Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that INR 1.50 lakh crore will be invested in capital expenditure in the state in the next five years, of which INR 50,000 crore will be from its own resources.
Assam to invest INR 1.5 lakh cr in infra in 5 yrs — Himanta on I-Day speech
GUWAHATI — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that INR 1.50 lakh crore will be invested in capital expenditure in the state in the next five years, of which INR 50,000 crore will be from its own resources.
Speaking after hoisting the National Flag at the Independence Day celebration here, he also appealed to people from various parts of the country who have settled here to list ‘Assamese' as their mother tongue during Census data collection.
He, however, added that people of Barak Valley and tribals may mention their own languages in that category. The Barak Valley has a predominantly Bengali-speaking population.
“For building a ‘Vikshit Assam' by 2047, we shall be spending INR 50,000 crore in capital expenditure. The next four years will see investment in roads, schools, urbanisation, rural growth, etc, and this will be from our own funds,” Sarma said, in his first Independence Day speech after retaining the chief minister's position for the second term.
“In the next five years, we shall try to get INR 1 lakh crore from the central government. From 2026 to 2031, the state will spend INR 1.50 lakh crore on infrastructure,” Sarma added.
He said the state's economy has tripled in a decade and the state is now known from ‘chai' to ‘chip' of semiconductors, referring to the upcoming Tata factory in the state.
“We don't have the sea and resources like Odisha; faced decades of insurgency; but the ‘Assam model of development' is shining now,” the CM asserted.
He said schemes like ‘Orunodoi’ for women empowerment, transparently providing 1.65 lakh government jobs, digitalisation of administration, etc. are measures taken in the last five years that have transformed the state’s image.
Thanking the people for reaffirming their trust in the BJP-led government in the April elections, Sarma said development will be further accelerated, and it can be seen through the steps taken in the first 100 days of the new regime, including bringing the Uniform Civil Code.
He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allotting massive infrastructure and other projects to the state, from highways to semiconductors, and from underwater tunnels to the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, without the state even having to demand these.
Sarma maintained that mandatory rendition of the complete six stanzas of the Vande Mataram for the first time since independence made the occasion more special.
Blaming the Congress for the previous shorter version of the National Song being sung, he said, “For their own political interest, a section of Congress leaders had fragmented it. It is under PM Modi that all six stanzas of the song have been given the same status as the National Anthem.”
Condoling the loss of lives in the recent floods, which especially devastated four eastern districts, Sarma said that funds for rehabilitation of the affected people and areas will not be a constraint.
He appreciated the help extended by NDRF, SDRF, IAF and Army, besides the outpour of assistance from various social, religious, business organisations, students’ bodies and individuals.
Affirming the government’s commitment to protect the indigenous people, he said the right to sale and purchase of land in 40 revenue circles will soon be restricted to dwellers for three generations of that area.
Sarma also announced a 30-day special crackdown on child marriage from Nov 1 and affirmed that the government will not rest till underage weddings and polygamy are eradicated.
He added that 12,196 cases against child marriage had been registered and 11,196 arrests made in the last five years.
Dismissing the concepts of Gen Z and Alpha as “European” ones, the CM announced formation of a new Youth Development and Empowerment department that will work for the skill enhancement and all-round growth of the youth.
He also urged the parents to invest in the education of their children, while calling upon the youth to draw inspiration from their own culture and history and work for a self-reliant Assam.
He also announced eight new co-districts and disposal of pending government files in mission mode, among other measures to make governance smooth and closer to the people.
The CM added that the state will commemorate 800 years of the arrival of Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha of the Ahom dynasty which ruled the state for 600 years and was credited with first integrating the state.
The state will also commemorate 200 years of the revolt of Gomdhar Konwar against the colonial rulers this year, he said.
Lauding the recent victories of boxer Lovlina Borgohain and shuttler Ashmita Chaliha, Sarma said ‘Khel Maharan 3.0’ will be conducted in a grand fashion and corporates will be roped in to nurture identified sporting talents.
Manipur guv., CM call for strengthening national unity, upholding constitution
IMPHAL — Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday wished people on the occasion of Independence Day and urged them to strengthen national unity, uphold the Constitution, and contribute to the progress and prosperity of the nation.
Bhalla hoisted the national flag at the Lok Bhavan here, while the chief minister did the same at the First Manipur Rifles Ground.
