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.

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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.

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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.”

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Mizo National Front Still Blames EVM

Members of the Mizo National Front (MNF), who had come Members of the Mizo National Front (MNF), who had come all the way from Mizoram to take part in the election, exuded confidence that if such a system can be put in place in the next Assembly elections, the ruling Congress would be voted out of power. "We have always maintained that the traditional EVMs are doubtful basing on the outcome of the last Assembly elections held in 2008," MNF secretary in-charge elections James Ralte said after casting his vote. However, Zutshi said VVPAT would not be used in the forthcoming Meghalaya Assembly elections scheduled for February-March next year. "It is a very long process, and it will take time. But you would not have this VVPAT in the forthcoming election. It will be the traditional EVM," the official said. The EC would send reports of the poll exercise to the technical expert committee and to BEL and ECIL before taking any decision on its future use, he said.

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Church For Election surveillance in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 24 : In view of the assembly election due in early next year, Mizoram Peoples’ Forum (MPF), the Church sponsored election surveillance in Mizoram has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with major political parties in Mizoram so that free and fair elections could be held.

The parties which signed an MoU with the state election surveillance are Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Mizo Peoples Concention (MPC), Zoram National Party (ZNP), Mizo National Front (MNF) and the BJP for co-operation at Synod Committee Hall in Aizawl.

As many as 27 points have been made today for the political parties to abide. Among the 27 points, one is that the political parties should only make an election manifesto which they can implement. If any political party violates any one of the 27 points, the MPF will “invalid” that party.

The programme today was presided over by the president of MPF Rev.Thangzauva, Synod Moderator.All the political party representatives attended the meeting.

Some cooperation rules are that every party will try their best to have free and fair election; only the citizens of India should cast their votes; no political party should drop the voters to their polling stations by means of a vehicle; the MPF will check whether any one indulges in demanding money to the candidates and to the political parties; house to house campaign is allowed till 10 days before the election; “selling and buying” of votes are strictly prohibited and no candidate should distribute some material like silpaulin, Jersy, football, mobile handset, government schemes etc.; no protest rally should be organised 10 days before the election; a fixed number of banners, flags, posters are to be used by the parties.

It can be noted that in the previous elections too, the Mizoram Peoples Forum (MPF) had been scrutinising, in which the main theme was to prevent feasting which was successful.The MPF is very influential and the people in the state have high regard for the Forum for its impartiality.

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Tribute to a loyal soldier

Brig VK Sharma

In 1977, I was attached with Mizoram range headquarters (Assam Rifles) at Serchip. I was a grade three officer dealing with intelligence. My sahayak, rifleman Shyam Chettri, and I were quick to adapt to the new environment as most of the troops of Assam Rifles were Gorkhas. I was sent on official duty to Silchar. Since I was expected to be out for a day or two, I did not ask Shyam to accompany me.

On the return from Silchar to Serchip, the Shaktiman truck I was travelling in rolled down a khud between Kolasib and Sherkhan. Two jawans met their end and the rest, about 10 of us, survived with injuries. We were evacuated to the Field Hospital at Aizawl. My injuries were moderately severe. The most painful was the shoulder dislocation. The then Brigade Commander at Aizawl, Brig Dick Dias, a Gorkha officer, was the first to visit me and, at my request, handed me a dozen packets of filter cigarettes.

On the second evening of my stay at the hospital, I was surprised to find Shyam looking for me. He was perturbed to see me immobile and unshaven. Immediately, he got down to business. Shyam picked a tin from the fire point of the hospital and heated water. He threw a towel around my stiff neck and started lathering my face with a shaving brush.

At that moment, the commandant of the hospital walked in the ward. He would pay me a visit quite often not only to enquire after my health but also to take away a cigarette or two. Seeing Shyam giving me a shave, however, infuriated him. He demanded to know who he was? Shyam politely told him that he was my sahayak. This infuriated Colonel said, "There is no dearth of staff in the hospital to look after your Captain sahib. Now where do I accommodate you?" I was amazed to hear an otherwise meek Shyam reply, "Sir, in spite of the staff, my sahib was unshaven and had not been given a bath. You could admit me in the ward next to sahib's room on the pretext of any ailment."

