New Delhi, Apr 11 (FN Bureau) External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that the central government is committed to erect fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border to ensure security of the country. He appealed to the people of Mizoram to understand the situation. Interacting with the media persons after releasing the BJP manifesto called ‘BJP Mizoram Vision Document’ in Aizawl, Jaishankar said that ‘if Myanmar is a peaceful country or the civil war in the neighbouring country is going to be over soon, there is no need to fence the border.’ As the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar is most likely to continue for a long time, India has to protect itself from the violence being spilling over from across the border.
The EAM also said that massive illegal trafficking of drugs from Myanmar due to failure of law and order is also a matter of great concern for India. While the central government has given top priority for full implementation of the ‘Act East Policy’ no headway could be made due to the raging civil war in the neighbouring country as there could not be meaningful dialogue between the two countries. “The ASEAN countries are also ready to make investments if the Act East Policy becomes a reality,” the Minister said. Jaishasnkar said that border trade with Myanmar and Bangladesh will be given a bigger push after the general election is over.
Speaking about the ‘BJP Mizoram Vision Document’, the EAM said that the people of Mizoram will be able to avail free medical treatment from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh by using Ayushman Bharat Card. He said that Rs 1,000 crore will be allocated for repair of healthcare facilities in the state while the lone Zoram Medical College will be elevated to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. He said that Rs 300 crore and Rs 450 crore will be allocated for maintenance of government-run schools and colleges in the state while skill development and entrepreneurship will be given priority. Farmers holding PM Kisan Niddi Card will be able to avail loan upto Rs 3 lakh without any mortgage, Jaishankar said, adding that to facilitate local areca nut growers a good market and curb the smuggled areca nut from foreign countries, unique identification will be introduced. The Minister, who came to Aizawl for one day electioneering for the upcoming election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat, left for Delhi in the afternoon.