The governor, in a statement, said, "Independence Day is a moment to honour the countless freedom fighters and martyrs whose sacrifices secured our nation's freedom. Their courage, patriotism, and unwavering commitment to the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice remain the foundation of our democracy."
He also called for renewing resolve to strengthen national unity, uphold the Constitution, and contribute wholeheartedly to the progress and prosperity of our nation.
The chief minister said, "Let us honour the courage and sacrifices of our freedom fighters, celebrate India’s remarkable progress, and reaffirm our commitment to unity, peace and development.
Singh also urged people to be active contributors in building a stronger, prosperous and self-reliant India, while moving towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP A Sharda Devi also hoisted the Tricolour at the party office. Party members also sang the National Anthem.
Tricolours were also hoisted at various institutes and establishments across all 16 districts of the state.
Tripura made phenomenal growth in eight years — CM Manik Saha
AGARTALA — Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said the state has made phenomenal growth on all fronts during the past eight years, with GSDP growth doubling in just six years.
Addressing the state-level Independence Day programme at the Assam Rifles ground here, Sarkar said his government has been working relentlessly to develop the socio-economic condition of the people.
“Several flagship programmes have been implemented successfully in the state to boost the socio-economic condition of the people. The GSDP has been doubled in just six years, and the per capita income has almost reached the national average”, he said.
“On the law and order front, the state has largely remained peaceful with the lowest crime being reported last year in the past two decades,” he said, adding that investors are showing interest in investing in the northeastern state.
Referring to the recently concluded ‘Destination Tripura: Business Summit’, he said apart from huge investment proposals amounting to INR 1.32 lakh crore, 10 representatives of foreign embassies joined the business conclave.
Saha said the good works done by the state government have got national recognition as 360 national and regional awards were bagged in different fields, from agriculture to rural development and Panchayat.
The chief minister said the state has taken several initiatives for the welfare of the farmers, connectivity, health and rural development to ensure overall development.
“The state has already inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the AIIMS, New Delhi to improve healthcare facilities at GBP Hospital here. It will certainly improve the state’s overall healthcare service delivery system,” he said.
Saha added that altogether 6935 Bru families who repatriated from Mizoram were rehabilitated in the state under an accord with the Centre for a lasting solution to their displacement problem.
Arunachal to be built back in better way, govt to invest INR 7,834 cr on infra: CM
ITANAGAR — Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday vowed to build back the state in a better way after the recent floods and landslides, and announced a INR 7,834 crore investment for 2026-29 to strengthen roads, rural connectivity, power and other key infrastructure.
Hoisting the National Tricolour at Indira Gandhi Park here on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Khandu said the recent natural disasters had once again demonstrated the need for safer, stronger and more resilient infrastructure in the frontier state.
“Our resolve is firm and our direction is clear: in the years ahead, every community of Arunachal Pradesh will be supported with safer, stronger, and more resilient infrastructure,” he said.
The chief minister paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the recent floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Nagaland and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.
He praised local communities, district administrations, security forces, disaster response teams, healthcare workers and volunteers for their efforts during the crisis.
Khandu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for approving the advance release of INR 44.55 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund, saying the assistance had strengthened relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
He also thanked the Centre for deputing an inter-ministerial central team to assess the damage.
Calling for a future-ready disaster management strategy, Khandu urged communities and public representatives to work together on disaster mitigation and adaptation plans, assuring full support from the state government.
Highlighting Arunachal’s development over the past decade, Khandu said the state had received unprecedented support from the Centre in connectivity, healthcare, education, border-area development, tourism, digital infrastructure and green energy.
The chief minister also highlighted the growing role of women in the state’s development, saying more than 1.5 lakh women were now organised into over 16,000 self-help groups. Nearly 46 per cent of startups in Arunachal are women-led, he said.
“From Mother’s Kitchens to ARUNIMA Marts, from sports to education, from innovation to enterprise, women of Arunachal Pradesh are strengthening families, generating livelihoods, and creating new pathways of progress,” he said.
On last-mile development, Khandu said the state had recently approved INR 7,834 crore for 2026-29 under flagship Chief Minister Comprehensive Schemes and Mission Shikshit Arunachal.
Of this, INR 2,334 crore will be invested under Phase-II of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive State Road Development Plan to upgrade roads in district headquarters, townships and the Capital Complex.
Another INR 2,000 crore will be spent under the Comprehensive State Rural Road Development Programme to provide all-weather connectivity to uncovered habitations, he said.
