Honourable Speaker and Distinguished Members of This August House, It Gives Me Immense Pleasure to Address You at the Commenceme
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Honourable Speaker and distinguished Members of this august House, It gives me immense pleasure to address you at the commencement of the third Budget Session of the Eighth Legislative Assembly, which is also the First Session in the New Year 2021. I also extend my warm greetings to the people of Mizoram on this occasion and I trust that together we will see a new era of growth and prosperity ahead. Even as we leave the trying times of the Covid-19 pandemic behind, I am sure the business of the House will be conducted smoothly as always, with grace and dignity, keeping in view the time-honoured conventions and the rich democratic traditions of our great nation. 2. I am particularly happy to bring to the notice of the Honourable Members that our commitment to peace as enshrined in the Mizoram Accord of 1986 remains unchanged. I have seen and do applaud the strength, resilience and commitment of the government and the people in addressing the needs and demands even during the hardest times last year. I am happy to present before you a brief outline of the achievements and visions of the government : 3. Honourable Members will recall that since the termination of the Planning Commission, the States now have a greater responsibility to plan for their own development. Consequently, in Mizoram also, fund has been apportioned out of the Central devolution of taxes for the purpose of systematic financing of development activities in the State since 2016-17 by Planning Department with the Government’s current policies as the basis. In 2020-2021, Rs.148.00 crore was provisioned from the State fund for the implementation of development works under the State’s Flagship Policy - the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP). However, as a fall-out of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic last year, 15% Budgetary Cut as economy measure has been effected in the fund earmarked for SEDP during 2020-21. Out of the budget provision of Rs.125.80 crore (after 15% budgetary cut), a total of Rs.82.45 crore has been allocated to various Departments for the implementation of SEDP. 4. The schemes under the NEC have now become a Central Sector Scheme on 100% funding by Government of India. However, the on-going projects under the NEC-Special Development Projects with existing funding pattern (90:10) will continue. All projects implemented under this Scheme are expected to be completed by 31st March, 2021. The Mizoram State Government has performed rather well in implementing the projects in comparison to all other states in the north east. As of now, there are 16 ongoing development projects under State Component. During 2020-21, fund amounting to Rs.83.37 crore for the ongoing 1 projects had been released so far. During 2020-21, NEC has approved 6 new development projects for which fund amounting to Rs.50 lakh has been released till date for tendering formalities. Besides, Rs.3.00 crore has been received for activities related to combating Covid 19 pandemic during FY 2020-21 and Rs.80 lakh for procurement of PPE Suits and Test Kits related to combating Covid-19 pandemic. NEC has also approved Rs.3 crore for ‘Livelihood and Gainful Employment to the Returnees of the State of Mizoram’. 5. The funding pattern of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Projects still remains 90:10 between GOI and State Government. During 2020-21 till date, Government of India had released Rs.2353.22 lakhs and the State Government had allocated Rs.108.17 lakhs as State Matching Share. Meanwhile, Ministry of DoNER has called for project proposals for leveraging Accumulated Balance in NLCPR 2020-21 and the State Government had submitted Concept papers for 153 project proposals with an estimated cost of Rs.5460.16 crore in November 2019 for possible funding. Under North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) Scheme, Govt. of India has retained and sanctioned 5 projects for which GOI Released amount (2020-21) was Rs.7610.51 lakh against approved cost of Rs. 20372.38 lakh. 6. As the Honourable Members are aware, the 70th United Nations General Assembly had adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 Targets and 304 indicators under the Agenda ‘Transforming Our World : the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. India is a signatory to this landmark agreement and NITI Aayog is the Nodal Agency. The SDG framework calls for concerted efforts towards inclusive, sustainable and resilient future, and focuses on three core elements : Economic Growth, Social Inclusion and Environment protection. 