iMizoram : Blog Title the same as above

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Cop on poll duty sustains bullet injuries

Banka: A policeman on Sunday sustained bullet injuries after he accidently shot himself with his own SLR while taking seat in a vehicle near Bausa police station in Bihar's Banka district.

The cop, identified as Lalayan of the fifth battalion of the Mizoram police, sustained injuries in his leg after he accidentally pressed the trigger of the SLR, Superintendent of Police, Shyam Kumar said.

The injured cop was taken to a nearby hospital where the attending doctors referred him to the Referral hospital at Bhagalpur, he said.

Two Myanmarese nationals held for gangrape

Aizawl, Oct 31 : Vaivakawn police today arrested two Myanmarese nationals on charges of gangraping a local woman at Rangvamual here on Monday evening.

The woman, an egg-vendor from Thuampui locality, lodged a complaint in Vaivakawn police station on Tuesday that she had been gangraped by two unidentified men while walking home from Rangvamual around 1700 pm on October 25.

Police arrested two Myanmarese nationals--identified as Lalchawiliana(19), and Vanlalpekmuana(18). They were temporarily residing at Vaivakawn Zonhnuai locality.

The duo allegedly dragged the woman below the road and raped her.

Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (Mizo women organisation) branch of Zuangtui strongly condemned the rape of its member by Myanmarese nationals. The women organisation further demanded that the state government flush out all foreigners from Mizoram in order to ''decrease crime rates.''

Goodbye door-to-door campaigning, hello SMS!

Aizawl, Oct 31 : It seems goodbye to door-to-door campaign here as text messaging has taken over as the main mode of electioneering after the all-powerful church organisation prohibited the former process.

This time round, as electioneering for the first Aizawl Municipal Council is reaching its climax, candidates and their supporters are busy sending text messages to the voters, besides speaking on a common platform organised by church organisation in each ward.

''I receive such messages from political parties appealing to me to vote for their party candidates four to five times on a daily basis,'' a resident of Chanmari here said.

'Vote for candidates who could work shoulder to shoulder with the state government' is the main slogan of the ruling Congress party and its ally Lalduhoma-led Zoram Nationalist Party.

The Congress-ZNP alliance had warned the people of Aizawl against electing candidates who 'would turn their back' on the ruling party.

On the other hand, Opposition Mizo National Front-Mizoram People's Conference combine has been asking the elect councillors from Opposition party to check the government.

They claimed that the municipal council would get direct fund from the Centre and there would be no way the state government tie the hands of the Opposition councillors.

These two contrasting slogans are what the people of Aizawl keep receiving on their mobile phones.

Since the last state Assembly elections in 2008, the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), a Presbyterian Church-sponsored election watchdog, has forced political parties and candidates to refrain from door-to-door campaigning and to take alternative routes to woo voters.

Candidates for the 19-ward AMC polls, to be held on November 3, are now declaring their manifesto via SMSes and the common platform.

A candidate said he had been using text messages to ask voters within his ward to vote for him as he was not allowed to personally meet them in their homes by the MPF.

The MPF has also fixed the number of banners and posters to be displayed by a candidate within his ward and also the number of copies of the pamphlets and appeals 'to cut down election expenditure'.

SMS service providers like Aizawl-based Zolife Mobcom services are doing lucrative business with major political parties, especially the ruling Congress and the Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), paying for their service to reach the voters.

''We are sending around seven lakh SMSes in a week now and we hope that it would be picking up soon,'' Remruata Varte of the Mobcom sms service said, adding, ''We will launch voicemail messages within a few days.'' The State Election Commission is, meanwhile, keenly watching if the SMS campaigning goes beyond the law.

In an official statement, the State Election Commission said the misuse would be penalised under provisions of the IPC, Representation of the People Act, 1951, Mizoram Municipalities (Election of Councillors) Rules, 2007 and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961.

''It has been brought to the notice of the Commission that certain objectionable SMSes are being transmitted by some persons, violating the provisions of election laws and the model code of conduct.'' ''Any violation of the election laws and the model code of conduct should be reported to the police and the police would take action in accordance with the law,'' the statement said.