A further INR 2,000 crore will be invested under the Comprehensive State Power Development Programme to modernise power infrastructure and improve electricity supply.
Khandu said four high-powered committees had been constituted to examine issues concerning APST safeguards, strengthening of the Inner Line Permit framework, illegal infiltration and other matters affecting the long-term interests of indigenous communities.
He said development projects, including infrastructure, hydropower and tourism, would be pursued through dialogue and community participation while respecting sacred sites, customary practices and indigenous sentiments.
The government, he said, would also protect indigenous faiths, languages, customs, festivals and traditional knowledge systems.
As Arunachal Pradesh marks 80 years of India’s Independence, Khandu said the responsibility of the present generation was to build a developed state and contribute to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
“The next 10 years will be a decade of accelerated delivery, deeper transformation, and stronger foundations for the future,” he said, adding that the government would work with greater resolve as Arunachal Pradesh moves towards completing 50 years of statehood.
Khandu said the vision of “Viksit Arunachal 2047” was shaped through consultations with farmers, women, teachers, traders, doctors, engineers, bureaucrats, public representatives and community organisations.
“The foundation has been laid, and our confidence is stronger than ever,” he said, expressing hope that future generations would remember the period as one when Arunachal Pradesh unlocked its full potential while protecting its identity and ensuring development reached every corner of the state.
Meghalaya 3rd fastest-growing state over five years, economy more than doubled since 2018 — CM
SHILLONG — Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said the state's economy has more than doubled since 2018, making it the third fastest-growing state in India over the last five years.
He also asserted that his government remained committed to financial discipline and on a war footing for the state's overall development.
Addressing the Independence Day programme at Polo Grounds here, Sangma said the government had focused on three foundations -- "protecting and preserving our land, empowering our people and upholding our culture".
"The foundations for strong results have been laid in every sector. We have come a long way from where we stood eight years ago, and it gives me real satisfaction to see today's Meghalaya and the road ahead of us," he said.
Sangma, the NPP chief who became the chief minister for the first time in 2018, said the state has witnessed improvements in roads, basic infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, tourism and sports.
"Today, our economy has more than doubled since 2018, making Meghalaya the third fastest-growing state in India over the last five years," he said, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre's support.
On environmental conservation, he said Meghalaya has 76 per cent forest cover and highlighted the Green Meghalaya Plus programme, under which communities are being incentivised to protect natural forests.
He said more than 60,000 springs had been mapped and efforts were underway to protect them, while more than 500 large water-harvesting structures had been created.
Sangma also highlighted the state's efforts to transition towards sustainable mining, saying scientific mining had begun and a framework was being developed to support small miners.
On agriculture, he said the government was promoting high-value crops through schemes including CM Farm Plus, the Organic Mission, Floriculture Mission and Ginger Mission.
"Through the scheme, we are providing high-value, long-gestation crops to over 25,000 farmers across all 12 districts," he said.
The chief minister said the government has also expanded healthcare initiatives, with maternal deaths declining by 56 per cent since 2020 and infant deaths by nearly 40 per cent.
He said the Safe Motherhood Scheme helped transport more than one lakh pregnant women to healthcare facilities, including over 15,800 high-risk mothers.
On education, Sangma said Meghalaya had moved out of the lowest category in the Performance Grading Index, with its score improving from 448 to 525 in a single year.
He said the CM Skills Mission had trained more than 55,000 young people since 2022, while entrepreneurship programmes such as PRIME and CM-ELEVATE had supported thousands of beneficiaries and generated employment.
Tourism, he said, had emerged as one of Meghalaya's strongest sources of livelihood, with annual visitors increasing from around 10 lakh in 2018 to nearly 18 lakh.
"Tourism has not just created income. It has brought dignity," Sangma said.
He also highlighted the state's sporting initiatives ahead of the 39th National Games, saying more than 20,000 grassroots sports projects had been completed or were under way and the STAR programme had supported over 2,400 athletes.
On the drug menace, Sangma urged young people to take up sports, music and skills, saying the strongest defence against drugs was "a full life".
He also highlighted the government's efforts to improve citizen grievance redressal through CM Connect, saying more than one lakh citizens had been reached since 2024 through the helpline and other channels.
