Salary hike robs state's exchequer

Aizawl, Dec 20 (UNI) Even though Mizoram has not been doing bad in tax collection during the last ten years,the hike in salaries of government employees has eaten up major portion of the state's revenues.

State finance minister H Liansailova,in his written reply to a question in the one-day Assembly winter session on December 11, said that the Mizoram Revision of Pay 2010 robbed the state's exchequer of Rs 377.86 crore from January to July 2010.With another Rs 159.10 crore during August 2010 to March 2011,Mizoram spent an additional amount of Rs 536.96 crore for salaries,he said.

On the other hand,the 13th Finance Commission has not made even an additional rupee while making fund allocation to the state.Saying that similar problem was faced by a number of states,Liansailova blamed it on the 13th FC's "failure to understand the states' problems." He hoped that the problem would be gone under the 14th Finance Commission.

READ MORE - Salary hike robs state's exchequer

Mizoram Church wants Mizo custom abolished

Aizawl, Dec 8 : Synod, the highest body of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, has passed an agenda for abolition of Hlamzuih death from the Mizo Christian customary law. In the pre-Christian Mizo society, if a baby died before attaining one year of age, it was regarded as Hlamzuih and did not deserve full funeral rituals.

The dead body would not be buried in a village cemetery but within the premises of the deceased’s house. The custom still exists in the post-Christian Mizo society with a little modification. Today, Hlamzuih happens when a baby dies before completing 90 days. However, the dead body is to be buried in a local cemetery without community funeral.

As per Mizo Customary Law and funeral guidelines laid out by the Young Mizo Association, the state’s largest community-based organisation, the death of an infant before attainting three months or 90 days should be treated as Hlamzuih.

The YMA, in its general conference in 1982, passed a resolution to this effect which remained unchanged when the general conference in 2006 reviewed the guidelines. The Synod’s resolution came after an increasing campaign for total abolition of the custom since the last few years. The Synod assembly at Chanmari Presbyterian Church here today, decided to put up the resolution to the Synod executive committee. More than 50 percent of the state’s population is members of the Presbyterian Church.

However, leaders of the central committee of YMA said today the organisation still stood by its guidelines.

” The YMA’s rules and regulations on Mizo funeral rituals remain unchanged. If any amendment is to made, it will not be until the next general conference, ” one of the central YMA leaders was quoted as saying. The YMA conducts funeral in every Mizo village and town. As the Synod’s resolution involves modification of Mizo customary laws, major NGOs in Mizoram will have to be consulted, sources said today.

READ MORE - Mizoram Church wants Mizo custom abolished

Lone Mizoram MP not to vote for govt

Lone member of the Rajya Sabha from Mizoram Lalhming Liana on Friday said he would not support the United Progressive Alliance government when voting takes place in the upper house on Foreign Direct Investment in retail.

Liana told PTI that the Congress being the main opponent of his Mizo National Front and he could not support the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

Though the MNF, the main opposition party in Mizoram, had snapped ties with the National Democratic Alliance five years back because of differences on secular issues, it continued to oppose the UPA government in Parliament.

Former chief minister and president of the MNF Zoramthanga had said on Thursday that Liana was free to cast his vote according to his conscience.

READ MORE - Lone Mizoram MP not to vote for govt

Mizoram district police takes custody of 3 Bru militants

The police in Kolasib district on the Mizoram-Assam border has secured the custody of three Bru militants, wanted in the state for murder and abduction from the jail in neighbouring Assam's Hailakandi district prison.

The police said that one of the militants, arrested by the Assam police earlier, was Doino Ram Reang, self-styled president of the United Democratic Liberation of Barak Valley.

The trio was wanted by the Mizoram police for a murder case at Thinglian village and the abduction of three executives of the Assam-based road construction company - Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries Limited (ABCIL) on June six, 2011.

A team of the Mizoram Police commando rescued the three captives after a shoot-out with the abductors a few weeks later.

Doino Reang denied that his organisation was involved in the abduction while some senior police officials also suspected that the kidnapping was done by United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) a breakaway faction of the UDLFB.

READ MORE - Mizoram district police takes custody of 3 Bru militants

One-day winter session of Mizoram assembly on Dec 11

The coming winter session of the Mizoram assembly summoned by state governor Vakkom Purushothaman from December 11 would be held only for a day, state assembly secretariat officials today said.

The officials told PTI that the business advisory committee (BAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of the speaker R. Romawia decided that the winter session would begin in the morning of December 11 and would be adjourned sine die the same day.

They said that the BAC decided the session to be a one-day affair due to the absence of government business to be taken up during the proposed session.

The BAC could make another decision on the length of the session if the government submits official businesses, they added.

READ MORE - One-day winter session of Mizoram assembly on Dec 11

Appeal for fair treatment

Aizawl, Dec 3 : Mizoram health minister Lalrinliana today appealed to the people to stop discriminating against HIV-positive people, echoing the words of Malsawndawnga, an HIV+ peer educator, at a World AIDS Day function.

Malsawmdawnga, secretary of Mizoram People Living With HIV Group, an NGO, said their attempts to set up a short stay home (SSH) for HIV-positive people from the rural areas at the ART centre here had been blocked so far by locality authorities. "This is discrimination against people like me," he said.

Echoing the appeal, the state minister emphasised that churches, village authorities and society in general should embrace HIV-positive people without fear, should not stigmatise them and should support them in every way. Without this, there is no way to tackle the menace, he said.

The number of HIV-positive people may be declining from the epidemic proportions a few years ago in the state, but the appearance of the dreaded virus in "general" population blood samples is alarming, said Dr Lalchhandama Ralte of Grace Home, a care-giving facility for such patients.

A study by Mizoram University, sponsored by Mizoram State AIDS Control Society, found that 70 per cent of the patients contracted the disease through sex.

"Earlier people thought that only the so-called high risk group (HRG) needed to be targeted but we, who are involved in this work, know for sure that the virus is spreading in the so-called normal society," Ralte said at a function to observe Worlds AIDS Day.

HRGs (intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers, etc) have been replaced by high-risk behaviour in the state, he warned. The sign that men are indulging in high-risk behaviour is the increasing percentage of pregnant HIV-positive women.

The total number of HIV-positive people registered in the three ART centres of Aizawl, Champhai and Lunglei is 5,628, while those opting for treatment is only 1,889.

READ MORE - Appeal for fair treatment

Mizoram to get Rs 81-cr projects

Aizawl, Dec 3 : Union Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar has flagged off a number of projects at a cost about Rs 81 crore, to be implemented with funding from his ministry in Mizoram.

The projects are located in Lawngtlai, Saiha and Lunglei districts, Ghatowar told reporters after laying the foundation stone of these projects.

READ MORE - Mizoram to get Rs 81-cr projects

In Mizoram, sex workers are many, Little protection

READ MORE - In Mizoram, sex workers are many, Little protection

Tripura insurgents using Mizoram soil: Minister

Agartala, Dec 3 : The outlawed insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) are trying to enter Tripura ahead of next year's assembly elections through Mizoram, a minister claimed today.

"The NLFT insurgents are trying to enter Tripura before the elections and the Mizoram government despite knowing everything is not taking any step against them, PWD minister Badal Chowdhury told reporters here.

He claimed that insurgents based in Bangladesh unable to enter Tripura because of barbwire fencing and watch kept at night by tribals in villages but are trying to enter through Mizoram, which has a Congress government.

Chowdhury said, the people in villages neighbouring Mizoram had told him that unknown people were active on the other side.

"Now it is clear that the ultras are using the soil of the neighbouring state and the state government there led by Congress is giving indulgence to them," he alleged. He referred to the kidnap for ransom of Rs 30 lakh of two timber traders from Tripura kidnapped by NLFT insurgents from Rajibnagar village in Mizoram's Mamit district on November 25. "The incident of kidnap also makes clear that the ultras are using Mizoram soil," he said.

READ MORE - Tripura insurgents using Mizoram soil: Minister

Duhlian tawng hmang chauh Mizo an ni lo, ti

Azl; 1 Dec: Home Minister Pu R Lalzirliana’n Mizorama cheng Zohnahthlak zawng zawngte inpumkhata awm chu thil pawimawh ber a ni a ti.  Nizana Aizawl Thakthing Veng Branch YMA Platinum Jubilee lawmna a hmanpuinaah he thu hi sawiin, Mizoramah Duhlian tawng hmang chauh Mizo an ni lova, Duhlian tawng hmang ve lo- Lakher, Pawi, Hmar leh midangte chu Mizo hnam an ni tih hriata inpumkhat a pawimawh tih sawiin, ‘enga’ tih pui theihte chauh inpumkhat pui an nih chuan Mizoram chu tah leh hathialna ramah siam a ni mai ang a ti a ni.
    HM chuan mipui ten Krismas leh Kumthar hlim taka an hman theih nan halpuah leh halmawi lam chi sorkarin a khap chu kumdang ang bawka tha taka zawm a nih leh a beisei tih a sawi a, mipui ten sorkar thupek an zawm thin chu lawmawm a tih thu sawiin, Hindu te eng kut Diwali-ah pawh thawm liantham hriat a ni lo chu thil chhinchhiah thlak a ni a ti.

READ MORE - Duhlian tawng hmang chauh Mizo an ni lo, ti

Two persons killed, eight injured in accident in Assam

Aizawl: Two persons were killed and eight others injured when a maxi-cab they were travelling met with an accident near Chamring village in Aizawl district on Wednesday, police said in Aizawl on Wednesday.

