Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday visited Chandel District and inaugurated 10 development projects worth around Rs. 126.54 crore and also laid the foundation stones for 15 other projects which will cost an amount of around Rs. 86.45 crore.

Besides inaugurating and laying foundation stones, Biren also chaired a cabinet meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office as a part of the Government’s initiative to take governance at hill districts under the Go to Hills Mission.

During the visit, the Chief Minister accompanied by Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, Advocate General, Chief Secretary and other senior Government officials were accorded a warm welcome by the people of the district.

The projects which were inaugurated by the Chief Minister include Model Residential School, Girl’s Hostel for Minority Students, Upgradation of Phiran Leihao PS to UPS, 150 ft bailey bridge, District Sports Complex etc.

Projects for which foundation stones were laid include construction of Type-III and Type-II quarters at Chandel Police Station, Chakpikarong Police station and Khengjoy Police station, construction of Football Ground, Government Children Homes and others.

Addressing the formal function at the Model Residential School, Mantri Pantha, Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Chandel District, for the warm welcome accorded to him and his cabinet colleagues.

He said that cordial relations amongst people come when one respects the other with a thinking of oneness and when there is inclusive development across the State.  He maintained that his government had always given priority in equal development and self-respect. Highlighting the necessity of a topographical need-based budget to the central leaders, as hills areas require more funds for development activities due to its topography, in contrast to its lesser population, he said "just after becoming the Chief Minister in 2017, Go to Hills Mission was introduced to know the ground reality of hill areas".

The Chief Minister further informed that welfare schemes like Go to Village, School Fagathansi Mission, CMHT and others had been taken up after assessing the ground reality and knowing the needs of the people. Welfare schemes introduced by the Central Government have been successfully implemented and benefited lakhs of families as the Government officials are sincerely rendering their service, he added.

Expressing his desire to make Chandel a tourist spot by encouraging locals to build homestays, he further appealed to the public to be united in taking up development works.

He further said that tourist from outside the State have the willingness to explore the beauty of the State, mentioning the State had earlier hosted many national and international events like the G-20 Business 20 summit, Femina Miss India Grand Finale, tri-nation football tournament, etc. He stated the Government has no lack of fund for development works and sought people’s cooperation.

"The present government believes in being people friendly, the Chief Minister said that the go to Village Mission will be taken up again", he said.

Briefing the media regarding the cabinet meeting which was held today, Shri N. Biren Singh informed the State Cabinet had taken a decision to conduct job recruitment for filling up 50 percent of the vacant post of various Departments. For Home Department, recruitment will be done for 100 percent of the vacant posts, he added.