Mizoram: After taking oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma on Friday said that the state government will give top priority to farmers and anti-corruption measures. Addressing a press conference immediately after the swearing-in ceremony here, 73-year-old leader Lalduhoma said that 12 priority programs of his government will be implemented in the next 100 days. He said, “Our Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government will purchase four local products like ginger, turmeric, chilli and sea broom from farmers by fixing the minimum price. Farmers will have the option to sell their products themselves or to the government. This is our top priority.”
Lalduhoma said that his government will also give priority to anti-corruption measures. He said, “General consent will be given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate corruption cases in the state. The government will also assess whether there is a need to strengthen the state Lokayukta or not.” He urged his cabinet colleagues, MLAs and their relatives, party workers, NGOs and common people to support the government in making the state corruption free.
Lalduhoma said that out of the 12 priorities, his government will form a monitoring committee to keep an eye on all development projects across the state. He said the committee will have one representative each from recognized political parties, NGOs, Mizoram Kohran Hruetute Committee (a group of prominent churches) and church-sponsored election monitoring body Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF). Lalduhoma said that his government’s annual budget will focus on the policies of ZPM.
He said, “All departments will be instructed to prepare the budget as per the policy of ZPM.” He said that all the ministers will monitor their departments. Lalduhoma said he and other ministers would play a leading role in implementing austerity measures and all facilities provided to them would be cut by 50 percent. He said the usual practice of buying new cars for MLAs with public money would be stopped and ministers would use the cars of their predecessors.
The Chief Minister urged the government officials to implement austerity measures and said that they should not use more facilities than their entitlement. He said that the committee will also examine disinvestment in various sectors. Lalduhoma said his government will dissolve 14 boards formed by the Zoramthanga-led Mizo National Front (MNF) government. He said that if the projects have already started, the work orders issued to contractors during the previous government will not be cancelled.
The Chief Minister said that biometric attendance system will be implemented in all government offices. Earlier in the day, Lalduhoma took oath as the Chief Minister of Mizoram. Along with him, 11 other people also took oath as ministers in a ceremony organized at Raj Bhavan here. Seven of them took oath as cabinet ministers and four as ministers of state.
Deputy leader of ZPM legislature party K. Sapdanga was made the home minister, while Lalrinpui, MLA from Lunglei East seat, became the first woman cabinet minister in Mizoram. She will handle the departments of Health, Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs, Women and Child Development and Tourism. Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lalduhoma and others.