Expenses on bulk SMSes sent by service providers would be included in the election expenditure of the candidates, the Commission said, adding that transmission of bulk text messages of political nature for a period of 48 hours before the end of the election process of the civic polls was strictly prohibited.

Mizoram CM taken ill

AIZAWL, Oct 31 (PTI) - Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla was brought here by a helicopter this evening for treatment after he was taken ill while visiting his constituency.

Doctors treating the 68-year-old Chief Minister in his official residence said a thorough medical examination was being conducted and his condition was stable.

Lal Thanhawla developed a problem while attending a public meeting at Serchhip town in his constituency, doctors said, adding that he had recently undergone medical check-up in Kolkata.

Tripura CM presses on Reang refugee repartiation

Agartala, Oct 31 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said that social problems would arise unless the Reang refugees from neighbouring Mizoram were taken back."Nearly 35,000 to 40000 people are living in the space where 10,000 to 12,000 people stay.

It is bound to create social problems," chief minister said when replying to a private member''s resolution in the assembly yesterday.The private members resolution was moved by ruling CPI-M MLA - "The central government take initiative to repatriate the Reang refugees from Mizoram sheltered in Tripura with dignity".

Sarkar said, he had taken up the matter with the central government on several occasions but the problem was that Mizoram government did not agree to take back all the refugees.

The assembly unanimously took a resolution that the Centre takes ininitiative to repatriate them.

More than 35000 Reang/Bru refugees are sheltered in six evacuee camps in Kanchapur subdivision of North Tripura district bordering Mizoram.They entered Tripura following ethnic clashes with the Mizos since 1997.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Man dies of bee stings in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 29 (PTI) A 38-year-old man was killed near Chithar village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district after he was stung by a swarm of bees in the jungle on Wednesday, reports reaching here from the village today said.

Nghenchhanliana was on the edge of a waterfall when thousands of bees attacked him and in order to avoid falling into the gorge he just sat down allowing the swarm of bees, locally called 'Khawidang' to sting him for sometime.

He managed to return home with great difficulty and died of the multiple injuries after having high fever, the reports said.

In a separate incident, a 46-year-old man was bitten to death by a snake in Mizoram-Assam border Hriphaw hamlet on the same day.Zairemmawia, who was working in his garden did not return home on the night of Wednesday and the search party comprising of policemen and villagers found his body in his garden along with a dead snake.

It was concluded that he killed the snake after it bit him.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

57 NLPCR projects completed in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 28 : DoNER secretary Jayati Chandra, who is currently on a visit to Mizoram, was today informed that of the 88 projects sanctioned under NLPCR fund to Mizoram since 1998-99, 57 have been completed and 31 projects are under construction.

Mr Chandra today had a meeting with Mizoram Chief Secretary Vanhela Pachuau, state planning board member P L Thanga and other important officials at Tourist Lodge, Chaltlang, here in which they reviewed the utilisation of the NLPCR fund in Mizoram.

The DoNER secretary lent ears to the different problems raised by department officials and assured of all possible assistance to sort them out. The department officials also made proposals to expedite the ongoing projects.

The DoNER secretary asked the officials to make sure the central fund reach its target.

After the meeting, the DoNER official was airdashed to Saiha in southern Mizoram where she was accorded a huge reception with a guard of honour and cultural programme.

In an ensuing meeting, Saiha DC Kunal gave a power point presentation on 'development issues of Saiha district' which impressed Chandra. She said she would take all the possible steps to fulfill the needs of the district highliged in the presentation.

She felt sorry over the non-sanctioning of funds for Saiha district civil hospital even three years after its project was approved by the ministry.

She further assured that funds would be sanctioned for Tuipang water supply scheme once the DPR was completed.

She left Saiha for Lawngtlai around 1300 hours. She was accompanied by a crowd of officials.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Centre advises Mizoram to repatriate Bru refugees quickly

Aizawl, Oct 28 (PTI) The Mizoram government today said they have been advised by the Centre to begin repatriation of Bru refugees from the neighbouring Tripura as soon as possible.

