Northeast becoming gateway to India's development: Modi
Source: Chronicle News Service / PIB

Imphal, January 04 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated 13 projects worth around Rs 1850 crore and laid the foundation stones for nine projects worth around Rs 2950 crore during his state visit.

These projects relate to diverse sectors such as Road Infrastructure, Drinking Water Supply, Health, Urban Development, Housing, Information Technology, Art & Culture and Skill Development among others.

Addressing the gathering at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district, PM Modi said in a few days' time on January 21, Manipur would attain 50 years of statehood.

This fact, along with the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav on 75 years of its independence is a major inspiration in itself, he noted.

Paying homage to the bravery of the people of Manipur, he said the sense of national independence and freedom started from Moirang when Netaji Subhash's army hoisted the national flag for the first time.

The North East, which Netaji called the gateway to India's independence, is becoming the gateway to fulfilling the dreams of a new India, he said and reiterated his belief that eastern and north eastern parts of India will be the source of India's progress as is visible in the growth of the region today.

Modi thanked the people of state for forming a stable government that is governing presently with full majority and with full impact.

He stressed that due to this stability and choice of the people, achievements such as 6 lakh farmer families getting hundreds of crore of rupees under Kisan Samman Nidhi; six lakh poor families getting benefits under PM Garib Kalyan Scheme; 80,000 houses constructed under PMAY; free medical treatment to 4.25 lakh patients under Ayushman Yojna; 1.5 lakh free gas connections; 1.3 lakh electricity connections; 30,000 toilets; more than 30 lakh free vaccine doses and oxygen plants in every district of the state could become a reality.

Modi also recalled that even before he became the Prime Minister, he visited Manipur many times and as such understands the pain of the people.

He maintained that it is in acknowledgement of the plight of the people that after 2014, he "brought Delhi Government of India - to your doorstep".

"Every officer and minister were asked to visit the region and serve the people as per their local needs.

You can see that there are five important faces from the region holding key portfolios in the Union Council of Ministers," the Prime Minister pointed out.

He noted that hard work of the government for seven years is visible in the entire North East and especially in Manipur.

"Today Manipur is becoming a symbol of a new work culture of change.

These changes are for Manipur's culture and for their care," he said.

He said that his government has resolved to Act East' for the Northeast.

There are so many possibilities for development and tourism here and added that work is now being done to realise these possibilities in the North East.

Northeast is now becoming the gateway to India's development, he added.

Narendra Modi accused the previous governments in New Delhi of neglecting Manipur and the Northeast and creating a "hill-valley chasm", while asserting the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state ushered in a new dawn of peace and development.

Without naming the previous Congress government, the Prime Minister said that Manipur was earlier a blockade state' and some people are still trying to create problems and instigate violence to hinder the development of the state.

Modi appreciated the state government's schemes - - "Go to Hills'' and "Go to Village" to develop the mountainous areas and undertake welfare measures for the people.

The Prime Minister said that to undertake the National Palm oil cultivation mission in a big way, Rs 11,000 crore worth schemes have been undertaken by the Central government to make India Aatmanirbhar' in this sector.

The Northeast region, including Manipur would also be benefited through the Palm oil cultivation, he asserted.

"Your one vote changed things for the better.

That's the importance of a 'double engine' government.

Today, a stable and strong BJP-led government of N Biren Singh helms Manipur," he said.

Modi said, as a tribute to the freedom fighters of the state, the Union government decided to rename Mount Harriet, an island peak in Andaman and Nicobar island, Mount Manipur.

He said sportspersons from Manipur had done India proud.

"From the Commonwealth games to the Olympics, the Manipuri boys and girls are lifting the Indian flags in the international sports arena.

MC Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu, Laishram Sarita Devi are among the big sports personalities who are all from Manipur.

The Indian youths are taking inspiration from the Manipuri sports personalities," the Prime Minister said.

He said that with the establishment of the modern sports university in Manipur, Indian sports would go further in the sports world across the globe.

In his address, chief minister N Biren said that earlier, the northeast region remained like a separate block due to flawed policies of the past governments but the mindset of the people of northeast states have changed after the Modi government paid special focus towards the region with an objective to bring rapid development.

Road connectivity in hill districts has improved significantly under the BJP government.

During the Congress rule, a little over 5 per cent of the state's households got tap water connection but the coverage has reached nearly 70 per cent today.

He has firm belief that there will be 100 per cent coverage within a couple of months, Biren said.

Among others, the foundation stones laid by the Prime Minister included 'State of the Art Cancer Hospital' in Imphal (Rs 160 crore), 'Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CHIT)' (Rs 200 crore) and construction of the Manipur Institute of Performing Arts at Gurgaon, Haryana (Rs 240 crore).

Projects inaugurated by the PM included three projects under 'Imphal Smart City Mission' developed at a cost of more than Rs 170 crore, including the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)', 'Developmentof Western Riverfront on Imphal River (Phase I)', 200-bedded Covid Hospital at Kiyamgei set up at a cost of about Rs 37 crore in collaboration with DRDO, and 'Development of Mall Road at Thangal Bazar (Phase I)' .

Governor La Ganesan, Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh among others were present in the event.

The Prime Minister virtually kick-started the campaign for the Assembly elections in Manipur.

Elections to the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year along with the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.

Extensive security arrangements had been made in the state for the Prime Minister's programme with most areas in greater Imphal declared Red Zone where the use of drones and other sensitive materials were banned and movement of private and public vehicles were restricted.

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