Friends,
On the 78th Independence Day, I am honoured to address all those gathered here today and extend my heartfelt greetings to the people of Mizoram and my fellow Indians not just across the country but around the globe.
Today, let us recall the countless sacrifices not only of the leaders of our Freedom Movement but also of ordinary Indians who participated in the struggle for freedom. Their unrelenting toil and ideals have ensured our place as proud citizens of a vibrant and secular democracy respected globally.
‘Mizoram First’ must always be our guide and I thank the people of Mizoram for reposing their faith in our Government. We reaffirm our assurance that the government will strive to fulfill the expectations, aspirations and hopes of the people of Mizoram. Though just eight months have passed, there have been marked changes in various aspects of governance and administration under this Government. Today, I reiterate our goal of providing inclusive governance and development, of more accountability and transparency in government processes and a people centric administration with improved delivery of public services.
While acknowledging the many fiscal challenges ahead, the new Government has prioritized fiscal stabilization and financial consolidation. Towards this end, fiscal prudence through better financial discipline and overhauling of our current revenue mechanisms will be the thrust areas. Despite our financial constraints, in recognition of those who have rendered tireless service to the state, regularization of contract employees who have rendered more than 15 years of service and provisional employees/ muster roll who have rendered more than 20 years of service as well as draft schemes for regularization of employees under Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been accepted.
On this auspicious day, let me take the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of our government within the last few months and its vision for the coming years.
At the outset of the formation of the new government on 8th December 2023, the Chief Minister’s 100 Days Programme was announced and a number of deliverables were outlined. These commitments made have been fulfilled and implemented and include the constitution of an Agricultural Market Assurance Fund Management Board (AMAFMB) to ensure a minimum support price for notified crops and an Agricultural Market Assurance Fund with a corpus of ` 110 crore was provisioned in the R.E 2023-24.
A Resource Mobilisation Committee has been constituted to advise the government on matters relating to mobilization of resources and recommend austerity measures within the government. Their recommendations such as reducing the number of vehicles with Ministers, discontinuation of proxies (Aikal), reduction in the entitlement of household peons of officers, among others are being implemented. Mizoram State Policy Coordination Committee has also been set up for achieving the core policy of convergence of various policies, programmes and schemes being implemented by Departments. The Mizoram State Project Monitoring Committee, which was constituted to ensure public accountability and probity in major infrastructure projects, is proactively monitoring projects on-site across the state and their findings and recommendations are under serious consideration by the government.
After the new Government came into power, power bills amounting to ` 448 crore which had accumulated were cleared saving an amount of ` 58 lakh which was to be levied as surcharge for late payment and in the process the government earned a rebate of ` 35.25 lakh from power companies. The Government has cleared healthcare bills which were outstanding for a long time, to the tune of ` 50 crore. Pending pension payments and other pension dues amounting to ` 256.75 crore have been disbursed. Under the new government, an amount of ` 425.49 crore which was held under K-Deposit has been released. The government is aware of the difficulties faced by government employees in GPF withdrawals. Despite our financial position, till June 2024, an amount of ` 359.89 crore towards GPF payments has been cleared. Likewise, the First Installment of MLA Local Area Development Fund to the tune of ` 40 crore has been released. The government is doing its best to credit the salary of its employees towards the beginning of the month. Every month the government spends approximately ` 330 crore on salaries and ` 82 crore on pensions respectively.
The Mizoram Sustainable Investment Policy 2024, notified in February this year hopes to attract private investors and investment from within and outside Mizoram. It provides for a comprehensive investment framework to stimulate economic growth and promote investment that aligns with sustainable growth.
As a people-centric government, addressing issues which affect their day to day lives is of utmost importance. The services under the Mizoram Right to Public Services Act, 2015 has been expanded from 140 to 192 services and I urge the people of Mizoram to use this Act pro-actively.
In consonance with the Government’s stated policy of ‘Convergence’, the flagship policy - Hand Holding Policy or ‘Bana Kaih’, our government is committed to the purchase of local agriculture/ horticulture produces, food processing, marketing of agriculture & allied products, promotion of entrepreneurship and skill development, creating employment avenues/job placements for the youths, giving impetus to small-scale and agro- based industries. This policy also encourages the convergence of various programmes, initiatives and schemes of the Central and State Governments respectively and ensures that these benefits percolate to targeted partners. To ensure proper backward and forward linkages for our agro products, the MIFCO facility at Chhingchhip has also been revived.
To provide impetus to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Raising and Accelerating MSME Productivity (RAMP) scheme of the Central Government is being invigorated through MSME Elevate Mizoram (MEMiz) Scheme under the Strategic Investment Plan. Credit flow and loans without collaterals or mortgages under the Mizoram Credit Guarantee Scheme (MzCGS) is being formalised for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Credit Guarantee Trust of Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) is underway. These two schemes, wherever feasible, will be implemented in line with the state flagship programme – Bana Kaih. The Mizoram Ceiling on Government Guarantees Act, 2011 is also proposed to be amended to enable deserving partners to avail loans upto ` 50 lakh, where the Government will be the guarantor and will also bear the interest. This perhaps might be the first such scheme in the country.
In our fight against the menace of drugs, our seizures this year have approximated ` 66.82 crore. This drive is also oriented towards addressing the root causes of drugs and to de-stabilising their supply chain. For this, we solicit the support of NGOs, Churches and civil society. The State Level Core Committee on Ruihhlo Do has been re-constituted to revitalize our fight against this menace. To enable the fruitful utilisation of our agro products, an amendment to the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019 and associated Rules is also underway.
Pursuant to the government’s policy of consolidation and providing food grains at sub- sidized rates, the Council of Ministers in its meeting has recently approved the hike of subsidized rates of foodgrains for APL ration card holders (white ration cards) and cancellation of certain categories of ration cards to ensure that subsidised grains reach the target beneficiaries. This bold step will save the government approximately ` 3 crore every month. This measure, however, it will not affect the deserving and the needy.
Wrecked by Cyclone Remal in May, the state has borne the brunt of her fury, both in terms of life, property and infrastructure. While expressing my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and all those who have suffered in this crisis, I must also commend the efforts of our volunteers, various teams of the state and central government and the prompt response of the Central Government in deputing an Inter-Ministerial Central Team for on-spot assessment of damages. My government is actively pursuing the grant of Additional Central Assistance to alleviate these losses.
Our label as an ‘Island of Peace’ must largely be attributed to the proactiveness and vigilance of the Mizoram Police, who, in close coordination with the Assam Rifles and Border Security Force continue to thwart smuggling and other illegal activities from across the borders. Better communication through POLNET 2.0 has modernized police telecommunication. Rehabilitation of inmates in various jails through skill and vocational training is also being undertaken to enable their fruitful re-integration in society. Ration Money to Home Guard Volunteers has been restored and Rifle Maintenance Allowance for personnel under the Home Department has also been revised from ` 40 to ` 100. The General Consent earlier given to the CBI has also been reaffirmed as mandated by the three new criminal laws enacted by Parliament.
To deal with the welfare of our Mizo brethren within and outside our national borders, a Mizo Diaspora Cell has been constituted in the Chief Minister’s Office. With the active assistance of our volunteers, officers in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Mizoram CID and the Indian Embassy in Dubai and Syria, three Mizo girls working as housemaids in Dubai have been rescued and are safely home while three other girls from Syria are in the process of being repatriated. Internally, our youth working in Uttar Pradesh were also rescued with the assistance of the Delhi Mizo Welfare Association. To check the illegal placement of our youth abroad, the Government has cancelled the licenses of 27 such placement agencies and is in the process of framing rules for their placement within India. We also acknowledge the assistance and generosity of the Central Government and the collective generosity of the church and civil society in providing refuge and humanitarian assistance to our Zo brethren from across and within our borders.
The State Institution for Transformation (SIT) has been created under the Planning and Programme Implementation Department to strengthen strategic planning and monitoring of development works, which will evolve into a multi-disciplinary resource centre to provide strategic and technical advice for informed decision making. A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Cell has been constituted in the CMO to leverage the CSR Matchmaking Platform and identify, facilitate and mobilise resources available with various agencies and entities as a part of their CSR initiative.