The state government had appealed for extension of the repatriation dateline from October 18 to November 18, due to relief works being undertaken for the victims of landslides and earth faults in Mamit where majority of the refugees would be resettled.

A state home department official said that arrangements have been made for a phase-wise early repatriation of the refugees.

Altogether 36 villages in the Mizoram-Tripura border's Mamit district were selected for resettlement of the refugees while five villages each were identified for the purpose in Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib district and south Mizoram's Lunglei district.

Once repatriated, Rs 80,000 would be disbursed to each family which would include Rs 35,000 for construction of houses, the official said.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Make science more attractive: Lakhera

Aizawl, Oct 26 : Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (rtd) MM Lakhera today urged scientists to make science more attractive and more innovative to the youth.

Lakhera was inaugurating the 74th BRNS-IANCAS national workshop on radiochemistry and applications of radioisotopes at the Mizoram University (MZU) campus, at Tanhril here.

''We unfortunately are not able to motivate our youth in large numbers to take up science and technology despite its importance for economic development of the country,'' the Governor said.

''Scientists should do something to make science more attractive and more innovative to the youth,'' he urged.

The Governor suggested that higher education institutes should redesign their courses and syllabus to modern day requirement with modern technology.

He also said nuclear science is not very well understood by most of the people; and that the Workshop will act as a catalyst to focus attention on various aspects of nuclear energy and thus will increase awareness about the multiple uses of nuclear energy.

The national workshop which will last till November 2 is organised by Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BRNS) and Indian Association of Nuclear Chemists and Allied Scientists (IANCAS). It is hosted by the Mizoram University's department of chemistry.

MZU vice-chancellor and chief patron Prof Tlanglawma said that radioisotopes had found immense roles and uses in various fields of sciences; and the workshop will be helpful for the participants in starting their own nuclear research.

MZU registrar and patron Benjamina said that one cannot be a depository of old knowledge; and it is important to learn something to enhance knowledge and skill. He added that learning is about sharing of experiences.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Aizawl SP confirms

Imphal, Oct 25 : The Aizawl SP has confirmed that some Manipuris were among non-Mizos pulled up by Mizoram Police for not possessing Inner Line Permit.

Although the SP refused to state the exact number of Manipuris detained, the SP categorically stated that it is mandatory for non-Mizos residing/staying in Mizoram to possess Inner Line Permit.

Taking serious note of this sudden development, Manipur Chief Secretary is making correspondence with his Mizoram counterpart.

The Government of Mizoram is being asked not to pull up Manipuris staying there until they could get their Inner Line Permits.

Meanwhile, information received from Aizawl said that all the arrested Manipuris have been released.

The Government of Mizoram has given them a month's time to get the mandatory Inner Line Permits.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Centre okays two water projects in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 23 : The Centre has given nod to two water supply schemes costing a total of Rs 4417.80 lakh.

Official sources said today, the Centre approved Greater Lawngtlai water supply scheme costing Rs 2564.50 lakh and greater Saitual water supply scheme costing Rs 2153.20 lakh.

The Centre has released Rs 905 lakh for Lunglei and Rs 759 lakh for Saitual as the first installment, the sources said.

The schemes are being funded under the Central Pool of Resources for Development of Northeast and Sikkim for 2010-11.

Mizoram to hold talks with Hmar outfit

Aizawl, Oct 23 (IANS) The Mizoram government will hold talks with the radical outfit Hmar People’s Convention-Democrats (HPC-D), officials said Saturday.
“The HPC-D had recently approached the Mizoram government for talks and the latter agreed immediately,” a Mizoram home department official told IANS.
The official said that though details of the talks are yet to be finalised, the separatists have not put forward any pre-condition.
The Mizoram government has constituted a committee, comprising police and civil administration officials, under the chairmanship of Home Secretary Lalmalsawma, to conduct the talks.
HPC-D is a militant outfit operating mainly in Mizoram and neighbouring Manipur. It has been demanding a separate Hmar Autonomous District Council, comprising Hmar tribal-inhabited areas in the north and northeastern eastern part of mountainous Mizoram.
The Hmar tribals live mostly in the hills of south Manipur, parts of Mizoram, southern Assam and parts of Meghalaya and Tripura, besides Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of southeast Bangladesh.
In 1987, the Hmars launched an insurgent movement demanding a Hmar Autonomous District Council, until a ceasefire was signed in 1992. A radical section split off from the movement after the ceasefire, calling itself the Hmar People’s Convention-Democrats. The group, involved in cases of kidnapping and extortion, has been active since 2003.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Reang refugees write to PM

Agartala, Oct 22 : The Reang refugees have sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding assurance of immediate repatriation with full security, at least one house for each family, free ration for one year and cash compensation of Rs 50,000 for each family.