On culture, Sangma said the government would continue efforts to promote Khasi and Garo languages and pursue their inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He also referred to the Meghalaya government's agreement with Assam in March 2022 that resolved boundary differences in six of the 12 areas of dispute.
"Participation means building with people, not just for them," he said.
Looking ahead, Sangma said the coming year would be particularly significant as Meghalaya turns 55 and hosts the 39th National Games.
"Let it be this: be optimistic, stay patient and aspire high," he said, calling on people to become partners in the state's development journey.
New system of governance central to ZPM govt's vision for self-reliant Mizoram — CM
AIZAWL — Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday said that a new system of governance remains central to the present ZPM government's vision to build a self-reliant economy.
Addressing the Independence Day programme here, Lalduhoma said achieving self-sufficiency in food and other essential sectors was a key objective of his government, alongside improving livelihoods and ensuring balanced development across Mizoram.
"We are taking steps to build a stronger system of governance and a self-reliant, more developed state, while improving the living standards of the people. To achieve self-sufficiency in food and other essential areas, our central vision has been, and will continue to be, a 'people's government' with a new vision and a new approach," he said after hoisting the Tricolour.
He described the state's flagship programme "Bana Kaih" or Handholding scheme as the government's most important initiative for transforming the Mizoram economy.
Lalduhoma said that the scheme aimed at going beyond financial assistance by enhancing skills, creating livelihood opportunities and supporting the economic development of individuals, families and the state.
Highlighting measures aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, Lalduhoma said the government has launched a INR 20 crore Mizoram Bana Kaih Venture Capital Fund to help young people establish businesses and become self-reliant.
The state government had also introduced the Mizoram Grand Challenge, the Industrial and Investment Policy, 2025, and an Investment Promotion Agency to attract investors and encourage investment, he said.
The Bana Kaih scheme has been extended to agriculture and allied sectors, with the government continuing to procure and market ginger and other key crops produced by farmers, he said. The state provided INR 140 crore as support price in 2025, while about INR 22 crore had already been provided in 2026, Lalduhoma said.
He said the government was also promoting ginger processing and exports, including through the Sairang Horticulture Centre.
A Rs 30.13 crore project sanctioned by the Ministry of DoNER for a ginger processing unit in Champhai is expected to increase the value of processed produce and boost farmers' incomes, he said.
The government's broader push for food self-sufficiency includes oil palm, off-season vegetables, bamboo, livestock, dairy, fisheries and sericulture.
Under the National Mission on Edible Oils, oil palm cultivation has covered 1,607 hectares, while farmers have sold 7,225 metric tonnes of produce worth INR 10.53 crore.
Off-season tomato and cabbage production also generated around INR 40 crore for farmers in 2025, he said.
Lalduhoma said that the scheme was also being used to support people recovering from drug dependence through skill-development programmes implemented in collaboration with churches and voluntary organisations.
Around 2,200 people have received treatment so far, he said.
The government has further expanded Bana Kaih scheme into sports through Empowering Mizoram Sports (EMS), under which talented athletes are being identified and trained with the 2036 Olympic Games in view.
In the employment sector, the government is implementing initiatives such as Eizawnna Kailawn and Rahbi Chhertu to help young people secure sustainable livelihoods, he said.
Lalduhoma said the government's development initiatives were aimed not merely at increasing awareness but at building a stronger, more inclusive and self-reliant Mizoram through the collective efforts of farmers, workers, traders, youth, women, government employees and voluntary organisations.
He also highlighted a INR 1,000 crore loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank for the implementation of Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS), with 90 per cent of the loan to be borne by the Union government.
The chief minister said the state had also secured a INR 350 crore incentive for effective implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes through the SNA SPARSH system.
On fiscal reforms, Lalduhoma said Mizoram's tax collection had reached INR 1,278.55 crore in 2025-26, while reforms, including GST 2.0, were helping widen and streamline revenue collection.
Lalduhoma said that his government was also expanding rural infrastructure and social welfare programmes.
Mizoram is among the first states preparing to implement VB-GRAM (G), with INR 611.65 crore earmarked for its launch, he said.
Under VVP-II, 109 border villages are being covered, while 273 new computer-equipped libraries have been established in rural areas.
Under PMAY-Gramin, 25,433 houses have been completed, he said.
To strengthen food security, the government has distributed benefits under the Mizoram State Special Ration Package to 29,000 families and stocked over 1,67 lakh quintals of rice as monsoon reserve for 2026-27, the chief minister said.