The Mizoram-bound maxi-cab coming from Silchar in Assam rolled down into a gorge about 200 metres below the Aizawl-Lunglei road.

Among the dead were a mullah, who used to work in a mosque in Saiha district, and a Manipuri identified as Tomba Singh, an automobile mechanic who succumbed to his injuries after being brought to the Primary Health Centre in nearby Sialsuk village.

All the eight injured persons, which included one Mizo from Lunglei, were also admitted to the Sialsuk PHC where their condition was stated to be stable.

READ MORE - Two persons killed, eight injured in accident in Assam

Abductors demand Rs 30 lakh

Aizawl, Nov 28 : The abductors of the two timber merchants and their driver have sent a ransom note demanding Rs 30 lakh for their release, police today said.

“Though concrete information was yet to be obtained, the ransom note was reported to have been sent to the team leader (mahaldar) of the timber traders,” the police said.       

A gang of five militants abducted Sapan Kumar Roy, 52, of Dosda Bazar in North Tripura district, his driver Govinda Nath, 35, of Dharmanagar in the same district and Sankar Nath, 35, of Rangamati in Assam’s Karimganj district, on Sunday night from Rajiv Nagar on the Mizoram-Tripura border, the police said.

Mizoram police said a hunt was on to trace the hostages.

The BSF officials deployed along the Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border suspected the NLFT militants to be behind the kidnapping. But state police officials here said it was the handiwork of the Borok National Council of Tripura, which was allegedly operating from the Bru relief camps in North Tripura district.

, were also involved in the recent burglary, where Rs 198 lakh was looted from the office of the block development officer, at Zawlnuam village, on the Mizoram-Tripura border. However, they are still missing.

READ MORE - Abductors demand Rs 30 lakh

Expert for federal agro approach

Aizawl, Nov 24 : A federal approach is the urgent need of the Northeast to achieve development, particularly in the field of agriculture.

Mizoram Economics Association president Lianzela said this while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of a two-day UGC-sponsored national seminar on Agricultural Development in North East India. He said it was the only way the small states of the region could ensure "economics of scale" to achieve marketability of their agricultural and other products.

"This will help establish a solid foundation of physical and institutional infrastructure for joint regional action for tapping the enormous potential of the region in agriculture for growth and poverty reduction," he said, while advocating a "growth triangle" involving neighbouring regions with an eye on the Look East policy.

Academicians from various colleges, Mizoram University, Central Agricultural University, Selisih, and Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, as well as officials from the Mizoram department of agriculture presented various papers at the seminar, which was organised by the Government T Romana College in association with the association.

Prof. C. Hazarika from the department of agricultural economics, Assam Agricultural University, in his paper, "North East Agriculture, Dynamics and Perspectives", said the region was a classic case of economic underdevelopment in an area of vast potential. He said not enough had been done to exploit the vast natural resources of the region and that there was need to invest more in infrastructure with proper planning for the region to achieve its goal.

READ MORE - Expert for federal agro approach

Mizoram begins rationalisation of teacher-student ratio

Zodin Sanga,

Aizawl, Nov 24 : Under pressure, the Mizoram government has agreed to revalidate marching orders for over 60 teachers, the first major step towards the much demanded rationalisation of teacher-student ratio.

Succumbing to pressure from the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, the state’s apex students’ body, the government on Thursday said that it would issue fresh orders on November 27, after it had put on hold due to pressure from teachers’ associations.

Following the government’s nod, the students’ called off a protest rally earlier slated for Thursday.

“As demanded by the teachers’ associations, the government requested us to wait till January next year. But we made it very clear that we can’t wait for that long as there are a number of schools in the rural areas which are doing with just one teacher while some others don’t have science and mathematics teachers,” an MZP leader said.

The MZP insisted that the government should not let the students face year-end examinations without two important subjects – science and mathematics. The transfer order issued last week was suspended on November 19 in honour of Mizoram Primary Schools Teachers’ Association and Mizoram Middle School Teachers’ Association’s request.

Government sources said recruitment of about 300 teachers was underway to fill up the posts left vacant by teachers who have gone on voluntary retirement recently. The teachers’ associations requested that transfer of teachers is carried out after these vacant posts are filled up.

Strongly reacting to the MZP’s protest, the two teachers’ associations said in a statement on Thursday that transfer of teachers in the middle of an academic session would badly affect education.

“As there are no teachers’ quarters anywhere in Mizor am, transfer of teachers, especially to rural areas, is not an easy task,” the statement said.

The teachers said that all the 198 teachers recruited recently to fill up posts left vacant by teachers on VRS were posted in rural schools where there were inadequate teachers.

“As 300 other teachers are going on VRS, there are plans to appoint teachers to fill these posts within December this year. These new teachers will be posted in rural areas where there is shortage of teachers,” the statement said.

Severely criticising “interference” from outside, the teachers also expressed deep anguish over teachers being “kicked around like a football” by even students’ organisations. They felt that such activities brought dishonour on the teachers, who are called builders of the nation.

According to an ‘annual publication 2011-2012’ prepared by statistical cell under the school education department, there are 31,8,231 students and 23,705 teachers in primary to higher secondary schools in Mizoram, which means there is one teacher for every 13 students, against the Right To Education Act (RTE)’s norms of one teacher for every 30 students. However, many schools in the far-flung areas have been facing shortage of teachers.

READ MORE - Mizoram begins rationalisation of teacher-student ratio

CIPHET signs MoU with Mizoram for providing cost effective storage

LUDHIANA: Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) here today  licensed the technology of Evaporative Cooled (EC) room structure to state of Mizoram.

Director CIPHET U.S Shivhare signed a memorandum of understanding with Sh C.Lalniliana, Directorate of Agriculture (Research & Education), Government of Mizoram.  The Evaporative cooled room structure is on farm storage solution, which store 5-7 tons of fruits and vegetables. This EC structure requires minimum energy and very low maintainance to operate.

“It maintains a moderate low temperature and sufficiently high relative humidity for  storage of fresh fruits and vegetables,” informed Dr U.S Shivhare, hoping that it would be very useful for small and medium farmers in state of Mizoram.

Sh. C.Lalniliana said that initially they would construct two-three EC structures. “We would encourage other farmers to adopt this easy and economic solution to check post harvest losses,” he added.

The cost of construction of EC structure is Rs 2 to 4 lakh. While potato could be stored in this structure for 55 days and Kinnow could be stored upto 25 days. Head, Agricultural Structures and Environmental Control  Division Dr S.N Jha and Institute Technology Management Unit Incharge Dr K.Narsaiah were also present on the occasion.

READ MORE - CIPHET signs MoU with Mizoram for providing cost effective storage

Meeting with Bru refugees before voter list revision

Aizawl: A six-member team of election officials from three districts in Mizoram left for Tripura Tuesday to conduct hearing on the ongoing summary revision of electoral rolls among the Bru refugees lodged in six relief camps in Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura district.

State election department sources said that the officials would conduct the hearing in different relief camps from tomorrow till November 30 and the team was scheduled to return to Mizoram by December 1.

As per directions from Election Commission of India, the election team would enroll new voters who attain the age of 18 on or before January one, 2013 and only the descendants of those already enrolled in the voters' lists would be included.

Tripura government was instructed to make all the necessary arrangements including security for the team, the officials added.

READ MORE - Meeting with Bru refugees before voter list revision

Mizoram villagers donate land for Sainik School

In Mizoram, 61 families of Chhingchhip village, about 50 km from Aizawl, have donated land for setting up the state’s first Sainik School. While the land donated by 44 families will be part of the campus, that donated by the 17 others will be used for constructing an approach road to link the Sainik School to the highway. Appreciating the contribution of the villagers, who have declined to accept compensation for the land, Chief Minister Lal Thanhalwa said though the Sainik Schoool won’t directly benefit them, “this is more due to their dedication”. Two decades ago, the state’s only airport at Lengpui was also constructed on land donated by villagers. The Sainik School is coming up on a 100-hectare plot and its construction cost is estimated at Rs 100.33 crore.

READ MORE - Mizoram villagers donate land for Sainik School

CM lauds Mizoram journalists

Aizawl, Nov 15 : Chief minister Lalthanhawla lauded the state press for the selfless service they have rendered for the past four decades. He encouraged the gathering of journalists to show more perseverance and courage in their pursuit of factual reports, particularly when writing about political personalities.

He appreciated the bravery and intensity with which presspersons in other states pursued their reports and hoped that the local press would learn from them.

The chief minister was speaking at the ruby jubilee of the Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA) as the chief guest. Lalthanhawla was the founder president of the association 40 years ago.

“When we started out we were like a bunch of kids, but everything has a beginning and I am proud to see that the humble beginning has bloomed into a powerful body of people who can make a difference for good,” he said.

The state has over 40 dailies now, with each district headquarters publishing at least two or three dailies, not to speak about the numerous periodicals and magazines. There are over two dozen dailies in the capital alone, the largest being Vanglaini, Aizawl Post, Zozam Time and possibly the only evening newspaper in the Northeast region Evening Post.

“Going by ratio to population which is about 11 lakh, the state has the most daily newspapers,” Thanhawla said.

Lok Sabha MP, C.L. Ruala also attended the function. There are over 196 accredited journalists in the state.

READ MORE - CM lauds Mizoram journalists

Trio arrested at IGI airport for smuggling drugs

Three persons were arrested today from the IGI airport here for allegedly smuggling narcotic drugs worth more than Rs 60 lakh in domestic market.