7. At the State level, Planning & Programme Implementation is the Nodal Department for implementation of the SDGs in each state. A copy of the ‘Mizoram Vision 2030’ was published and shared with the NITI Aayog and is made available in the department’s website. Currently, in the SDGs Ranking by NITI Aayog among the states, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the frontrunners with a score of 68 while Mizoram ranked 6th position with a score of 59 among the states of India. Mizoram tops in SDG 10 with a score of 100 and ranked 2nd in both SDG 2 and 7, with index score of 69 and 78 respectively. The State Government continues to take initiatives in achieving immense progress in the next ranking. 2 8. Although the most peaceful state in the country today, the strategic location of Mizoram and its long international border of hilly jungle terrain serve as an ideal ground for trans-border activities of anti-social elements like smugglers and drug traffickers. There have also been certain sporadic and stray incidents of border skirmishes along the inter-state boundaries. Inspite of these, my Government remains committed to maintaining law, order and peace amongst all sections of the people, to protect the security of the state and will leave no stone unturned to apprehend the perpetrators of these crimes. Honorable Members will appreciate that around 3000 Mizoram Police personnel were deployed for various Covid-19 related duties, such as international and inter-state border sealing, contact tracing of Covid-19 patients and security of quarantine facilities. Several incidents of border dispute erupted along the Mizoram-Assam inter-state border at Thinghlun in Mamit District, Vairengte and Saihapui ‘V’ in Kolasib District during the month of October, 2020. However, the tension in these areas and the ensuing blockade of National and Inter-state Highways from Assam to Mizoram were immediately diffused by the timely deployment of our police forces. 9. My Government continues to accord highest priority to achieving self- sufficiency, especially in the production of food. Agriculture has been the backbone of the state’s economy, and more than 60% of the population is employed in the agricultural and allied sectors, where the majority of farmers are small and marginal, with land holdings of an average of 0.50 ha. Through implementation of several Centrally Sponsored Schemes and the State Flagship Programme SEDP, the Department has seen steady progress. Under the Soil Health Card Scheme, 26,019 soil samples have been collected and tested. Oil Palm area has increased to 26531 ha. by the end of last year, which accounts for 2.34 % increase. The only Oil Palm Mill set up in the North East, having a capacity of 5 MT per hour, is located at Bukvannei, Kolasib and 23988 MT of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) has been processed in the Mill till date. Under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for promotion of organic farming in Mizoram, the scheme now covers 13,000 ha., involving 14,104 farmers, and has initiated formation of 9 Farmer Producer Organisations and 5 Farmer Producer Companies. The Centrally sponsored scheme of ATMA is now in operation in all districts of Mizoram, with a staff strength of 116. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) presently covers 1,349 beneficiaries in eight districts and under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), total fund dispersed is a total of Rs.97,72,58,000.00 till 31st December, 2020. 10. Keeping in view the great potential for horticultural development in Mizoram, my Government has initiated several schemes to provide adequate 3 opportunities for increased production as well as more gainful employment to the rural population. More than Rs.240.80 lakhs was earned from off-season production of Tomato during calendar year of 2020 with a production of about 3010 qtls. and harvesting is still going on. Cabbage Variety of ‘Ryozeki’ seeds, directly procured from Japan, was cultivated as off-season vegetable during rainy season, which has tremendously helped farmers in earning better prices than normal season. More than 10,000 qtls. have been harvested and an income to the tune of Rs.333.20 lakh has been estimated from the production of off-season Cabbage only, during the calendar year of 2020. To meet the demand of both domestic and outside markets, cluster expansion of Dragon fruit cultivation has been carried out and during last year alone, Dragon fruit farmers generated a remarkable income of more than Rs.300.00 lakh. Rejuvenation of old Mandarin Orange orchards has led to a good yield of 53984 MT, with a market value of around Rs 16.00 crore. Mizo chilli is being increasingly produced at Thingsai cluster of Hnahthial District, where more than 500 qtls. is expected from Hnahthial District alone. 11. My Government will continue to accord high priority to construction, improvement and maintenance of road communication as these are pre-requisites for progress. Several key bridges and buildings at various locations, including Judicial Quarters in 8 Districts, 4 Civil SDO Quarters and Office, 2 District Treasury Offices and Quarters, 50-bedded Civil Hospital (CHC) at Lawngtlai, 100- bedded Civil Hospital at Siaha and ARCS Office Building at Serchhip were constructed.