The refugees, along with Reang tribes of both Tripura and Mizoram, were demonstrating in Kanchanpur against the Mizoram government for its alleged non-cooperation in taking back the refugees since the past 13 years.

They submitted the memorandum to the local administration to be forwarded to the Prime Minister.

Mizoram Police pay homage to departed colleagues

Aizawl, Oct 22 : The Mizoram police today observed police commemoration day to salute the valour and sacrifice of police personnel who died in harness.

In a ceremony held at the Ist Mizoram Armed Police headquarters at Armed Veng here, Mizoram DIG (Northern Range) L Hrangnawna read out the names of all the 798 police personnel who laid down their lives while on duty all over the country during the period of September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010. This was followed a police commemoration parade.

The day is observed every year to pay homage to those police personnel who laid down their lives at Hot Spring (Ladakh) while patrolling in Indian territory in an attack by Chinese Army on October 21, 1959 as well as for those police personnel who laid their lives on duty all over the country during past one year. On this occasion, the police officials, led by DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau, laid floral wreaths at Martar Thlan (martyrs monument) at the Ist MAP headquarters. The monument was constructed in honour of Mizoram policemen who died while fighting enemies.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines, the state DGP highlighted the major achievements of Mizoram police during the last three years. Among many others, the DGP said Mizoram would get bullet-proof Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle by November.

Mizoram Governor Lakhera turns 73

Aizawl, Oct 22 : The Raj Bhavan in Aizawl was today flooded with gifts and good wishes as the occupant Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Rtd) Madan Mohan Lakheracelebrated his 73rd birthday.

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla conveyed his wishes through telephone and also sent a present. State ministers, senior officers and military personnel were among those who felicitated the Governor on his birth anniversary.

M M Lakhera was born on October 21, 1937, at Jakhand, Patti Barjula, Tehri Garhawal. He was educated in Rastriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun. He was commissioned in the Army from Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun on June 8, 1958.

He became the Governor of Mizoram on July 2006. Previously, he was the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Pondicherry from 2004 to 2006.

Mizo varsity students set afire registrar's car

Aizawl, Oct 22 : The car of the Mizoram University registrar was set ablaze today by the students who intensified their long-standing demand for a 1230-hour bus service from the varsity campus to the city.

Sources from the Mizoram University Students Union said the students waited for the response of the registrar, Benjamina, to their memorandum till 1700 hrs. When the registrar failed to give any positive response, they started attacking his car, sources added.

As the agitating students locked the campus gate from the inside and formed a barricade, the police could do very little to keep off the fire which damaged the car beyond repair.

An agreement was made with the acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Tlanglawma, according to which the 1230 hours bus service would be resumed from tomorrow. Sources said this agreement would remain effective till the Vice-Chancellor's term expired after one month.

The bus service at that point of time was in place four to five years back. It was suspended due to shortage of buses and other administrative reasons, it was learnt.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tribal refugees protest in Tripura

Agartala/Aizawl, Oct 21 (IANS) Mizoram tribal refugees sheltered in Tripura for over 13 years Thursday organised a protest rally to express their distress over the Mizoram government's apathetic attitude to taking back the migrants.

'The Reang tribal refugees want an agreement with the Mizoram government to fulfill their economic demands and to ensure their rehabilitation in their villages after their repatriation,' Kanchanpur sub-divisional magistrate Dilip Chakma told IANS on phone.

Since October 1997, over 41,600 Reang tribal refugees, locally called Bru, have taken shelter in six camps in north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division, adjacent to Mizoram. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos over the killing of a Mizo forest official.

