Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that establishing peace is essential for development in any region and claimed that over the past eleven years, many long standing conflicts and disputes in the North East have been resolved.
While addressing a public gathering after laying foundation stones of multiple projects worth rupees seven thousand three hundred crore to be taken up across the State, at Peace Ground in Churachandpur district of Manipur during his one day visit to the State, Shri Modi said that the land and region of Manipur is a soil of hope and aspiration.
However, unfortunately violence had gripped this remarkable State and expressed his confidence that a new dawn of hope and trust is arriving in Manipur. He said that people of the State have chosen the path of peace and prioritized development and recently dialogue has taken place with various groups in the hills and valley regions. The Prime Minister said these efforts are part of the Government of India’s approach which emphasizes dialogue, respect and mutual understanding to establish peace.
Shri Modi also appealed to all organisations to move forward on the path of peace and fulfil their aspirations and assured his support stating that he stands with the people and that the Government of India is with Manipur.
He said that since 2014, he has consistently focused on improving connectivity in Manipur which is a border State and the Government of India has worked on two levels to address this issue by increasing the budget for rail and road infrastructure in Manipur. He said that rupees three thousand seven hundred crore has already been spent recently on National Highways in the region and new highway projects worth rupees eight thousand seven hundred crore are progressing rapidly.
The Government is investing rupees twenty two thousand crore on Jiribam Imphal railway line project and Imphal Airport has been newly constructed at a cost of rupees four hundred crore and helicopter services have also been launched from this airport to other parts of the country.
Speaking about the Har Ghar Nal Se Jal Scheme, the Prime Minister said that over the past few years, more than fifteen crore citizens across the country have received tap water connections and connection of piped water has also increased in Manipur to more than 3.5 lakh households in recent years.
He said that nearly 2.5 lakh patients in Manipur have availed free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Scheme and added that addressing the concerns of every poor citizen is the government’s top priority. Shr Modi also said that development of every tribal community is a national priority and Dharati Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan is being implemented for the development of tribal regions. Under the Abhiyan, development work is underway in more than five hundred villages across Manipur.
Among the projects which foundation stone was laid during the event today in Churachandpur district, Manipur includes road, drainage and asset improvement projects, strengthening of high schools and higher secondary schools, health care project, power plant project, construction of multipurpose indoor stadium, upgradation of National Highway 102A and 202 and others.
