Mizoram GSDP growth at 11% during 11 Plan

Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushthaman today said that the state registered GSDP growth at 11% during 11 Plan period against the national growth rate of 7.8%.

In his customary address in the state assembly, Purushothaman said that the high GSDP growth could be attributed to a great extent to the implementation of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the state government.

He said that the original target of 1.2 lakh beneficiaries for five years under the NLUP has been achieved during the first three years and the government would continue with the programme.

"The project significantly impacted the economy by providing alternative sustainable livelihood opportunity for farmers and other poorer sections of the society, reducing their dependence on jhum practices thereby registering decrease of jhum area by 50 to 60%," he said.

He also said that package of activities focused on commercial farming, primary processing, promoting livestock, pisciculture, sericulture, plantation in cash crops and similar activities had already favourably impacted the economy.

On the issue of fighting corruption, the governor said that the state government would continue to take strong and bold initiatives to usher in clean, efficient and responsive administration.

He said that in the last ministry, the state vigilance department had vigorously pursued cases enquired by the Anti Corruption Bureau as well as other cases of departmental proceedings.

"Departmental proceedings have been drawn against 947 government servants out of which 206 cases pertains to corruption related matters," he said, adding that 110 graft cases have been finalised.

He congratulated the election machinery, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, churches and the church-sponsored election watchdog Mizoram People's Forum and the people for ensuring free, fair and peaceful Assembly elections held on November 25.