The trio, identified by security agencies as C Lalchhal (28), C Znanghak (27) and Zorema (21), hailing from Mizoram, were found to be moving suspiciously around 1430 hours at the Terminal-1D of the airport when they were intercepted by a CISF squad.

"The trio were travelling to Guwahati on an IndiGo flight and they work in an Adidas firm in Gurgaon," CISF spokesperson and Deputy Commandant Hemendra Singh said.

The trio, he said, were carrying three large suitcases and on suspicion the CISF team asked them to go through a detailed inspection which led to the recovery of 77.5 kg of pseudoephedrine tablets, a popular narcotic stimulant.

CISF authorities subsequently called up Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sleuths who arrested them and confirmed the narcotic drugs, which have an estimated value of Rs 62 lakh in domestic market.

Central Industrial Security Force, which is the designated security force to guard civilian airports in the country, has deployed special squads to detect the movement of drugs and other contraband at vital airports like Delhi and Mumbai among others.

READ MORE - Trio arrested at IGI airport for smuggling drugs

Mizoram to sign Rs 151.15 cr loan with ADB

Aizawl, Nov 14 : With project-1 under the North Eastern Region Capital Cities Investment Programme (NERCCDIP) having been implemented, Mizoram is soon to sign another loan deal worth Rs 151.15 crore with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to execute project-2.

Urban development and poverty alleviation (UD and PA) principal secretary R L Rinawma will sign the agreement on behalf of the Mizoram government with ADB officials on November 19, an official statement said today.

"The ADB loan would be utilised for improving urban infrastructures like water supply, sewage system and solid and liquid waste management," the official statement said.

Elaborating on the projects, officials said the greater Aizawl water supply scheme (GAWSS) phase-II would be provided with adequate power supply. "Once completed, the GAWSS Phase-II would be utilised to its fullest capacity," officials said.

The main water supply pipes of greater Aizawl water supply scheme phase-I, which are as old as 25 years, would be replaced with new ones. Three large water reservoirs would also be constructed.

This project would also revolutionise liquid waste disposal system in Aizawl.

"All the liquid waste will be sent to a treatment plant from where it will be recycled. This improved sewage system will prevent landslides in Aizawl to a great extent," the officials said.

Public urinals will be constructed in ten different locations within the city and five septic tank trucks would be purchased.

While 70 per cent of the loan would be repaid by the central government, repayment of the remaining 30 per cent would be borne by the Mizoram government.

Officials said Mizoram was adjudged the best performer among the NE states under project-I of NERCCDIP.

In 2009, the ADB approved a loan of 100 million dollars to carry out fiscal and social reforms in Mizoram under the project named Mizoram Public Resource Management Programme. The first installment of 47 million dollars was released in 2009.

READ MORE - Mizoram to sign Rs 151.15 cr loan with ADB

Arrested PLA cadres quizzed in Aizawl

Three hardcore militants of Manipur-based People's Liberation Army, arrested at Saitual in Mizoram on Saturday, were questioned by sleuths of investigation agencies, including the National Investigation Agency.

Police sources said 'SS 2nd Lt' Moirangthem Inaocha, 43, Moirang, Manipur; 'SS 2nd Lt' Chongtham Suresh Singh, 37 of Mayang Imphal and 'SS Lt' Longjam Tomba Singh, 46 of Langdum Mamang Leikai Imphal East district, were arrested at Saitual, about 80 kilometres east of Aizawl, while on their way to Champhai town near the Myanmar border.

Naba Singh, 51, a teacher at Zote near Champhai and his wife Champasana, 51, were also arrested along with the trio.

But the couple was found to have no connections with the militants outfit. "Acting on a tip-off, we laid a trap and arrested them while on their way to the Myanmar border in a vehicle on Saturday," a source from Saitual police station said.

READ MORE - Arrested PLA cadres quizzed in Aizawl

Narcotics worth over 1cr seized

 GUWAHATI: In one of the biggest seizures of narcotics in the region, customs sleuths on Monday succeeded in seizing a huge consignment of pseudoephedrine tablets worth over Rs 1 crore from a godown in the city's Boragaon area. Two persons have been arrested.

The arrested have been identified as Rajen Sen (28) of Hailakandi district and Laltan Puia (38) of Mizoram. They were taking the consignment to Mizoram. The duo has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and also charged under the Customs Act.

The sleuths recovered the consignment from a truck which was hidden inside the godown. The seizure included 1174 tablets of pseudoephedrine and 101.56 kg of pseudoephedrine crystals.

"This consignment came from New Delhi and was supposed to be handed over to agents in Myanmar. Basically, pseudoephedrine is a stimulant and youths take it to get energy. The cache is worth Rs 1, 02, 75, 433 in the black market," said a customs official.

Medically, pseudoephedrine is used to treat nasal and sinus congestion or congestion of the tubes that drain fluid from your inner ears. It is the raw material for producing amphetamine tablets, also known as party drugs.

READ MORE - Narcotics worth over 1cr seized

Mizoram chief minister's biography released

The biography of Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, authored by journalist-turned-writer David M Thangliana, was released here today.
Releasing the book, Home Minister R Lalzirliana said Lal Thanhawla was a man of principle. "He is a good Mizo and a good Indian at the same time."
Congress leader Lal Thanhawla (74) is a four-time chief minister of Mizoram. He first became chief minister in 1984, and again in 1989, 1993 and 2008.

READ MORE - Mizoram chief minister's biography released

Myanmarese drug cartels find new route via Mizoram

Mizoram, which shares a 404-kilometre porous border with Myanmar, has become a favoured passage for cross-border ‘party drug’ cartels based in the neighbouring country. A recent spurt in seizures of pseudoephedrine-based drugs from Aizawl, majority of them from flight passengers, has proved this.

With the seizure of 60 kilograms (46, 5000 tablets) on Thursday, Lengpui Airport security police have seized 1,03,62,519 tablets of pseudoephedrine-based drugs from the state’s lone airport during the last two months and nine days.

READ MORE - Myanmarese drug cartels find new route via Mizoram

Mizoram hydro projects violating safeguards

 AIZAWL, Nov 12 – Two major hydro electric projects in Mizoram have gone ahead without following any of the safeguard mechanisms under the Environment Impact Assessment notifications (1994 and 2006).

While the construction for the resurrected 60 MW Tuirial Hydro Electric Project (THEP) in Aizawl District, under North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) is on the fast track, since April 2011, locals and experts question its legality as no public hearing was known to have been ever held.

A public hearing is a mandatory requirement under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) conditions before starting any major project as the only safeguard against big dam builders riding rough-shod over the claims of affected people.

The other project, Serlui-B (12 MW), in Kolasib District is completed. But it is with the dubious distinction of creating the first official ‘dam refugees’ in the State, as per the Builum Inquiry Commission. When asked about his view, SL Sailova, a retired IAS officer who chaired it, said, “We need power yes, but Mizo people now have to think whether we can have that by destroying so many people’s lives. No proper rehabilitation was in place and there was corruption at all levels. Personally, I don’t think so.”

Aggrieved Dam Affected People (DAP) of THEP have a strong case if they want to take the matter to the courts, opined environmental law experts, such as the Environmental Support Group (ESG).

Watching the dam being built at a hectic pace near their village, locals in the THEP neighbourhood are at a loss over their future as no official information is shared about the dam and its impact since it began, Vanlalvena, the Village Council president (VCP) of Zohmun, a village in the THEP vicinity told The Assam Tribune during a visit to the dam area.

The validity of the THEP Environment Clearance received in 1995 is questionable as the project was revived with fresh estimates, said experts consulted. Under the norms an EC is valid only for five years after it is issued if the project is stalled. It was halted in 2004 and work started again in April 2011.

But the Nodal Officer for the Forest Conservation Act, Addl. PCCF, Rosiama Vanchhawng said that the EC was valid as final clearance was issued in 2000. “A final clearance is final” he said. But he could not comment on the issue of public hearing not being held.

He pointed out that in September a multi-disciplinary committee was set up with representatives from forestry, wildlife, ecology, etc., to oversee effective implementation of the suggested safeguard measures. But these do not include a look at the social impact of the dam on the people living in the area. Besides, as per the EIA all impact studies should be completed before any construction works begin. It’s also compulsory that all project related information be made available to people in the local languages which was not done by either NEEPCO or the State.

Also a question how the project was allowed when the very land on which the dam is based is under massive dispute over compensation claims, huge payments to fraudulent claimants and non-payment to the genuine ones, over which a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Society for Social Action (SOSA). The Gauhati High Court ordered the CBI to unravel the corrupt network of officials and political nepotism.

Vanlalvena and his compatriots said they are against “becoming like Builum” and they will fight it to get their traditional rights over the lands and forests recognised. But how? They do not know, they confess, as being poor common people, no one is listening to them, they said. They might start a joint platform with the vcs of the other affected villages – Ratu, Mawchar, Saipum, Palsang, N Khawdungsei, Serzawl, Lungmuat, Bukpui, Saiphai, Hlimen, Darlawn, Khawruhlian, N Chaltlang, Nisapui and Thingtherh.

The noise generated by the claimant associations and some armed outfits for autonomy over the years has overshadowed these genuine people’s rights issues, it would seem.

