AIZAWL, Oct 5 - Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said that the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre is totally committed to the development of Mizoram, and to finding solutions to all kinds of challenges that the State has been facing.
Shah was speaking after inaugurating the North East Handloom and Handicraft Exhibition here. The Union Home Minister called Mizoram an important representative of the Indian democracy.
�Once affected by insurgency and separatism, Mizoram today stands as a symbol of peace and fraternity and is giving this message to the whole world,� Shah added.
On the exhibition, the Union minister said that handloom holds the capability to generate huge employment opportunities in the North East and play an important role in the growth and development of the people.
Shah observed that the North East is rich in forest produce and other raw materials required for the handloom and handicraft sector. Combining this with the tradition of making handicraft items and the availability of skilled people, handicrafts can play a pioneering role in the development of the North East, he added.
The Union Home Minister pointed out that the Centre�s decision to take bamboo out of the list of trees has increased its availability to aid the handicraft sector. The North East will benefit the most from this, he maintained.
In the last five years, a number of development projects have been initiated in Mizoram, which include the 60-MW Tuirial hydro-electric power project, Shah said. He also expressed the confidence that by 2021, Aizawl would be connected by broad-gauge railways. The Kaladan multi-modal waterway and new border haats will bring huge trade opportunities to Mizoram, Shah said. Other projects that have been launched include the Greater Aizawl water project, State referral hospital, State sports academy, horticulture college and a cricket stadium, he added.
Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Union Minister of State for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma were also present on the occasion.
Later, Shah met Chief Minister Zoramthanga and leaders of major civil societies in Mizoram.
