AIZWAL, Dec 8: Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma was sworn in as the ninth chief minister of Mizoram on Friday.
Along with 73-year-old Lalduhoma, 11 others also took oath as state ministers at a function held in Raj Bhavan here. Seven of them were sworn in as cabinet ministers and four as ministers of state.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati administered the oath of office and secrecy to Lalduhoma and other ministers.
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With a 40-member assembly, Mizoram can have 12 ministers, including the chief minister.
Mizo National Front (MNF) leader and outgoing chief minister Zoramthanga and former chief minister Lal Thanhawla attended the event.
All 10 newly elected MNF MLAs, including its legislature party leader Lalchhandama Ralte, attended the programme.
Two newly elected BJP MLAs and a lone Congress legislator were also present at the programme.
ZPM legislature party deputy leader K Sapdanga was made the home minister, while Lalrinpuii from Lunglei East constituency became the first woman cabinet minister in Mizoram. She would hold health, social welfare and tribal affairs, women and child development and tourism portfolios.
Addressing a press conference after the swearing-in ceremony, Lalduhoma announced 12 priority programmes of his new government to be implemented in the next 100 days.
The former IPS officer-turned-politician said that his government would give top priority to farmers.
“Our government will buy four local products from farmers like ginger, turmeric, chilli and broomsticks by fixing minimum prices. Farmers will have the choice to sell their products on their own or to the government. This is our topmost priority,” he said.
Lalduhoma, who had served as the security in charge of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, said that the state’s financial condition is in “bad shape”, and the new government will “declare the next fiscal year as a year of consolidation”. His government will also accord priority to anti-corruption measures and will invite the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe graft cases in the state.
“The CBI will be given general consent to probe corruption cases in the state. The government will also assess whether the state’s Lokayukta needs to be strengthened and upgraded,” he said.
He urged his cabinet colleagues, MLAs and their relatives, party workers, NGOs and people in general to support the government to make the state corruption-free.
Among the 12 priorities, Lalduhoma said his government will form a monitoring committee to keep tabs on all development projects across the state.
The committee will have a representative each from recognised political parties, NGOs, Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (conglomerate of major churches) and Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF), a church-sponsored poll watchdog, he said.
Lalduhoma said his government’s annual budget will be oriented to ZPM policies.
“All departments will be instructed to prepare the budget in line with the ZPM policy,” he said, adding that all ministers will monitor their departments.
The chief minister also said the government will set up a resources mobilisation committee, which will deal with austerity measures, disinvestment and power supply. All the ministers will take a lead in implementing austerity measures and all facilities enjoyed by them will be cut down by 50 per cent.
The usual practice of buying new cars for MLAs with public money will be stopped and ministers will use the cars of their predecessors. Urging government officials to implement austerity measures, he said they should not enjoy facilities beyond those entitled to them.
The committee will also check disinvestment in various sectors and detailed reports of functioning and non-functioning of government assets should be submitted before January-end, he said.
Lalduhoma said his government will dissolve the 14 boards set up by Zoramthanga-led Mizo National Front (MNF) government to implement its flagship programme, Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP), and the subsidiary recruitment board ‘Mizoram Subordinate Service Selection Board’.
Work orders issued to contractors during the previous government will not be cancelled if the projects have already started, he said.
His government will also give priority to maintaining punctuality in government offices.
He said biometric attendance system will be introduced in all government offices to ensure punctuality and good attendance. Apart from this complaint and suggestion boxes will be installed in all ministers’ offices. (PTI)
