Aizawl: Mizoram Sports and Youth Services Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar has announced a major push to strengthen the state’s sports infrastructure, stating that a dedicated indoor volleyball hall is among the government’s top priorities.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the first-ever D-3 Inter College Volleyball Tournament in Aizawl, the Minister said the government is making “massive efforts” to develop the sports sector, according to an official statement issued by the State Information and Public Relations Department on Sunday.
Hmar noted that the government had taken note of the long-pending demand by the Mizoram Volleyball Association (MVA) for a dedicated volleyball stadium. He announced that an indoor volleyball hall has now been included among two recently selected sports infrastructure projects.
He also said that a multipurpose indoor stadium at Durtlang, on the northern outskirts of Aizawl, is nearing completion and will be inaugurated shortly. The 40×20 metre facility has been designed to host volleyball as well as other indoor sports disciplines.
Emphasising youth welfare, Hmar urged young people to stay away from drugs and other social evils.
“I urge the Mizo youth: let us stop dying because of drugs and other social evils. For the sake of our nation, we need to stay alive; we need our population to grow,” he said.
The Minister further encouraged the youth to prioritise family-building, suggesting that having at least three children would help ensure the continued strength and growth of the Mizo community.
The event, jointly organised by the MVA and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the State’s apex student organisation, was attended by Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) legislator Lalmuanpuia Punte, Adviser to the Chief Minister (Political) and former MZP president.