AIZAWL, Nov 16 � Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh promised to continue with an improved version of New Land Use Policy (NLUP) in his poll campaign address today at the Mualpui Police Parade Ground in Aizawl.
He said that the Congress Government had made some suggestions about the flagship programe touted by the ruling party as Prime Minister�s Special Package. These suggestions would be taken up by the UPA Government, he said.
Mizoram is going to polls and will elect 40 members to the State Assembly on November 25.
Star campaigner though he is for the ruling Congress, Singh�s speech was a cold enumeration of what the Indian National Congress (INC) would do for the poverty-ridden State, such as launching a new housing scheme to solve the housing problem in rural areas. The PM said that the problem of rural housing is �acute�.
It is worth mentioning that just a few months ago the State Government had been preening itself for being the only State in the country which had recorded zero homeless people.
Infrastructure development would be followed up, he said, with renewed emphasis on improvement of hydro power projects starting with the 210 MW Tuivai Hydel Project for which an agreement has been inked with a company. He also laid emphasis on completion of the Look East Policy oriented Kaladan Modal Transit Project which he assured would be completed by 2015 for a gateway to the South East Asian countries through Myanmar.
He promised improved sports training infrastructure for the youth of the State who he said had made India proud in several international competitions.
On education, the PM said that the UPA Government would go all out to improve the enrolment of children at the elementary school level, while he expressed concern about the dropout rate. The UPA would make special provisions for enhancing the facilities for providing education in information communication and technology sector.
He was flanked by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, Lok Sabha MP, C L Ruala, AICC general secterary Luizinho and several party candidates.
The function was chaired by Rev Lalramliana Pachuau, president of the Mizoram People�s Forum (MPF), church- backed election watchdog which has claimed presence in every political campaign platform during elections.
The PM arrived here at around 11.30 am to the Lengpui Airport from where he was whisked away by chopper to the helipad from where he was driven to the venue. He returned to Delhi after the function.