The commandant was impressed and admitted Shyam in the hospital. Shyam told me that on hearing about the accident, he had taken a lift in a civil truck by bribing the driver with a bottle of rum.

I recovered fast and both of us were discharged from the hospital.

Whenever my shoulder aches in winter, I am reminded of the devotion, loyalty and sincerity of rifleman Shyam Chettri. Both my sons, who are officers in the army, agree with me that it is difficult to find sahayaks like Shyam today. 

(The writer Brigadier VK Sharma passed away recently)

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Mizo policeman in Assam killed by friend

Aizawl, Aug 22 : A Mizo cop serving in Assam police was allegedly shot dead by his colleague after heated argument around 3:00 AM on Monday, sources said today.

Sources said lains naik Lalnunmawia, 30, a resident of Kolasib in Mizoram, was shot on his abdomen by his colleague identified as Bitul Mech, hailing from Cachar district, with 9mm pistol, while he was asleep in the barrack at Hamrem in Karbi Anglong district.

Earlier on Sunday evening, the two had engaged in heated argument. Sources said the Assam police allegedly informed the victim's family around 4:00 PM on Monday.

The Assam police informed his relatives who went to take home his mortal remains that the accused had been arrested and was under their custody.

After postmortem at Diphu Hospital today, the mortal remains of Lalnunmawia was brought to his Kolasib home. Lalnunmawia is survived by his wife and one daughter.

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MNF protests water tariff hike

Aizawl, Aug 21 : Youth activists of the opposition Mizo National Front today burnt a copy of a government notification, in show of strong protest to the Congress government's recent hike in water tariff.

"We are not against normal hike in bills and taxes. But we are against increasing the burden of the people due to huge allocation of fund from the state plan fund for the Congress' own New Land Use Policy," MNF Youth president P C Laltlansanga said as he torched the government document in front of MNF headquarters Hnam Run here today. The Youth president alleged that due to huge allocation for the NLUP, only 16.80 percent of the state budget is left for the people. "Now, the poor people who the Congress government called as its 'VIPs' pay water bills higher than their house rents," he alleged. Laltlansanga pointed out that the Congress government, after much opposition from various organisations, had rolled back its decision to hike water tariff in February, with the chief minister apologising that the hike was caused by technical failures, and it was unintentional.

"That was before the village council/local council elections. Now, with the elections over, the Congress government has revived the decision to increase water bills which it had already termed as technical failures. We demand Lal Thanhawla to stand by his words before the elections," Laltlansanga said. The Congress should first fulfill its duties in supplying water to the consumers as per the Mizoram Water Supplies (Control) Amendment Rules, 2011', which states that the (PHE) department should give water to the consumers at least once a week, which is at present situation a far cry for Aizawl residents. The Act further demands that the department should refund 50 percent of water bills to the consumer if it fails to supply 2500 litres of water a month to the consumer.

"We have burnt a copy of this Act as it does not have any meaning to the consumers," Laltlansanga said. Under the new tariff, a consumer who used to pay Rs 110 has to pay Rs 250 per month. Those who used to pay Rs 350 are now charged Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 per month, without any improvement in water supply.

"The hikes in water tariff are exorbitant and unjustifiable," the Youth president said. The MNF Youth demanded chief minister Lal Thanhawla to implement his flagship NLUP project from the Prime Minister special package as he had promised before the elections.

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Mizoram Muslims pray for peace and harmony

Aizawl, Aug 21 : Thousands of Muslims in Mizoram today joined their brethren across India in praying for peace and communal harmony in the country.

Leading the biggest mass prayer at Aizawl's Assam Rifles Ground this morning, Aizawl Mosque imam Maulana Fahim Ahmed Chowdury recited verses from the Koran.

"We wholeheartedly pray for peace and harmony in the country on the occasion of the Eid Mubarak. We want that people to unite, and for the sake of humanity, should give up violence and live in peace and harmony," Chowdury said.

