Aizawl comes to standstill for Vice-Prez

Aizawl, Nov 03 (UNI) Vehicular traffic at Aizawl today came to a standstill to facilitate Vice-President M.Hamid Ansari's visit to the Mizoram University at Tanhril, on the western outskirts of the city.

The narrow and hilly roads had necessitated the cordoning off of the roads to allow smooth and unhindered travel for the Vice-President's convoy.

The Vice-President inaugurated the University's new administrative building at 1020 hours, interacted with the faculty members and addressed the students and of the University.

In his address, the Vice-President said it was a very pleasant and knowledgeable experience for him to visit a university, which was in the process of taking shape.

Mr Ansari said the university should welcome elderly people who might want to resume formal education and they should be treated with great respect.

He urged that the university should offer short-term refresher courses.

Mr Ansari underlined that Mizoram was a remarkable asset to the country, as it had high literacy rate (89 per cent), which he added, is ''something to be proud of.'' He said building quality education on this foundation (high literacy rate) was much easier than in other states where the literacy rate was abysmally low.

The Vice-President observed that there was imbalance in the country's development.

Some states whose GDP witnessed high growth rate, had very low growth rate in human resources development, he said, adding that Mizoram had good human resources, which it could use for the development of the society.

The Mizoram University could play a great role in it, he added.

The varsity's officials also pointed out the immediate needs of the campus, including good road conditions upto the campus gate, high tension power line and water pipeline upto the varsity campus.

From the university, the Vice-President returned to the city with hundreds of smiling people waiting along the road to get a glimpse of their Vice-President.

While visiting the state museum, Mr Ansari said it was another pleasant experience for him to witness the great diversity of Indian cultures.

He had witnessed a colourful cultural programme, hosted by the Mizoram Governor yesterday.

Accompanied by wife Salma Ansari, daughter Nurya Ansari and a 12-member security team, doctors and technicians, the Vice-President headed to the Aizawl Helipad from which he was taken by IAF helicopter to the Lengpui Airport after lunch with the state's top officials.

From Lengpui Airport, he flew back to New Delhi in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, just before the Vice-President's visit, resurfacing work had been done on many Aizawl roads.

''I wish such VVIPs visit Mizoram more often, then our roads will be always smooth,'' a driver commented.

UNI