AIZAWL:
President Ram Nath Kovind, who was on a one-day visit to Mizoram on May 5, termed the state as “truly” modern and ready to take off for higher achievements.
Praising its residents for achieving the feat of having the second highest literacy rate in the country, the President also lauded the state for scoring 60 points in the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2020-2021, which he said was better than the national average of 57.
“The natural beauty of the state is matched by human excellence shown by the people of Mizoram. With the second highest literacy levels in the country, Mizoram is a truly modern state ready to take off for higher achievements,” said the President, while addressing the 16th convocation of Mizoram University at Tanhril, Aizawl.
Underlining the need to preserve the rich bio-diversity of the Northeast, Kovind said, “It is our responsibility to strike the right balance between development and sustainability. The environment in this state as well as the other Northeastern states needs to be preserved with care. We must adopt practices which are beneficial not only to us but also to nature.”
He said that to enable India meet its global commitments, the state governments should also adopt sustainable development goals (SDGs) as their priorities.
“I compliment the people of Mizoram along with the people of Sikkim and Tripura for generating the least plastic waste as per a study by NITI Aayog. This is a good example of responsible consumption and production,” the President said.
Stating that region has immense potential for trade and development with neighbouring countries, he exuded confidence that the recently signed agreement with Bangladesh for development of border haats will usher growth and pave the way for better trade.
Turning to the importance of the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit project for the region, he said that economic development will get a boost through the transport project.
“The project, which seeks to create facilities for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as to the Northeast through Myanmar, will connect Sittwe Port in Myanmar to the India-Myanmar border thereby contributing to the economic development of the region,” he said.
He hoped that more such projects are identified and encouraged for holistic development of the Northeastern states and our neighbouring countries, he added.
Earlier in the day, Kovind was received by chief minister Zoramthanga, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and other senior officials in Aizawl. After addressing the Mizoram University convocation, the President attended a cultural programme at the Raj Bhavan. The president will leave for Delhi at 10.45 am May 6.