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Mizo parties on prevailing situation

Aizawl, Aug 21 :  Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram Journalists’ Association (MJA), Mizo National Front (MNF), ZNP party, and MZP have asked every one not to spread messages either through SMS, Facebook or in any other media in connection with the prevailing situation which have been forcing the North East students to return to their home states fro elsewhere in the counytry.
YMA in its press communique expresses its concern over the rumours in some places of the country and mentions that the Mizoram Government is taking necessary steps and had apprised the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister besides other Government officials to ensure the safety and protection of the North East people. “Therefore, the Central YMA asks the Mizo people not to feel tense but be careful and take possible steps for their fellow Mizos and other North East people who are residing in the cities outside the region.
Mizoram Journalists Association (MJA) in its press release expressed grave concern for the affected people and condoled the deaths due to the violence erupted for sheer ethnicity in some districts of Assam, and also condemns the ethnic violence.  “Following the ethnic violence, there arises even a great tension and sense of insecurity for the North East residents in some parts of India, especially in the state of Karnataka, which is really a matter of concern. We really blame those who are creating this kind of insecure and tensed atmosphere for the people of North East,” the MJA said.
MJA also express its full support of the initiatives taken for the safety and full protection of North East people by the state of Karnataka as well as the Central Government. Also, the MJA urged that those people who spread rumours which created tense atmosphere and enmity between people be caught and punished accordingly. MJA , in the mean time asks all the people in Mizoram to avoid spreading messages  that are communal in nature whether through social media like Facebook and through SMS. MJA also asks all the other media of the state to be careful in this regard.
Mizo National Front (MNF) party also expressed its grave concern over the problems being faced by the Mizos and other North Easterners in Bangalore and Pune and blames the very issue of misunderstanding in terms of religion and ethnicity in a secular state like India. “We urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Karnataka Chief Minister, Jagdish Shettar to take immediate steps to bring solution to the problem,” MNF said.ZNP also in its press release expressed concern over the insecurity of the people of North East in Bangalore and other cities due to the ethnic violence between two communities in Assam.

MZP also expressed its concern over the violence occurred between the Bodo community and infiltrators from Bangladesh to Assam, and the effect that creates problem to the North East people in other parts of the country, and said, “We expect the situation to calm down with the initiatives being taken by  the Central Government as well as the State Governments.”

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Mizoram Synod appeals to churches to hold prayer session

AIZAWL: The Presbyterian Church of India's Mizoram Synod has appealed to the local Presbyterian churches in the state to assign a day for offering prayers for the victims of the communal violence in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

In an appeal circulated to all the churches in villages and in urban neighbourhoods, the church requested that a prayer session be organized for the victims of the ethnic clashes between the Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims in the BTC area.

The executive committee meeting of the Presbyterian Church of India (PCI), held during the second week of August in Shillong, Meghalaya, discussed the ongoing communal violence in Assam between the Muslims and the Bodos where church leaders were informed that besides 77 people being killed in the violence, four lakh were displaced and many refugees lodged in around 300 relief camps in Assam and north Bengal.

The PCI expressed anguish over the communal clashes and appealed to all its units in the country to organise prayer services asking for God's intervention to end the violence.

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Mizoram CM sends minister to B'lore

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today sent one of his trusted ministers Lalrinliana Sailo and ruling Congress MLA John Siamkunga to Bangalore to console the Mizo residents there in the wake of exodus of the Northeast people. Besides meeting the Mizo students and professionals in Bangalore, the minister and the MLA were planning to meet Karnataka chief minister and the Karnataka Governor to discuss the situation.

Mr Sailo, before leaving for Bangalore this morning, told reporters that they may stop by Hyderabad on their way back and proceed even to Mumbai to reassure the Mizo residents there. UNI ZS AK RD1911 Follow Rediff Deal ho jaye! to get exciting offers in your city everyday.

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Mizo Film:love and longing

By Zodin Sanga

Aizawl: A heart-wrenching event of 19th-century Mizoram —revolving around two lovers who were forced to withstand the tests of time after their native village was ravaged by rival chieftains —is all set to be immortalised on celluloid.