Thousands of tribal refugees after holding a protest rally at Kanchanpur, 170 km north of here, submitted a memorandum to the Mizoram government through the Kanchanpur sub-divisional magistrate.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram government requested the central government for one month extension of the deadline for repatriation of tribal refugees from camps in Tripura.

According to an official of Mizoram government's home department, the union home ministry had set Oct 18 as the deadline for resumption of the repatriation process.

'The state government has sought for more time as the administration of Mamit district, where maximum number of the refugees would be resettled after repatriation, is engaged in rescue and relief operations in the area hit by landslides, triggered by heavy rains recently,' the official said.

'After the repatriation of 1,133 refugees to Mizoram in May, the total number of refugee families are 6,224 - comprising 40,504 men, women and children sheltered in the six camps,' Shiva Prasad Biswas, Tripura government's relief, rehabilitation and disaster management department director, told IANS.

During his visit to Aizawl in May, Home Minister P. Chidambaram had asked the Mizoram government and the tribal leaders to help repatriate all Reang tribal refugees to their ancestral villages.

The refugees' demands include house construction assistance of Rs.48,500 per tribal family, free rations to the displaced tribals for a period of 12 months, adequate security and financial assistance for their 'jhum' cultivation (slash and burn method of cultivation).

'Without a written agreement with the Mizoram government, we will not return to our villages as the state government had earlier failed to fulfil its commitments on a number of occasions,' a refugee leader told reporters.

Local Reang tribals -- those who are residents of Tripura -- also took part in Thursday's protest rally supporting the refugees' demands.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Mizoram Murder suspect hangs self in lock-up

Aizawl, Oct 20 : A murder suspect in Lunglei district in southern Mizoram allegedly committed suicide inside a lock-up room last night, police here today said.

Sanghmingthanga alias Lalbuanga (40) was accused of murdering a 42-year-old woman of Lungsen on October 16. The suspect has another criminal case pending regarding rape of a minor girl.

On Monday evening, angry residents of Lungsen flocked to Lungsen police station urging the police to quickly solve the murder case. In a bid to prevent any untoward incident, the police secured the lock-up gates. The police officials also appealed to the crowd to disperse.

After the commotion subsided, the suspect was found hanging with a blanket from the iron bar of the ventilator inside the lock-up.

Sources said the suspect had not yet confessed to the crime before he allegedly committed suicide.

The suspect lived in the village of the victim.

One Lalchhuanawmi was found dead with her head severed from her neck with a sharp object on Saturday. As the woman failed to return from the jhum on Saturday evening, her husband and neighbours went searching for her and later found her body. She had gone to jhum alone.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Aizawl Municipal Council Polls in Full Swing

Aizawl, Oct 19 (PTI) As no candidates withdrew their nominations, 45 candidates are in the fray for the first election to the 19-ward Aizawl Municipal Council to be held on November 3.

All the candidates were allotted symbols today, returning officer J Hmingthanmawia said.The ruling Congress and the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) alliance contested all the wards sharing the seats on 13-6 basis while the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) combine also fielded candidates in all the wards sharing the seats on 12-7 basis.

The BJP and the NCP contested in four and one seats respectively while two independent candidates were also in the fray for the polls even as the battle would be mainly between the Congress-ZNP and MNF-MPC alliances.

Most of the candidates belonging to the major political parties were new faces, mostly young people unknown in the political arena and the well-known candidates included Laldanglova of the Congress, who is the elder brother of the state home minister Lalzirliana and two MNF candidates, Biakthansanga and Lalmalsawmi, both television personalities.

Monday, October 11, 2010

45 candidates in fray for Aizawl Municipal Corporation polls

Aizawl, Oct 12 (PTI) Forty five candidates were in the fray today, the last day of filing of candidates for the first election to the 19-member Aizawl Municipal Corporation to be held on November three.

The coming civic polls would be mainly a straight contest between the ruling Congress and Zoram Nationalist party (ZNP) alliance and the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) combine while the BJP also decided to contest four seats and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) one seat.