READ MORE - Mizoram hydro projects violating safeguards

Women dominate workplaces in Mizoram

Woman working at a meat shop in Aizawl. Post Photo

Zodin Sanga, Aizawl (Nov 12 ): From meat shop to stone quarry to government offices, the womenfolk dominate workplaces in the otherwise traditionally strict patriarchal tribal society in Mizoram.
A recent survey conducted by Mizoram Presbyterian Church’s synod social front has revealed that women outnumbered their male counterparts even in the male-friendly workplaces like butcher houses and stone quarries.
Women constitute 54 per cent of work force in different government offices and 71 per cent in commercial establishments, like restaurants, shops and vegetable markets.
Even in what is considered to be male-friendly workplace like stone quarry, 62 per cent of the workers belong to the weaker sex, the study revealed.
Most of the women working in stone quarries are engaged in chipping stones. In the teaching profession, women are outnumbered by men with the fairer sex constituting 36 per cent of the total number of teachers from middle school to university.
While 51.5 per cent of students from middle school to higher secondary are female, their ratio among the university students is 47 per cent. The study further revealed that people between 45 to 65 years of age constitute the major workforce in Mizoram.
Only nine per cent of the workforce in Mizoram belong to 18-35 age group, while 58 per cent are aged between 45 t o 65. Another 33 per cent are a ged between 35 to 45, the survey revealed.
The participation of women in workplaces appeared to have increased, compared to a similar research conducted by Dr Lalhriatpuii two years back. According this woman researcher’s book ‘Economic Participation of Women in Mizoram’, the weaker sex constitutes 43.98 per cent of t he total workforce.
Like in any tribal society, w omen were confined to household chores in olden Mizo society. The significant increase of women’s participation in the economy of the society may be attributed to the women empowerment propagated by women organisations, the most influential one being Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl or Mizo women federation, which has branches across the state.
“The organisation’s decade of campaign for women empowerment has clearly reflected in the participation of women in the state’s economy,” said B Sangkhumi, president of MHIP.
Women dominating workplaces, however, does not mean encroachment on men’s authority. The women leader said their members were taught to respect men’s authority as a result of which Mizo society still follows strict patriarchal system.
The other two areas where w omen hold their heads high are education and competitive examinations. Women have held top positions in high school board, university and competitive examinations for the last many years.
When the European missionaries set up schools in Mizoram in the early 20th century, the students were mainly boys as girls were not allowed by their parents to learn.
Now, more and more Mizo girls have joined professions like medical, engineering, mass media and communication, management, computer engineering and IT.
Many Mizo women have also become contractors and suppliers, doing brisk business with the state government.
However, there are still some areas where women empowerment does not work – church and politics.
Though the Presbyterian Church, the largest denomination in Mizoram, has m any women theologians, woman ordination seems still a far cry. In politics, only three women have been elected to the state assembly since its inception in 1972.
Lalhlimpuii, who was made social welfare minister in the short-lived Laldenga ministry in 1987-88, was the only woman minister the state has ever had.

READ MORE - Women dominate workplaces in Mizoram

Mizo boy who conquered Mount Gorichen to be awarded Rs 1 lakh

Aizawl Nov 8 : A Mizo boy who conquered the 6,488 metre Mount Gorichen in Arunachal Pradesh will be given Rs one lakh by the Arunachal Pradesh government, an official statement said here today.

The statement said that Zoramsanga was the first to reach the summit of the Mount Gorichen among mountaineers from other states in the expedition held during September 22 to October 25.

Zoramsanga was not only selected to participate in the Mount Everest expedition, he was employed by the Arunachal Pradesh government as support staff, the statement added.

READ MORE - Mizo boy who conquered Mount Gorichen to be awarded Rs 1 lakh

Mizoram Hmeithai Association received national award

New Delhi, Nov 6 : Four voluntary organisations were today conferred the Durgabai Deshmukh awards by President Pranab Mukherjee here today for their contribution to women’s development.

Mukherjee gave away the award for 2005 to joint winners — Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association and People’s Forum Bhubaneshwar.

While the Association runs residential schools for under- privileged children, provides aid to widows and distressed women, and runs a home for women in difficult circumstances, the Forum was honoured for its services in rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of mentally ill women.

The award for 2006 was given to Sumangali Seva Ashram of Bangalore for its activities in education and development of the deserted, orphan and needy children and creating socio- economic opportunities for development of women.

~ Press Trust of India

Address by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of presentation of Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh award for women’s development at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 5, 2012

Swami Vivekananda had said, “All nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. A country and a nation which does not respect women has never become rich.”

I am pleased to present the “Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for Women’s Development” to the four organizations whose work is being recognized today.

It is also an occasion to reflect on the contribution made by Dr Durgabai Deshmukh to the cause of women and social development. She was a Parliamentarian, an institution builder and a pioneer in social development. She was the first Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board. As a Member of the Planning Commission, she endeavored to integrate, consciously and systematically, the element of social development into the planning process. For this task, she set up the Council for Social Development as a platform for generating new ideas and for research, advocacy and field experiments in social development.

Dr. Durgabai believed that “In the field of social welfare, the Government alone cannot initiate and carry out all the necessary measures for its citizens. Nor can it alone see to the preventive services that keep a society healthy. Only when spontaneous, dedicated work springs from the very soil it is linked with, can national efforts have real depth and meaning”.

Distinguished Guests, the Directive Principles of State Policy provide that “the State shall strive to promote the welfare of the people”. Government of India, through its programmes and policies has engineered a major directional change in public policy by its focus on inclusive development. Government is committed to the development of the weaker and vulnerable sections of our society. It aims at a process of rapid and inclusive growth based on empowering the citizens of the country through education and skill development. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the National Rural Livelihood Mission are important initiatives to provide employment opportunities. Similarly, the National Urban Livelihood Mission is shifting its focus from metropolitan cities to Class One and Medium Towns. The National Programme for the Urban Homeless is a new scheme which will bring shelter and relief to the destitute. Gender budgeting has been duly integrated into our planning process to ensure that each and every developmental sector gives due emphasis to the participation of women in our nation’s growth and progress.

However, achievement of the desired goals can become a reality only with the concerted effort of the Government, private and voluntary sectors. Voluntary efforts for social welfare has deep roots in the history and heritage of India. Whether it is empowerment at grassroots level or emergency assistance, the voluntary sector enjoys considerable advantage due to its innovative, multi-sectoral and motivated approach. Voluntary organizations have played an important role in the shaping of participatory democracy in India. They have reached into remote and sometimes inhospitable terrain and approached weaker sections of our society with empathy and understanding. There has, therefore, been due attention, in our Five Year Plans, to galvanizing public cooperation through the deep and wide network of the voluntary organizations. Presently, the Planning Commission has initiated a Non Governmental Organisations Partnership System with the participation of about 11 Ministries and Organisations. These include the Ministry of Women and Child development, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Department of Higher Education and others. I am sure this initiative will impact positively on sections that it is intended for.

Distinguished guests, the organizations who have received awards today have distinguished themselves through their outstanding contribution to society. The Mizoram Widows Association, the Peoples Forum Association, the Sumangali Sewa Ashram in Bangalore and the Snehalaya of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra have brought hope and dignity to women and children who need the support of Government and society. They have given a new direction to the lives of disadvantaged sections of our society including widows, destitute women and abandoned and underprivileged children. They have worked in difficult and remote parts of the country rescuing and rehabilitating the exploited. They have given the gift of education to the deprived and underprivileged among them – and helped them to be self-reliant through vocational training, micro-credit and other assistance. I have no doubt that they will inspire the hundreds of other organizations like themselves, located all over India – in rural as well as urban centres.

With these few words, I once again congratulate the Central Social Welfare Board for instituting this prestigious award. I offer my felicitations to the four awardees of the prestigious Dr Durgabai Deshmukh awards for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 and wish them success in their future endeavours.

President confers Durgabai Deshmukh awards for social work
Smt. Krishna Tirath reiterates WCD Ministry’s commitment to social welfare

President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh awards for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 at the Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, here today. The keynote address was delivered by Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development.

The eighth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year was 2005 jointly awarded to the Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association and the People’s Forum, Bhubaneswar. The Mizoram Hmeithai (Widows) Association has worked for bringing succour and relief to thousands of widows and destitute women and hundreds of abandoned orphan children. The Association runs residential schools for under privileged children, provides aid to widows/distressed women and runs a home for women in difficult circumstances. It has a home for abandoned children and arranges for their adoption. It also runs a mobile clinic in the remote areas of Mizoram.

While the People’s Forum, Bhubaneswar was awarded for its landmark services in the rescue and rehabilitation of hundreds of mentally ill women and for its exemplary work with women in distress. The main activities of the institution include its mission ASHRA for destitute women’s mental health, helping the formation of Self Help Groups of poor, needy and oppressed women and to attain improvement in their socio-economic condition through economic activities by giving priority to women directly in production activities so that opportunities are created for them to earn additional income.

The ninth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year 2006 was awarded to Sumangali Seva Ashram of Bangalore. The main activities of the institution include care, education and development of deserted, orphan and needy children and socio-economic opportunities for development of women. Apart from its initiatives in formal and non-formal education, the institution carries out Vocational Training, provides Micro credit facilities, runs a Family Counselling Centre, has more than 100 Creches, promotes Income Generating activities, runs a Short Stay Home and Awareness Generation Programmes for women.

