Aizawl

Union minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Monday said the Northeast has emerged as the growth engine of a "new India" and asserted that Mizoram's geography should never limit the aspirations of and opportunities for its people.

The Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) arrived in Aizawl on a two-day visit, and inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for nearly Rs 350 crore-worth projects, including the Aizawl Institute of Arts and Music for the North Eastern Region here.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at Lengpui Airport here, Scindia said the projects were part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to transform and develop the Northeast, "which would power the country's journey" towards 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.

Addressing a function after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for 10 projects at Tuivamit on the outskirts of Aizawl, Scindia said the Centre was working to address Mizoram's traditional challenges of distance from markets, hospitals and opportunities through better connectivity and infrastructure.

"Geography may shape our landscape, but it must never shape the limits for our people," Scindia said, adding that the Centre and the Mizoram government were laying the foundations for connectivity, opportunity and livelihoods.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned the eight northeastern states as "Ashta Lakshmi", or the growth engines of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

The eight states have been registering a compounded annual growth rate of 9-11 per cent, outpacing the global and national growth rates.

Scindia said the Centre's efforts were also aimed at preserving the region's rich natural and cultural heritage while creating new economic opportunities.

"Mizoram is a land where the mountains are majestic, but the aspirations of its people stand taller than the mountains," he said.

Highlighting improved connectivity, Scindia said the 52-km Bairabi-Sairang railway line has placed Mizoram on the railway map for the first time and has carried nearly 15 lakh passengers through more than 1,100 trips over the past year, connecting Aizawl with Guwahati, Kolkata and Delhi.

He also referred to the recent arrival of a 42-wagon freight train carrying 26,000 quintals of rice from Punjab, saying such connectivity would have been difficult to imagine a decade ago.

Scindia said the Centre has been working with Chief Minister Lalduhoma on a Rs 200-crore ginger mission to develop an integrated value chain covering cultivation, processing, branding, connectivity and access to international markets.

Noting that Mizoram received nearly 5.5 lakh visitors, including around 9,000 foreign tourists, in the first six months of this year, he said the Centre was in discussions with the state government for tourism and sports-related projects.

He said the DoNER Ministry currently has nearly 375 projects worth about Rs 4,710 crore in Mizoram; and of those, around 295 projects worth Rs 2,700 crore have been completed.

"This is not just data, this is our track record," he said.

The 10 projects worth about Rs 331 crore unveiled during the day include road, power, water, health, education, sports and arts and crafts initiatives.

Scindia also praised Mizoram's community spirit and urged people to preserve their cultural identity while expanding their horizons.

"Mizoram must grow while maintaining its identity. But while Mizoram maintains its identity, it must keep expanding its horizons. While our mountains stand tall, our opportunities must stand taller," the minister said.

Scindia is scheduled to attend the Northeast Bankers' Conclave at Mizoram University on Tuesday before leaving for Delhi, officials said.

The conclave will bring together stakeholders from the banking sector to deliberate on strengthening financial inclusion, improving access to institutional credit and supporting economic growth across the northeastern states, they said.

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Earlier in the day, Scindia said the conclave aims to improve access to credit in the region and boost investment by facilitating loans for micro, small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs.