing various cultural dances in today’s programme.

I convey my appreciation to all the performers from Mizoram, our sister states of Assam and Tripura, and especially those from the faraway State of Bihar.

Bharat Ko Jano is an important initiative, as it is our duty as responsible citizens to be aware about our country.

India, that is Bharat, is famous in the world because of our huge diversity.

We are proud of our rich cultural heritage, with various customs, festivals, dance, food, clothing, etc.

In North East India alone, there are over 200 ethnic communities, with more than 220 dialects being spoken.

In spite of these huge differences, we are bound together by our shared heritage as important citizens of this great Nation.

In order to strengthen our bonds, it is crucial to learn about other cultures and their practices.

The best way to achieve this is through cultural exchange programmes.

I applaud the NEZCC for organizing these events, and I encourage them to keep up the good work.

As Indians, we all take pride in the fact that our country has progressed substantially in the last decade or so.

We have now become the fifth largest economy in the world. Hon’ble Prime Minister has now spoken about our aim of becoming a Viksit Bharat by the year 2047.

In order to become a developed nation, all of us must play our part. An important way in which we can become a Viksit Bharat is through the proper utilization of the various Central Government Schemes that are available.

There are many beneficial Central Government Schemes that can be availed by citizens. Some of these are implemented by Government Departments, while others can be availed through banks.

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a life insurance scheme that offers cover of Rs. 2 lakh with annual contribution of only Rs. 436.

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is an accident insurance scheme that offers coverage of Rs. 2 lakh on annual premium of Rs. 20 only.

Likewise, there are many other Central schemes, such as PM Awas Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, MUDRA loan, etc. All stakeholders should work hard for creating awareness regarding these schemes.

Once again, I convey my appreciation to all concerned for the success of today’s programme.

I congratulate the district administration in particular for having taken all necessary action at the ground level.

I invite all of you to enjoy the wonderful cultural display, which showcases the diverse strength of our great Nation.

In the spirit of Bharat Ko Jano, let us resolve to continue to learn and appreciate about other cultures and customs.

Thank you. Jai Hind.