Mizoram reports highest Malaria incidence rate in India 6 dead since January Minister
Mizoram currently holds the highest malaria incidence rate in the country and efforts are on to eliminate the mosquito borne disease in the state, state Health Minister Lalrinpuii said on Tuesday. The state reported six deaths due to malaria since January, though the number of cases has declined, she said.Addressing the inaugural programme of a three-day regional review meeting on malaria elimination for GFATM project states here, Lalrinpuii said that four districts – Lawngtlai, Mamit, Lunglei and Siaha – are still in high endemic category and nearly 80 per cent of malaria cases in Mizoram were reported from these districts. GFATM refers to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. At least six people have died due to malaria and 7,321 people contracted the mosquito borne disease between January and September this year, according to the state health department. South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district, which shares border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, reported the highest cases at 3,151, followed by Lunglei district (1,788) and Siaha district (1,080), it said. “Massive efforts should be made to eliminate malaria as Mizoram now holds the dubious distinction of being the highest malaria incidence state in the country,” Lalrinpuii said. Although the number of people contracting malaria and death due to the disease in the state has slightly declined this year, it is still very high as compared to other states, which caused a big concern, she said.Altogether 16,899 malaria cases were reported and seven people died due to the disease last year, it said. In 2023, 13 people from 18,005, who contracted malaria, have died, according to the health department data. The minister said that 100 health workers will be recruited to be forerunners in malaria elimination programme.She also called for collective efforts from NGOs and Mizo community to fight the disease.
PM Modi unveils Rs 9000 cr development package for Mizoram, inaugurates historic rail link to Aizawl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a development push of more than 9,000 crore rupees ($1.1 billion) for Mizoram, including the inauguration of the state’s first rail link to its capital, Aizawl — a project he hailed as a historic milestone for India’s Northeast. While poor weather prevented Modi from attending a public gathering in the city, he addressed the people virtually from Lengpui Airport and expressed gratitude for what he called the “warm reception of the Mizo people.” The highlight of the day was the launch of the 51.4-kilometer Bairabi-Sairang rail line, built at a cost of 8,070 crore rupees. The line connects Aizawl to India’s railway network for the first time, with Sairang set to be linked to Delhi by the Rajdhani Express. Modi called the project a “lifeline of transformation” for Mizoram and the broader Northeast. “This is not just a railway track,” Modi said. “It will bring progress in agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, transport and employment for the people of Mizoram.” The project posed major engineering challenges due to the hilly terrain, requiring 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges and 88 smaller bridges. Modi praised the engineers and workers who carried out the construction in difficult conditions. The prime minister also used his address to attack what he described as decades of “vote-bank politics” by previous governments, which he said neglected the Northeast because of its small number of parliamentary seats. “Our government has brought those who were kept on the margins into the mainstream,” he said. Modi highlighted his government’s record in the region over the past 11 years, citing investments in rural roads, national highways, internet connectivity, electricity, LPG and clean drinking water. He said Mizoram will also benefit from expanded air services under the UDAN scheme, with new helicopter routes to remote areas starting soon. Underlining Mizoram’s strategic importance, Modi said the state is central to India’s Act East Policy, which seeks closer economic ties with Southeast Asia. He noted projects such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transport initiative and the planned Sairang-Hmawngbuchhuah rail link, which will connect Mizoram to the Bay of Bengal and beyond. The prime minister also focused on youth and entrepreneurship. He said the region already hosts more than 4,500 startups and 25 incubators, while residential schools under the A-Club model are expanding. “The innovation ecosystem is growing in the Northeast, and Mizoram’s youth are at its center,” Modi said. Sport was another theme of the address, with Modi praising Mizoram’s football culture and promising more infrastructure under the Khelo India scheme. He said a new national sports policy will boost opportunities and strengthen the sports economy. Modi encouraged promotion of local products such as bamboo, organic ginger, turmeric and bananas, while pointing to tax reforms under the Goods and Services Tax that reduced costs of essential goods. Citing India’s 7.8% GDP growth in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Modi described the country as the fastest-growing major economy. He said economic growth was tied to national security, referencing Operation Sindoor, where domestically produced weapons played a role. “Mizoram is not only a part of India’s story of development but also a crucial partner in building a developed India,” Modi said. The inauguration of the Bairabi-Sairang rail line, long awaited by the people of Mizoram, is expected to redefine connectivity in the state and give a major push to economic growth across the Northeast.
