Aizawl, Sept 16 (PTI): Union minister Raksha Khadse reviewed development works in Mizoram’s Saitual and Kolasib districts, stressing effective implementation of Central schemes, a statement said Wednesday.
Khadse, who arrived in Mizoram on a three-day visit on Tuesday, chaired district-level review meetings in the two districts.
In Saitual, Khadse stressed greater community-level efforts under the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’, calling for the involvement of youth groups, community organisations and law-enforcement agencies in preventing substance abuse.
She also reviewed the agriculture and horticulture potential of the district, with emphasis on improving market linkages for organic produce.
Better food-processing facilities could help locally grown fruits and vegetables reach markets in other states and overseas, thereby fetching better returns for farmers, she said.
Khadse, the MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports, also urged officials to take greater initiative in local development and ensure that people derive maximum benefit from various Central schemes. Representatives of local sports federations highlighted requirements related to infrastructure and athlete development during the meeting.
She stressed that sports facilities need to be complemented by regular coaching, structured training and sustained support under initiatives such as the ‘Khelo India’ scheme, the statement said.
She held a meeting with officials in Kolasib through video conference from Saitual.
Road connectivity emerged as a key priority at the meeting, with discussions focusing on improving access to markets, essential services and economic opportunities for local communities, the statement said.
The minister also reviewed the functioning of the district’s Community Health Centre, five Primary Health Centres and nursing school, with emphasis on optimal utilisation of the existing healthcare infrastructure.
Officials said Kolasib has more than 10,000 active farmers, while the KVK currently provides technical guidance to over 5,000 growers and facilitates inter-state internships and visiting faculty programmes.
Khadse said sports facilities under the VB-GRAM-G initiative should be developed across all 51 villages in the northern district.