The tenth Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for the year 2007 was awarded to Snehalaya of Ahmednagar, Maharashtra for its landmark work in the rehabilitation of women of the red light areas and other destitute women. Snehalaya has successfully intervened to rescue hundreds of girls and women who were caught in the quagmire of prostitution and has rehabilitated them in the mainstream of society.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Smt. Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development said that Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh was the mother of social service in India and the visionary founder Chairperson of the Central Social Welfare Board. She noted that Durgabai Deshmukh was a feminist, a Parliamentarian, an administrator and a great visionary. As a Member of Parliament she carried out programmes for educating, training and rehabilitating needy women and children. Dr. Durgabai, in her unique way demonstrated to the world that women, through co-operative endeavor, could achieve the vision of universal opportunity and justice for society, the Minister added. She congratulated the awardees for their work for the needy. The Minister said that the Ministry of Women and Child Development is committed to supporting the Board in all its endeavours. Since the mandates of the Ministry and the Board are largely identical vis-a-vis the development of women and children, the Ministry of WCD as the funding body is giving increasing funding support year after year. In the year 2007-08 the Board received funds to the tune of about Rs. 138 crores from the MWCD and in 2012-13 the funds allocated are about Rs. 190 crores.

The Central Social Welfare Board was set up by a Resolution of Government of India dated 12th August, 1953 with the object of promoting social welfare activities and implementing welfare programmes for women, children and the handicapped through voluntary organisations. Dr. Durgabai became the first chairperson of the Central Board which she, with her practical knowledge of the field and personal experience, managed successfully for 10 years. Dr. Durgabai was honoured for her outstanding contribution to the cause of Peace, Social Welfare, Literacy and work among the downtrodden by national and international agencies. She won the Nehru Literacy Award, UNESCO Award for outstanding work in the field of Literacy and was decorated with the PADMA VIBUSHAN. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a stamp in her honour.

The Central Social Welfare Board had constituted the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh award in 1997 and it is given every year to a voluntary organisation that has done outstanding and innovative work in the field of women’s development.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Presidents Secretariat

READ MORE - Mizoram Hmeithai Association received national award

Mizoram Staffer jailed for swindling funds

A woman cashier of the Cooperation department under the Mizoram Government was sentenced yesterday to two-year imprisonment for swindling public money to the tune of Rs 26 lakh way back in 1994.

Official sources said the Court of Additional District and Sessions Judge K L Liana in Aizawl found the cashier, Lalengmawii guilty of misappropriating funds to the tune of Rs 26 lakh.

A fast-track court had earlier in 2010 awarded the woman with a one-month jail term and a fine of Rs 1,50,000. Not satisfied with the verdict, the public prosecutor appealed in the higher court, seeking lifetime imprisonment.

However, the cashier's lawyer pleaded the court for leniency for the 56-year-old widow having age-related ailments. After the verdict was pronounced on Tuesday, Lalengmawii was sent to Aizawl Central Jail.

READ MORE - Mizoram Staffer jailed for swindling funds

Aizawl civil hospital moves out of town

The Mizoram government is taking expeditious steps to shift five departments from Aizawl civil hospital in the heart of the city to yet-to-be completed Falkawn Referral Hospital on the southern periphery of the city. Members of working committee on operationalisation of referral hospital, led by its chairman and parliamentary secretary for health department S Laldingliana, visited the referral hospital to clear grounds for shifting of five departments by November end. "Expeditious steps are being taken to shift departments of medicines, surgery, paediatrics, dental, gynaecology and anaesthesia before the end of November," official sources said. Health minister Lalrinliana Sailo, who visited the referral hospital on Saturday, with the shifting of five departments, the Aizawl Civil Hospital will be downsized to 100 beds from the existing 285 beds, including ten beds in the emergency department. "With 60 to 70 patients admitted on a daily basis, the civil hospital is unable to meet the public demand. The shifting of five departments at the Falkawn Referral Hospital aims to increase the civil hospital's capacity," he said. In the meantime, the emergency department and trauma centre at the Aizawl civil hospital will enlarged and upgraded. Shifting of Aizawl civil hospital's departments to Falkawn Referral Hospital, about 15 kilometres from Aizawl, is also done in view of the growing congestion the city, the minister said.

According to Congress party's release, the Lal Thanhawla government during its previous tenure in 1998 floated tender for construction of Falkawn Referral Hospital at the cost of Rs 41 crore. When the Congress party came back to power in 2008, chief minister Lal Thanhawla persuaded the DoNER ministry to sanction Rs 4.61 crore to revive the hospital, allegedly "ruined" by the MNF government. With this fund, the Congress cleared unpaid bills amounting to Rs 1.2 crore to contractors.

READ MORE - Aizawl civil hospital moves out of town

Man burns himself to death in Mizoram

Vanlalhruaii, a woman in Kolasib in northern Mizoram, was terrified by the sight of charred body of a man inside her kitchen garden this morning.

She became extremely shocked when it was discovered that it was her husband. Police source said Vanlalsiama, 46, who had developed mental disorders, apparently burnt himself to death. As they suspected no foul play, the dead body was buried without any postmortem.

The body was charred beyond recognition and it was identified from the pieces of clothes and slippers.

READ MORE - Man burns himself to death in Mizoram

Man jailed for raping daughter in Mizoram

Aizawl: A court in Aizawl has convicted a man of raping his own 13-year-old daughter and sentenced him to four-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000.

The 43-year-old Lalchhuanthanga was awarded light sentence on Friday by the court of the Additional Sessions Judge due to extreme good behaviour in jail and the fact that his four children needed his care.

Police said that Lalchhuanthanga, in an inebriated state, raped his own daughter on March 26 last year inside his house in Serchhip town and was arrested after leaders of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), the Mizo women federation, filed FIR with the police.

He was looking after his four children after his wife eloped with another man and migrated to Malaysia when the children were very young, police said.

READ MORE - Man jailed for raping daughter in Mizoram

`Mizos in Manipur an integral part of the state`

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, October 25 : The Mizo ZillaiPawl, MZP Manipur today celebrated its diamond jubilee at its Hmuia veng, Lamka Churachandpur joint head quarter hall.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Commissioner Lungmuana Lakher said Mizos are an integral part of the Manipuri society in every sense and should not feel alienated from the mainstream Manipuris.

The chief guest’s speech was echoed later by the functional president Commissioner JC Ramthanga.

Meanwhile, the chief guest quoted the 2001 census statistics and referred that among the tribes in Manipur, the Mizos constitute 2% but have all along provided their service for the good of  Manipur.

He also expressed his apprehension that the present generation  of Mizos haven’t witness Imphal, the state capital as the older generation who set up MZP (Manipur) at Ngathal village way back in 1952 did.

The functional president also joined in chorus with the chief guest and added that the Mizos of today seem to be swept and influence excessively by their brothers in Mizoram.

He urged the youth that they are no son of a lesser God, both the chief guest and the functional president urged the Mizo Zillai (student) to attain high standard of perfection in their studies, uphold the virtue and philanthropic virtues which is the hallmark of the Mizos all along their history.

Meanwhile the slump in the success rate of the Mizo zillai in the state civil service was one of the major worries of the dignitaries present.

Some of the important highlight of the programs are the beating of the traditional gong starting from the chef guest followed by the functional president and latter by the who`s who  of MZP Manipur who numbered around 57.

The programs reach its climax when the artist of the Mizos (and the Mizos had artist in full supply) who took the stage in between the items.

The function could also be said as grand with participation from different  leaders of student organizations of Churachandpur. Tributes were also paid to the departed members and memento presented to the bygone leaders of MZP Manipur during the diamond jubilee celebration.

The secretary of MZP Manipur also reported and highlighted the achievements and steps taken by the organization like giving meritorious award to students who excel in their studies.

He also mentioned that the organization has been urging the Govt. to sanction two post of lecturer in Mizo subject.

The day-time function ended with a prayer from the local Pastor.

The celebration will continue in the night graced by Manipur Outer MP Thangso Baite as chief guest.

READ MORE - `Mizos in Manipur an integral part of the state`

Mizos get off to flying start

Playing his first match of the tournament, Ramdintluanga pumped six goals as Government High School, Kawnpui from Mizoram, crushed a hapless Motilalal Nehru Sports School 11-0 in their Pool E match of the 30th Nehru sub-junior (U-15) hockey at Shivaji Stadium. The Mizo school needed just four minutes to take the lead through a penalty corner stroke and had already surged to a 6-0 lead by half time. In the second half they slowed down just a bit, scoring five more.
While the match was the most lopsided of the day, there were a couple of others that came close. Mohd. Sadiq scored a hattrick as Guru Gobind Singh Sports College, Lucknow thrashed St. Anthony’s HS, Meghalaya 6-0 while Harprit Singh also contributed three and Rahul Kumar and Shubham, two apiece in NCC’s 9-0 demolition of Shri KN Shah High School, Modasa, Gujarat. Government Boy’s School, Gurgaon rallied from a 2-0 deficit to level 2-2. They were ultimately overwhelmed 8-2 by Malwa Khalsa Sr. Secondary School, Ludhiana.

READ MORE - Mizos get off to flying start

Mizo Zirlai Pawl, MZP, Manipur, celebrating Golden Jubilee - At YMA Hall Hmuia Veng - - 24 Oct 2012

The Mizo Zirlai Pawl, MZP, Manipur, is celebrating its Golden Jubilee
on the 24th October
from 11 : 30 am
at YMA Hall Hmuia Veng
under the theme "Unity is Strenght"

The main days programme will be attended as chief guest by L. Lakher IAS and commisioner govt of Manipur , JC Ramthanga IAS Commissioner , govt of Manipur , T . Pachuau IPS IG L&O and the DC / Ccpur Jacintha Lazurus IAS as chief guest, functional president, guests of honor and as special guest respectively.

