Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Harsh Malhotra on Saturday visited the newly constructed building of Kardu Taipodia District Hospital at Likabali, funded by the Government of India. The Union Minister, who is on a two-day visit to Lower Siang district, carried out a detailed inspection of the hospital infrastructure and interacted with the District Medical Officer, Medical Superintendent, doctors, and staff members to assess the availability of manpower and modern medical equipment. The Minister assured the hospital authorities that the concerns raised regarding shortages of manpower and medical equipment would be conveyed to the Prime Minister’s Office and the concerned ministries for necessary attention and redressal.
Thereafter, the Minister inspected the Jal Jeevan Mission drinking water project site at Likabali and interacted with engineers as well as beneficiaries regarding the implementation and progress of the project. In the afternoon, Malhotra visited PM Shri Upper Primary School at Silli Village. During his interaction with school authorities, Gaon Burahs, School Management Committee members, and villagers, he expressed concern over poor student enrolment despite the availability of good infrastructure and a sizeable population in the area.
Emphasising the importance of education, the Minister highlighted the need for improved educational facilities to complement academic progress and urged the community to actively adopt the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative launched by the Prime Minister of India. He also stressed the importance of ensuring that the 33 percent reservation policy for women yields meaningful results for improving the status of women and thereby pushing society forward.
The Minister further appealed to teachers to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and traditions of society through education so that the younger generation can sustain and uphold their unique identity. Later, Malhotra visited Oil Palm Nursery Projects at Dipa, Seren, Pam, and Old Deka villages, where he interacted with experts and progressive farmers regarding the scope and development of oil palm cultivation in the district.
The Minister also travelled along PMGSY roads from Likabali and conducted spot verification of the quality and progress of roads and bridges being executed by the State Rural Works Department. He however expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in completion of the bridge over the Pale River at Pale village.