Scrutiny of the nomination papers would be undertaken tomorrow and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is on Wednesday.

Mizoram govt serve rules for local wine sale

Aizawl, Oct 11 : Mizoram has set certain rules to be followed by those dealers of locally brewed grape wine known as Zawlaidi. The locally produced grape wine from southern part of Mizoram will finally hit markets from October 11. The Grape Growers Association of Champhai has unilaterally decided to commence marketing of the grape wine.

The Excise department of Mizoram Government has directed that the quantity of the wine should be limited to four liters per head and it should not be sold to the under-age i.e people under 18 years.

The directives also said that the sales-persons should also be above 18 years of age. The Zawlaidi will be sold from the retail outlets only. Selling of the wine after 5 pm is prohibited by the State Excise department.

Meanwhile, the Grape Growers Association have requested the Excise Department and other concerned departments to facilitate for the marketing of the grape wine at the rate of Rs 160 per liter excluding the commission for the retail vendor.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Mizoram seeks more time for Bru repatriation

AIZAWL, Oct 7 – The Mizoram Government today said it would move the Centre for one month extension of the deadline for repatriation of Bru refugees from camps in North Tripura.

The Home Ministry had set October 18 as the deadline for the repatriation process. “The State Government would seek for more time as the administration of Mamit district, where maximum number of the Bru refugees would be resettled after repatriation, is engaged in rescue and relief operations in the area hit by landslides, triggered by heavy rains,” official sources said.

“The officials are engaged in relief operations and are unable to prepare for the repatriation process during October,” he said.

Meanwhile, the joint verification of villages where the refugees were proposed to be resettled was almost complete in Mamit, he said.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, during his visit to Aizawl on May 25, had urged Bru leaders to ensure that all the refugees return to Mizoram from Tripura by October end.

11 Mizoram students who attacked two cops get bail

Pune: A sessions court has granted bail to 11 students of Spicer College in Aundh, who hail from Mizoram and were arrested for allegedly beating up two policemen last month.

The students had reportedly attacked the policemen who were trying to intervene in their dispute. They have been charged under section 307 (attempt to murder) and 353 (assaulting police while performing their duties) of IPC.

On September 17, police control room got a call about the dispute between the students behind the wine shop near Bremen square, after which police constable Tanaji Takle and police naik Balkrishna Dalvi rushed to the spot. While the cops tried to to intervene, the students allegedly attacked them with sticks. Takle was reportedly assaulted with a stone by one of the students but was saved by the helmet he was wearing.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Aizawl waste management turns a new leaf

Aizawl, Oct 5 : Mizoram has turned a new leaf in the solid waste disposal problems here with the launch of public-private partnership mode to deal with the same, on the occasion of the World Habitat Day today.

Starting from today, waste disposal in sixty localities (about 80 percent of the entire city) will be carried out under the PPP mode, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation minister Zodintluanga said.

The minister said the government will spend Rs 5,08,500 per week on the waste management in PPP model in the 60 localities.

Not less than 10 per cent of the total expenditure on waste management will be borne by the community, while the rest will be met by the department as grants in aid.

The village councils (local bodies) will take charge of the waste management with the department giving necessary supervision. The village council will collect the community's share of expenditure from the residents.

About 34 sanitation trucks (407) were expected to be put into operation on a daily basis and about 102 labourers would be employed.

The solid waste management in Aizawl had been taken up by sanitation department from 1973, a year after the Mizoram attained the status of Union Territory.

A lone vehicle of the then deputy commissioner was used to carry out the job.

''With the growing urban population, solid wastes have become a major problem in today's Aizawl. The PPP model is expected to solve the problem to a great extent,'' the minister said.

12,000 units of blood donated in Mizoram

Aizawl: Members of various associations across Mizoram have donated 12,944 units of blood in 10 blood banks from September 2009-2010, according to Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) Project Director, Dr Eric Zomawia. The MSACS director said this while delivering speech at the observation of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day on Saturday in Aizawl.

The programme was held at a state’s premier Vanapa Hall in Aizawl amidst hundreds of college students and like minded people.