The night programme will be graced as chief guest by Thangso Baite MP, Lok Sabha and as functional president and guest of honor resspectively by Thiangmingmawia President MZP general headquarters and V Zathanga IPS Addl DGP.

READ MORE - Mizo Zirlai Pawl, MZP, Manipur, celebrating Golden Jubilee - At YMA Hall Hmuia Veng - - 24 Oct 2012

Barak Valley delegation meets Mizoram CM

AIZAWL, Oct 22 – In a move to bridge the already widened gap between Assam and Mizoram following the recent boundary dispute, Barak Valley Peace Delegation recently met Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla at his residence and held a discussion with him on the boundary issue and other inter-State matters.

Lal Thanhawla said that the boundary issue is to be settled by the two States of Assam and Mizoram and the Central Government. He, however, added that as it will take a long time in settling the problem, it is best to negotiate and solve all the problems through discussions around the table.

Regarding the erection of boundary pillar at Mizo paddy fields and demolishing the same is but a cowardice act, the Chief Minister said, and mentioned his plan to discuss the boundary issue with higher authority. Regarding the entry of labourers at Vairengte without ILP, the Chief Minister said “it is the best to continue what has been carried on since long time before.” As we are all citizens of India, what we want is to live by showing respect to each other”, Lalthanhawla said.

Regarding the Hindustan Paper Mill in Cachar, Lal Thanhawla said that bamboo is a national asset, and therefore it is planned to be utilised properly, for which the Mahal system has been stopped. In order that bamboo may provide the maximum possible benefit for the Mizos, one chipping plant has been set up, he said and assured the delegation that he will decide on how to provide such chipped bamboo to meet the requirement of the Paper Mill.

Lal Thanhawla also agreed to consider the proposal to set up a Grievance Cell in order to bring immediate solution to any problem between the two States.

Last month, tension had cropped up in the Mizoram-Assam border following the distmantling of a border pillar near Vairengte and Dhalai.

Constituted by the Government of Mizoram as an initiative on the boundary dispute issue with Assam, Mizoram State Boundary Committee (MSBC) had submitted its finding to the State Government.

Assam and Mizoram share a common border of 123 kilometres. MPC had proposed that the problem on the boundary dispute could be solved by constituting a boundary commission and by way of negotiation.

READ MORE - Barak Valley delegation meets Mizoram CM

Peoples Conference to merge with MNF in Mizoram

The Peoples Conference has reportedly agreed to merge with the main opposition party - the Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram, PC party sources said today.

Sources in the PC party said that the high command deliberated on merging with the MNF and decided to merge with the bigger party.

MNF sources also said that they had received positive response from the PC party on the proposed merger of the two parties and that the merger was expected to be formalised soon.

The PC party led by former Deputy Chief Minister Lalhmingthanga is a breakaway group of the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) founded by former chief minister Brigadier Thenphunga Sailo.

The former broke away after Brig T Sailo retired from active politics and his son Lalhmangaiha Sailo took over the top job of the party due to intra-party squabbles and race for the top post.

READ MORE - Peoples Conference to merge with MNF in Mizoram

Four die in landslides in Mizoram

Four people have died and several places remained inaccessible due to road blockade caused by landslides during the past 24 hours as heavy rains lashed Mizoram since Wednesday night, police said.

The driver and operator of an excavator and the driver of a private vehicle were killed following a massive landslide near Dapchhuah village on the Mizoram-Tripura border Mamit district last evening.

While the body of Nasim Uddin, working under Muzir Uddin, operator of the excavator was found search for the bodies of Muzir Uddin and Lalnunsiama, the driver of the vehicle, was on till today.

Muzir Uddin and Nasim Uddin were clearing the debris on the road when another massive landslide occurred killing them. Meanwhile, Lalnunsiama, who had boarded the excavator while waiting for the road to be cleared, was also killed as the excavator was swept off the road in the landslide, police said.

In another incident, an excavator met with an accident near Kawnpui town in the Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib district yesterday in which the operator Ramdinthara was killed on the spot. The National Highway 54 linking Aizawl with the rest of the country was blocked in many places especially near Kawnpui due to the heavy landslide.

Power supply and telecommunication were also disrupted in many places due to heavy rainfall and landslides triggered by incessant downpour.

READ MORE - Four die in landslides in Mizoram

Barak Valley Peace Delegation meets Mizoram CM

Aizawl, Oct 8 : In a move to bridge the already widened gap between Assam and Mizoram following the recent boundary fiasco, Barak Valley Peace Delegation today met Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla at his residential bungalow, and held a discussion with him on boundary issue and other important inter-state related matters.

Lal Thanhawla said that the boundary issue is to be settled by the two states of Assam and Mizoram and the central government, and as it will take long time in settling the problem it is the best to negotiate and solve all the problems through table-talk.

Regarding the erection of boundary pillar at Mizo paddy fields and demolishing the same is but a cowardice act, Chief Minister said, and mentioned his plan to discuss the boundary issue with higher authority.

Regarding entry of labourers at Vairengte without ILP referred to by Peace Delegation member, Chief Minister replied that "it is the best to continue what has been carried on since long time before." As we are all citizens of India, what we want most is to live with showing respect to each other" CM lalthanhawla said.

Regarding Hindustan Paper Mill in Cachar, Lal Thanhawla said that bamboo is a national asset, and therefore it is planned to be utilised it helpfully and skilfully, for which Mahal system has also been stopped.

In order that bamboo may produce as huge profit as possible for the Mizos as one chipping plant has been set up, the Mizo chief minister said, and assured the delegation members that he will decide on how to provide such chipped bamboo to meet the requirement of the Paper Mill.

Lal Thanhawla also talked on the proposal and request of the delegation members to place a Public Relations Officer at Mizoram House in Silchar and to set up a Grievance Cell in order to bring immediate solution in time of any arising of problems between the two states.

They also proposed to set up Integration Camp both in Barak Valley and in Mizoram.

Delegation leader Sharif Laskar appreciated Lal Thanhawla as possessing a leadership quality and a man who stands on his promise, and thanked the Chief Minister for many things that he said.

The delegation comprises 21 members; one of them being a representative of minority students' body from Guwahati.

Media persons and advocates also participated in the meeting.

The visiting delegation left Mizoram today itself.

Last month, tension had cropped up in the Mizoram-Assam border following the distmantling of a border pillar near Vairengte and Dhalai.

Constituted by the state government of Mizoram as an initiative on the boundary dispute issue with Assam, Mizoram State Boundary Committee (MSBC) had submitted its finding reports to the state government.

Following the volatile situation, measures by both Mizoram and Assam governments were taken.

READ MORE - Barak Valley Peace Delegation meets Mizoram CM

300 Assamese workers to be allowed into Mizoram sans inner-line permit

SILCHAR: In a bid to ease tension along its border with Assam, Mizoram authorities have decided to ease the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) norms for at least 300 workers from Assam's Cachar district to enter the hill state.

The issuance of the ILP, which is mandatory for any non-Mizo to enter Mizoram, has been a hitch for several workers. Hence, the Mizoram government has worked out a plan in which those workers will be allowed entry into Mizoram whose names are figured in the 'job registrar', set to be prepared by the Assam and Mizoram authorities jointly.

"The 'job registrar' will have 300 names of workers from Cachar district. The registrar will be prepared after authenticating the citizenship of the workers by Cachar administration and police," said Cachar deputy commissioner Harendra Kumar Dev Mahanta.

He said, whenever there is need for workers in Vairengte area of Kolasib district of Mizoram, workers with their names in the registrar will be drawn from here. The registrar will be with Dholai police station in Cachar, Mahanta added.

After a meeting of officials from Cachar and Karimganj in Assam and Kolasib in Mizoram on Friday, Kolasib District Collector Niharika Rai said the decision to soften ILP regulations for poor workers from Assam were taken on humanitarian grounds. Moreover, this is aimed at easing tension that has gripped the Assam-Mizoram border over past few weeks, she added.

Both sides also decided that quarterly meetings would be held between officials of Cachar and Kolasib. Besides, police officials from Dhalai in Cachar and Vairengte in Kolasib will hold monthly meetings to ensure that situation remained calm.

It was also decided that cultural groups from Assam and Mizoram would visit each other's states with a view to strengthening bonds between people of the two states.

Village Authority (VA) of Vairengte of Mizoram last week rejected the demand of Cachar authorities to Mizoram government to allow entry of 300 people up to Vairengte village through Casual Labour Permit (CLP), but without ILP.

Sources said there was a time when workers from Assam were allowed to enter into some parts of Kolasib district of Mizoram temporarily on the basis of CLP. However, recently some Mizoram-based NGOs including Young Mizo Association (YMA) made it clear that no non-Mizo worker would be allowed in the state without ILP.

The dispute had assumed serious turn and Assam government tightened vigil along the Assam-Mizoram border in Cachar district and deployed additional security forces after heightening of tension following destruction of a border pillar by unidentified miscreants, said Cachar DC.

Several local organisations and NGOs of Cachar district have been organizing protest rallies and blockade of Aizawl-Silchar national highway demanding to resolve the issues of workers and the border.

READ MORE - 300 Assamese workers to be allowed into Mizoram sans inner-line permit

Assam-Mizoram talk to resolve border dispute

Senior officials of Assam and Mizoram today decided to increase interaction between the two sides with a view to resolving the border dispute and de-escalate tension which has gripped Cachar-Kolasib belt during the last few days.

This was resolved at a meeting held in the Silchar Circuit House.