On the issue of Administrative Reforms, the Government is committed to the rightsizing of man- power. To right the inverted pyramidal structure, the Government has prioritised the strengthening of lower levels of administration. Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) which is being paid to government doctors is also being reviewed to ensure that doctors having private practice do not avail of this allowance. The proposal for enhancement of Dearness Allowance for government employees has been accepted by the last meeting of the Council of Ministers and will given once the Year of Consolidation is over.
To promote a transparent and good government, the online portal- Mipui Aw, has been inaugurated to ensure speedy redressal and effective monitoring of citizens’ grievances. A total of 182 grievances have been filed with 147 of them resolved.
Education is one of the important parameters of growth towards which the Holistic Progress Card (HPC) for elementary schools and skill development courses in the under-graduate programmes as recommended by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is underway. The transfer policy of school teachers has also been rationalised and for the first time, text books (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology) for Class-XI students have been printed in our local vernacular. This is expected to positively impact our education eco-system.
In convergence with Central schemes, we hope to train more than 10, 000 youths in various skills and innovative programmes such as ‘PUM’ – Mizoram Innovation Competition & Exhibition Fair and Kawtchhuah and the Mizoram Start-up Mission (MSUM) has created a platform for a vibrant skill and entrepreneurship ecosystem, facilitating the nurturing of start-ups and propagating a culture of innovation amongst our youths. It is a matter of great pride that Mizo youths who excelled at the India Skills Competition 2024 held in May 2024 will be representing India on the global stage at the World Skills Competition in Lyon, France in September 2024.
We are committed to the development of sports and enabling opportunities to our sportspersons at par with the rest of the country. Towards this, for the first time, the Mizoram Sports Conclave, 2024 was organized in Aizawl by the Sports and Youth Services Department aimed at developing our sports ecosystem to motivate our youths to train and aspire for participation in the 2036 Olympics. 10 (ten) Khelo India Centres encompassing 6 (six) sports disciplines were also made operational under the 100 days program of the government.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), we have provided Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to 1.3 lakh rural households, 2385 government schools and 1567 Anganwadi Centres. Five Districts – Aizawl, Kolasib, Mamit, Saitual and Serchhip have attained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status under Swacch Bharat Mission (Gramin).
Self-sufficiency in power generation and payment of power dues on time in consonance with the aim of fiscal consolidation is one of the priorities of the Government. From June 2024, payment of power dues has been prioritized to avoid surcharge and wherever possible, earn rebate. Power projects, wherever viable, are being revived. Efforts are also underway to replace old and overloaded distribution transformers.
Janaushadhi Kendras, conceptualised to provide generic medicines at affordable prices under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme have been reopened. A new and comprehensive healthcare scheme – Universal Health Care Scheme encompassing the general population, government servants and pensioners is being mooted and will be launched shortly. Till such time, clearance of long pending Healthcare Bills has been prioritised.
To promote tourism, the Tourism Department is committed to creating Community Oriented Tourism based on Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN) to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Development of Vangchhia under PRASHAD Scheme and Mt. Mawma Ecological Park at Chakei in Siaha District were inaugurated in March and June of this year respectively.
Protection of natural wealth, flora and fauna and increasing the forest cover is one of the key priorities of the government. While developmental projects often have adverse environmental impacts, it will be our endeavour to weigh the benefits of such projects vis-a-vis the environmental cost and ensure that forest clearances for such projects are obtained before their commencement.
I am grateful to the parade contingents, the students and all the people who have gathered here today and applaud your participation. Let me also take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the NGOs, the Churches, the media and the people of Mizoram for placing their hopes and faith in the new Government. I would like to request all the people of Mizoram to extend your whole-hearted support to the new Government. Let us all join hands together and make ‘Mizoram First’ our guiding principle and work for the glory of the state and the country and build a new India and developed India – Viksit Bharat.
KA LAWM E
JAI HIND