Lalchungnunga, president of state’s most influential organisation, the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) also graced the occasion as chief guest.

Emphasizing the importance of blood donation, Lalchungnunga said, 'Donating blood is one of the most important activities. It can be rightly regarded as helping the needy people. The Mizos should always remember that by donating blood,the donor is a saviour to one’s life'.

The programme was organised by Association for Voluntary Blood Donation (AVBD) in close collaboration with Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS). The president also informed the gathering that among all the 3000 association registered in the state govt., AVBD can be regarded as the most important because of its initiative in saving life by donating blood. ‘Voluntary Blood Donation Award’ was also conferred to deserving associations/groups at the programme.

Lallawmawma (9) of Sesawng village, about 30 kms from Aizawl who is a heart patient also spoke on the occasion. Mentionably, Lallawmawma (9) had so far received 355 units of blood from various voluntary blood donors at a hospital due his heart ailment.

Mizoram pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Aizawl, Oct 4 : Mizoram today paid tributes to the Father of the Nation on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

Led by Governor Lt Gen (rtd) M M Lakhera, Mizorams top officials laid floral wreaths at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the morning at Zodin Square here, in the heart of the city.

On the occasion, the Governor recollected Gandhis contributions dedication and self-sacrifice for Indias freedom from the colonial yoke, his sustained campaign against social injustices and unending pursuit for the establishment of a truly secular and harmonious society.

Besides the Governor, Assembly Speaker R Romawia, Home Minister R Lalzirliana, Education Minsiter Lalsawta, Health Minister Lalrinliana Sailo, Deputy Speaker John Rotluangliana, Parliamentary Secretaries Lalrinmawia Ralte and H Zothangliana, Deputy Chief Whip R L Pianmawia paid homage to the great leader.

Aizawl depicts electoral history in pictures

Aizawl, Oct 4 : A picture is more powerful than a thousand words.

From the 1950 edition of a leading newspaper covering the countrys first general elections, a polling booth set up for a single voter in a remote Indian village to electronic voting machines transported using elephants - the history of elections in the worlds biggest democracy is frozen in timeless frames here at the first-of-its-kind exhibition.

The exhibition, organised as part of the Election Commission of Indias diamond jubilee was inaugurated by Mizoram Governors Lt Gen (Rtd) M M Lakhera at Aijal Club today in the presence of DAVP deputy director Kishan Ratnani and VIPs of Mizoram.

The Governor said it was nice to see the worded history of Indian Election Commission which has played an important part in establishing democracy in India. The photos on display, most of them clicked during black and white era of photo journalism depicts the history of the election process which has changed over time, from ballot boxes to electronic voting machines.

''The photographs give an account of the complexities of the election process and throw light on enormity of the operations,'' officials said.

A three-day photo exhibition themed India and Election and is to be organised in all the states for a greater participation for a stronger democracy. The exhibition in Mizoram is the fifth in North East, to be followed in Meghalaya and Tripura.

People from all walks of life, including students groups, research scholars, teachers, social workers, administrators, politicians and high dignitaries from the state machinery were part of the exhibition.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Mizo IRB Body recovered

Aizawl, Oct 2 : The missing Mizo cop was found dead in New Delhi. Havildar PB Lalsangliana of the Mizoram Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) was missing since September 25 after he had landed in New Delhi for security duty of the Commonwealth Games. His lifeless body was recovered on Wednesday night at a small brook just 7 kms away from his camp in the capital.

The dead body of Havildar PB Lalsangliana from 5th IRB along with 499 strong Mizo contingents from Mizoram had reached New Delhi on September 23. The dead body was first noticed under a bridge by the local residents in the outskirts of New Delhi. On hearing the news Delhi police retrieved the dead body and informed the Mizoram House in New Delhi to verify it.

The dead body was later identified by the Commandant of 5th IR Battalion, Vanlalvena. Postmortem was performed at Lady Hardine Medical College on Thursday. It is not clear the manner in which the Mizo IRB personnel died.

As per scheduled, the dead body will be flown to his native home on Saturday after embalming by a special carrier. Lalsangliana is a permanent resident of Zemabawk, outskirt of Aizawl.