The meeting was attended by Cachar Deputy Commissioner Harendra Kumar Dev Mahanta and his counterpart from Kolasib in Mizoram, Niharika Rai. Senior police and administration officials from both sides were present during the meeting.

Both sides decided that quarterly meetings would be held between officials of Cachar and Kolasib.

Besides, police officials from Dhalai in Cachar and Vairangte in Kolasib will hold regular monthly meetings to ensure that situation remained calm.

It was also decided that cultural groups from Assam and Mizoram would visit each other's states with a view to strengthening bonds between people of the two states.

With regard to the issue of restrictions on the movement of people in the greater Dholai-Bhaga-Lyllapur areas who go to Mizoram for work, it was decided that a common list would be drawn up so that those who figure in the list can visit their workplace unhindered by limitations placed as per the Inner Line Permit.

The dispute had assumed serious turn after reports of demolition of border pillar at Dholaikhal and removal of signboard of Assam and opening of a check post in area belonging to Cachar district by people from Mizoram.

READ MORE - Assam-Mizoram talk to resolve border dispute

German Football Coaching tips for Mizoram

On their current trip to Mizoram, German coaching instructors Lutz Pfannenstiel and Felix Imm of the German Football Association (DFB), have stated that Mizoram can produce footballers of world class if the abundant talent among young footballers is properly harnessed, as the duo feel there was no reason why budding footballers from the Northeastern state cannot graduate to world standard players.

The coaches, who are in Aizawl to train local footballers and local coaches, were pretty impressed by the potential and high spirits of the young players.

“The potential is clearly visible in the spirited and entertaining game played by the young players,” former goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel said.

Lal Thanzara, President of Mizoram Football Association had requested Rainer Schmiedchen, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kolkata, to provide good coaches for Mizoram, the Consul General promptly expressed keen interest in exploring football talent in the state and took initiative to bring German coach to the state back in May 2012.

The world goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, who is the first footballer to have played professional football in all the six continents of our planet, said that for the past few days he and Felix Imm had been watching

…

Read the full article here .

READ MORE - German Football Coaching tips for Mizoram

Opposition slams Mizo government

Aizawl, Oct 4 : Opposition parties slammed the Lalthanhawla-led Congress government for neglecting the tense situation in the town of Vairengte on the Assam-Mizoram border.

The town is under siege because of the threat of a blockade, led by the All Barak Youth Students Association, demanding entry into the town without the inner-line permit (ILP), a legal requirement.

Deputy commissioners of Cachar and Kolosib districts are scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the issue.

An NGO, Coordination Committee, and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl held a public meeting in the town yesterday to take stock after Saturday's incident of border incursion, allegedly by an Assam minister.

They resolved to demand strict implementation of the ILP and resist all attempts to dilute it. They said the SDO (civil) should be empowered to issue ILPs for six months at Vairengte, hold talks with the Assam government and ensure the current situation does not escalate into a communal conflict.

READ MORE - Opposition slams Mizo government

Tribute to the Father of the Nation

The band members of Boomarang

Artists from Mizoram and Karnataka are coming together to promote the message of peace and harmony between the two communities.

Lalrinpui, president, Bangalore Mizo Association, says, "We want to spread the message of peace, unity and friendship."

The Mizo band Boomarang will perform today.

"We are a part of this festival because we believe in advocating peace and harmony through performing arts," says the band's lead vocalist Atea.

Interestingly, the initiative is being sponsored by the Karnataka government's art and culture department, and will see performances like Dollu Kunitha and Veeragase.

Hiriyanna, manager, department of art and culture in the government of Karnataka, says, "We want to send out a message that all is well in the city."

READ MORE - Tribute to the Father of the Nation

Tripura Police nab three dog traffickers

Agartala : Tripura Police have arrested three people for trafficking stray dogs to other northeastern states, police said here Monday.

"Police acting on a tip-off arrested the three tribals with seven grownup dogs tied inside jute sacks at Kamalpur, 145 km north of here, Sunday night," a police official told reporters.

The official said that the trio was arrested under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and presented before a court, which granted them bail asking them not to leave the state without prior permission of the court.

During interrogation, the detainees told the police that the dogs were to be smuggled to neighbouring Mizoram and Nagaland.

"According to the dog lifters, each grownup dog fetches between Rs.2,000 and Rs.2,500 in Mizoram and Nagaland as dog's meat is a favourite food there. They also said that they have been involved in this job for the past few months," the police official said.

"We caught these dogs from various parts of the Kamalpur (in northern Tripura) by tranquilizing the animals with some medicine along with food and tied them up inside jute sacks keeping the head open," Baika Darlong, one of the three detainees, told the police interrogators.

Smuggling of stray dogs is a new phenomenon in this northeastern state.

Earlier in April, Tripura Police had arrested three people, including a woman, at Gandacharra in northern Tripura for trafficking dogs to Mizoram. Seven grown up dogs were recovered from them.

READ MORE - Tripura Police nab three dog traffickers

Assam min's visit leads to tension along Mizo border

Aizawl, Oct 2 : There was tension in some areas along the Mizoram-Assam border when Assam minister Siddique Ahmed Majumdar visited the police checkgate in the border town of Vairengte with a large number of villagers.

Mizoram Police officials said around 50 villagers from Lailapur in Assam preceded Majumdar's entourage on two wheelers in an alleged attempt to enter the Mizoram police's check gate at Vairengte last evening.

READ MORE - Assam min's visit leads to tension along Mizo border

CM briefs central team of poor BSNL service

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla today brought up the issue of the prevailing problems that internet users in Mizoram have been facing due to the poor services rendered by the largest service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, in a brief meeting with a central team. Information communication technology department's joint secretary Dr Ajay, who led the central team, assured the Chief Minister to forward it to the central authorities.

Asuni Kumar Sharma, managing director, NEILIT and A K Pipal, additional director, NEILIT, were part of the team. The NEILIT managing director informed the Chief Minister of the plans to upgrade Aizawl NIELIT centre and the plans to set up another centre at southern Mizoram district Lunglei. Among others, Lal Thanhawla praised the ICT department's efforts to boost IT development in Mizoram and assured them that the implementation of the different IT programmes would be monitored from the CM office.

READ MORE - CM briefs central team of poor BSNL service

Mizo parents are indulgent with their sons and daughters

Pagan or Christian, Mizora is Cupid’s own territory

Mizo parents are indulgent with their sons and daughters and would not deprive them of the freedom they had known in their youth. The Mizo society is tolerant love peccadilloes. This does not mean permissiveness of laxity. On the contrary, marriage is both a sacred sacrament and a civil contact to the Mizo and today marital instability is perhaps less than what it used to be. The old custom of paying a price for the bride is still in vague. The bridegroom pays money to the bride’s father and it is distributed among relatives. All those who receive this money have a responsibility to the girl, should she fall upon evil days.

In the midst of hardship and suffering, the Mizo villager retains a rare serenity of spirit and the capacity to laugh at everybody-including himself. Old festivals like `Chapcharkut’ and `Mimkut’ are still observed. Traditional dances like `Chraw kan’, Chheih lam’ and `Solokkia’ are popular, and one still hears about someone seeing spirits in the jungles (Ramhuai). 

READ MORE - Mizo parents are indulgent with their sons and daughters

Demand to resolve Assam-Mizoram boundary dispute

Silchar (Assam), Sept 21 : A protest march was taken by several organisations here today demanding immediate solution of the long-standing boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram.

The organisations, All Barak Youth and Students Association, Dalit Sena, several local clubs among others, alleged that a few days back the pillar between Assam-Mizoram border was destroyed by unidentified miscreants in the area and tension has been prevailing since.

The organisations urged both Assam and Mizoram Governments to resolve the issue at the earliest or else it may lead to law and order situation, spokesperson of All Barak Youth and Students’ Association Baharul Islam Barbhuiya said.

The organisations also alleged two prominent organisations of Mizoram, Young Man Association (YMA) and Mizo Zirlai (MZP) were primarily responsible for occupying Assam’s land in Cachar district since 2007.

The organisations also submitted a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi through Cachar Deputy Commissioner Haren Dev Mahanta.

READ MORE - Demand to resolve Assam-Mizoram boundary dispute

Pangolin scales seized in Mizoram

More than 386 kg of pangolin scales were seized by the officials of Customs department from Tuirial Airfield village near here, sources said today.

Customs officials said that the scales of pangolin held yesterday would cost more than Rs 2.3 crore in Myanmar where the scales were intended to be smuggled.

Lalchungnunga of south Mizoram's Saiha town, now residing in Zuangtui area in Aizawl, was arrested.

Earlier, Customs officials had seized Rs 37 lakh worth of pangolin scales on September 2 from a man called Manga in Aizawl.

The scales of pangolin, also known as 'scaly anteater', now highly endangered species, are used for making garments and other purposes, officials said.

READ MORE - Pangolin scales seized in Mizoram

Pangolin scale haul in Aizawl

Silchar, Sep 5 : The central customs and excise sleuths in Mizoram have seized 63kg of pangolin scales, worth Rs 1.2 crore, from Bawgkawn in north Aizawl.

Sources in Mizoram central customs last night said the scales were yesterday seized from the residence of K. Manga, who has been handed over to Aizawl police.

They said the scales were procured from south India and would have been smuggled from Mizoram's western district of Champhai across the 404km Indo-Myanmar border to south Asian countries like China, Taiwan, Hongkong and South Korea where they are in high demand for their medicinal values.

The scales are used to prepare aphrodisiacs and painkillers, central customs officials here and in Aizawl said.

