Aizawl, August 15: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said building a stronger governance system and a self-reliant economy remained central to his Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government’s vision, with emphasis on food security, livelihoods and balanced development.
Addressing the Independence Day programme in Aizawl after hoisting the Tricolour, Lalduhoma said the government was working to improve living standards while reducing dependence on external sources for essential commodities. He described the Bana Kaih (Handholding) scheme as the government’s key initiative for economic transformation, focusing on skills, livelihoods and economic empowerment.
The government has also launched the Rs 20-crore Mizoram Bana Kaih Venture Capital Fund to support young entrepreneurs. Lalduhoma highlighted the Mizoram Grand Challenge, the Industrial and Investment Policy, 2025, and the Investment Promotion Agency as measures to encourage entrepreneurship and attract investment.
He said Bana Kaih had been extended to agriculture and allied sectors, with the government continuing to procure and market ginger and other crops. The state provided Rs 140 crore as support price in 2025 and around Rs 22 crore in 2026, he said. A Rs 30.13-crore ginger processing project in Champhai is also expected to increase value addition and farmers’ incomes.
Lalduhoma said the food self-sufficiency drive covered oil palm, vegetables, bamboo, livestock, dairy, fisheries and sericulture. Oil palm cultivation had expanded to 1,607 hectares, while farmers sold 7,225 metric tonnes of produce worth Rs 10.53 crore. Off-season tomato and cabbage production generated around Rs 40 crore for farmers in 2025, he said.
The Handholding scheme has also been extended to drug rehabilitation and sports. Around 2,200 people have received treatment through programmes implemented with churches and voluntary organisations, while the Empowering Mizoram Sports initiative is identifying and training athletes with the 2036 Olympics in view.
Lalduhoma also highlighted a Rs 1,000-crore Asian Development Bank loan for the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme, with 90 per cent to be borne by the Centre. He said the state had secured another Rs 350 crore incentive for implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes through the SNA SPARSH system.
On infrastructure and welfare, he said Rs 611.65 crore had been earmarked for the launch of VB-GRAM (G), while 109 border villages were covered under VVP-II. A total of 273 computer-equipped rural libraries had been established and 25,433 houses completed under PMAY-Gramin, he said.
Lalduhoma said the Mizoram State Special Ration Package had benefited 29,000 families, while more than 1.67 lakh quintals of rice had been stocked as a monsoon reserve for 2026-27.
He said the government’s development agenda was focused on building a stronger, inclusive and self-reliant Mizoram, with farmers, workers, traders, youth, women, government employees and voluntary organisations contributing to the state’s progress.