The scales of this insectivorous animal are also used to stitch jackets in south Asian countries, they added.

The sources said this tropical ant-eating mammal, mostly found in South American countries, is reared in south India.

Pangolins are also regularly hunted in south India though their hunting and killing is banned in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, they added.

This is the second such haul of pangolin scales in Cachar district and adjoining Mizoram in the past two years.

On October 21 last year, the central customs department intercepted an Aizawl-bound passenger bus and confiscated 144kg of pangolin scales worth Rs 1.9 crore from two Myanmarese Mizos.

The two Myanmarese nationals Lalengliana, 46, and M. Chaona, 39, were taken into custody.

READ MORE - Pangolin scale haul in Aizawl

Mizoram finance commission office inagurated

 Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today inaugurated the new office of the state Finance Commission which would formally function with a full-time chairman and secretary.

Van Hela Pauchua, who retired on August 31 as the chief secretary and Lalthansanga, who retired on the same day as finance secretary were appointed as chairman and secretary respectively of the commission.

The commission would make recommendations to the state government on the amount of funds to be allocated to local bodies and how they would manage their finances better.

Lal Thanhawla said that the state finance commission was established to look after the finances of local bodies like the Municipal Council, Village Councils and the three autonomous district councils.

READ MORE - Mizoram finance commission office inagurated

Mizoram free from female foeticide

Aizawl, Sep 3 : If child sex ratio is any indication, Mizoram with the highest child sex ratio in India, is free from female foeticide which still remains one of the biggest menaces in India.

While the child sex ratio in India has dropped to 914 females against 1,000 males - the lowest since Independence - in the provisional 2011 Census, Mizoram has 971 females against 1000 males, the highest in India.

Even though there no case of sex selection abortion has been reported in Mizoram, it is learnt that there has been a number of misuses of ultrasound technologies by curious pregnant women who wanted to know the sex of their babies.

A state level meeting on the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection act, 1994) chaired by health minister Lalrinliana Sailo today was informed that some doctors have also violated the Act by revealing the sex of babies to pregnant women. " Even though it may not necessarily lead to sex selection abortion, using of ultrasound for sex determination during pregnancy is illegal under the Act, " the Health Minister said.

The Act also makes mandatory for all private hospitals and clinics to have their ultrasounds registered. According to official records, there are 40 registered ultrasounds in Mizoram. Though Mizo society is a strict patriarchal one, a girl child is never unwanted in a Mizo family.

With more than 98 percent of the population being Christians who consider abortion, except due to medical reasons, as murder, female foeticide is a non-issue in Mizoram.

READ MORE - Mizoram free from female foeticide

Mizoram plans to open ‘branded hotel’ chain to boost tourism

Mizoram Tourism Development Board under the chairmanship of Pu Lalthanhawla, Chief Minister, Government of Mizorma has plans to open up ‘branded hotel’ chain to boost tourism in the state, according to Sinlung News.

The board has also decided to privatise government-run tourist lodges and highway restaurants. “Thirteen of the 38 tourist lodges and highway restaurants will be privatised and management of such lodges and restaurants would be done in the lines of hotels in Nagaland and Sikkim,” officials said.

READ MORE - Mizoram plans to open ‘branded hotel’ chain to boost tourism

Three houses destroyed in Landslide

Aizawl, Sep 2 : Avalanche of rocks destroyed three houses in Chanmary West locality in Aizawl today, Police said.

No one was killed or injured in the incident while five other families were being evacuated to safer places, the police said.

Heavy rainfall that hit Mizoram during the past two weeks caused destruction in many places in the state and roads were snapped in many places causing immense inconvenience to travellers. Supply of power and telecommunication were also disrupted in many places due to landslides.

READ MORE - Three houses destroyed in Landslide

MZP demands amendment of order

Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or the Mizo students federation today submitted a representation to the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribe Dr Rameshwar Oroan asking him to ensure amendment of the Constitution (Scheduled tribes) Order 1950.

The MZP said that the Constitution Scheduled tribes Order 1950 Part XVII should be amended by removing the word 'Lushai' in the Sl No 10 – Any Mizo (Lushai) tribes.

"This wrongful entry is detrimental to the unity and identity of the Mizo tribes and the word Lushai should be removed," the representation demanded.

The Mizoram Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to the effect on 24th March, 2011, the MZP said.

The MZP also said that the names of tribes like Lakher and Pawih should be changed to Mara and Lai respectively in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribe) Order as the names of the autonomous districts have been changed from Lakher Autonomous District Council and Pawih Autonomous District Council to Mara Autonomous District Council and Lai Autonomous District Council respectively.

READ MORE - MZP demands amendment of order

Home for HIV positive: Mizoram sets a negative trend

Aizawl, Aug 29 : Being positive is not always the best way in life.

Thousands of HIV positive people of Mizoram have realised this harsh truth to their utter dismay. These people, who are not welcomed in their relatives’ homes, even for a short stay, are now not allowed even to a separate home built exclusively for them.

A temporary shelter for HIV positives taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Aizawl has run into a roadblock in the form of local residents, which has put off inauguration of the building in the heart of the city scheduled for Tuesday.

The sudden move of the local residents, who have formed the Dawrpui West Welfare Society, has shocked not only the HIV positive people, but also social workers and netizens who have outpoured their sympathies for the patients.

The Short Stay Home has been jointly established by a non-governmental organisation FXB and Women Positive Network of Mizoram to provide shelter to HIV positive people who are required to visit Aizawl to take ART.
“As the HIV positive people are not welcome in their friends or relatives’ homes even for a short stay, we have established this shelter so that they can feel at home here,” said a social worker at FXB.

The social stigmatisation has prevented many HIV positives from taking the necessary ART as they cannot afford to stay in hotels, he said. The Short Stay Home has been set up in a rented building in the western part of Dawrpui locality, in the heart of the city. The objection came after larger organisations of Dawrpui, such as local council, Young Mizo Association and the largest denomination Presbyterian Church had given their nods. It was scheduled to be inaugurated by the local council chairman H Malsawma at 1:30 pm on Tuesday.

Though strongly denying any discrimination against the HIV positive people, the Dawrpui West Welfare Society leaders feared that setting up a shelter in their neighbourhood could set negative precedent for the future. “We believe, the HIV positives taking treatment at the Aizawl Civil Hospital can be given accommodations at the hospital,” one of them insisted.

The Dawrpui local council has convened a joint meeting of church organisations and social organisations in Dawrpui later to review the situation even as the welfare society has pledged to remain firm on its standpoint. The incident is a clear indication of social stigma attached to the HIV positive in this Christian-dominated state of Mizoram despite the extensive awareness campaign.

“Even though social attitude towards HIV positive people has improved compared to ten years ago, we are yet to get social acceptance. It is really disheartening that many of our members are still ostracised from their villages and localities,” said a member of Positive Network of Mizoram, on condition of anonymity.

The organisation has more than 4,000 members across the state.

That social ostracisation is still prevalent in Mizoram is clear from the fact that of the over 6,000 positives detected, only a handful have openly expressed themselves. “Whereas HIV positives refusing to openly declare their status leaves greater chances of HIV spread, the society still finds it difficult to accept HIV positives as they are. If such stigmatisation is what they get, who would openly declare that he or she is an HIV positive?” the activist asked.

From October 1990 till April t his year, 6905 have tested positive for HIV. These are from 1,91,398 blood samples of over10 lakh people. MSACS project director Dr Eric Zomawia said the rate of HIV has been on the decline and attributed this positive trend to the collective efforts of MSACS, churches and NGOs in Mizoram. According to the official, 3915 HIV positives are getting Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) at Aizawl civil hospital, 316 at Champhai civil hospital and 179 at Lunglei civil hospital.

READ MORE - Home for HIV positive: Mizoram sets a negative trend

Mizoram GDP Second in Northeast

AIZAWL, Aug 28 : As issued by the Planning Commission, the growth rate of 'Gross State Domestic Product' of Mizoram in the 11th Five Year Plan is 11%, which is higher than the national average-7.9% and the North East average- 9.95 %.

In connection with this, Planning Board member secretary and New Land Use Policy (NLUP) Implementing Board vice chairman PL Thanga informed the media informed that Mizoram holds the second rank in the growth rate of GSDP among the North East states. He also said that the growth in GSDP of Mizoram is due mainly to Horticulture, Construction Sector and Bussiness Sector under Agriculture and Allied Sector, besides NLUP (especially in broom trade), out of the of the 13 sectors division for calculating the GSDP growth rate. The GSDP growth has been estimated by Central Statistical Organisation (CSO); and in spite of the high growth rate, more benefits is expected from the Planning Commission and other ministries, PL Thanga said. For the proper utilisation of fund which results to the high growth rate, the Prime Minister congratulated Mizoram Chief Minister, he claimed and added that various ministries have high expectation from the state in carrying out development projects, P L Thanga said. From  Additional Central Assistance (ACA) under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), the central government will sanction Rs. 200.908 crore for Mizoram during 2012-13. Owing to this, the Mizoram Annual Plan of the current fiscal has come up from Rs. 2300 crore to Rs. 2352.908 crore. The increase is from 35.29% to 38.41%, PL Thanga said.

Mentioning that out of the estimated fund for carrying out the NLUP, only 2.51% has been utilised for administrative, PL Thanga said, “This is the lowest in among the schemes being carried out all over India; while 6% in NREGS, and 10% in Technology Mission and other schemes are used to be estimate.”

READ MORE - Mizoram GDP Second in Northeast