Apart from the huge cast of 400 actors in various roles, the upcoming Mizo movie, Khawnglung Run, has also been touted as one of the most expensive movies ever made in Mizoram, with a total budget of Rs10 lakh. An entire village was recreated to portray Khawnglung, where a surprise raid conducted by combined forces of several Pawi villages in 1859 left a trail of blood in the locality.

According to the movie director, Mapuia of Leitlang Pictures, the bloody attack against Khawnglung village was a result of a war between Sailo chieftains of north and south Mizoram that broke out in 1857, four years before the American Civil War.

“We built a village atop a hill, about five kilometres from Lunglei town, totally inaccessible by road. We camped there with the entire cast and crew for more than two months,” Mapuia said.

In real life, Khawnglung village is located on the top of a hill, about 145 kilometres north of Aizawl, in the present-day Lunglei district. “The real village, though uninhabited, still exists. However, as it requires walking for long hours in thick jungles, it was less expensive to build an artificial village,” the director added. Khawnglung village was topographically secured with only one entrance which was heavily guarded.

“The people of Khawnglung felt very safe as they believed no enemies could attack them as the village was accessible through only one entrance which was guarded round the clock,” said B Lalthangliana, a Mizo historian.

However, the enemies performed what everyone thought was an impossible mission — scaling the high and deathly cliffs with jungle vines. “The chieftain and his elders did not pay heed to some village women seeing movements in the cliffs that surrounded the village as they felt that only monkeys could climb there. The attack came in the wee hours of a day when the entire village was in deep sleep,” the historian added.

A number of Mizo historians have written about Khawnglung Run or Khawnglung raid with different versions on the story. “I have built the story based on six to seven authors,” said Mapuia, who is also the screenwriter, adding: “However, I preferred a sad ending over a happy one.”

What makes the story a part of modern-day Mizo folklore are the two lovers, Chala and Thangi. Chala (which has been played by popular Mizo singer Alex Lalchhuankima) was inconsolable to find that his entire village had been reduced to ashes with only mutilated bodies to greet him when he came home from a distant tour. While his families were killed in the raid, his lover (played by Zoremsangi) was taken hostage by the enemies.

The remaining part of the film recounts how the hero braved all dangers — wild beasts and enemies — to recapture his lover from across the Myanmar border. Thangi, however, died after drowning in the Tiau river that divides India and Myanmar on her way home from where she was rescued by her lover. “This is unarguably a pathbreaking movie in the Mizo film industry,” said Sangzuala Hmar, a showbiz writer, after local journalists previewed the two-hour film at the information & public relations auditorium in Aizawl on Saturday.

Hmar added: “When it comes to filmmaking, Mizoram is far behind the rest of the Northeastern states, leave alone mainland India. The state has not produced any major film in recent times. The Mizo films that we have seen are mostly zero-budget films. Therefore, Rs10 lakh is a huge budget for such a movie.”

It took nearly a year for shooting and editing the film. Apart from the artificial village, the film was shot in different places of Mizoram with 5D Mark-II and XDCam Ex cameras. The much-awaited movie will premier on August 23 in Aizawl, simultaneously with the rest of the district capitals. With English sub-titles, the producer has plans to market the film outside Mizoram, including the US.

READ MORE - Mizo Film:love and longing

Chief engineer arrested in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 18 : Chief Engineer of the Mizoram Public Works Department Lianchungnunga and a retired chief engineer, Liansanga, were arrested by officials of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with alleged misappropriation of crores of rupees.

ACB superintendent of police John Zothansanga told PTI that the FIR on the case was submitted in 2009 by the student leaders of northern part of the state and investigation was completed recently.

Another official, an assistant-cum-accountant in the office of the PWD's engineer-in-chief was also arrested by the ACB officials.

The student leaders alleged that crores of rupees was swindled in the construction of Serkhan (Mizoram) to Bagha (Assam).

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Mizoram project to be gateway to southeast Asia

AIZAWL, Aug 16 : Mizoram will be the gateway to Southeast Asian countries after the construction of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project in neighbouring Myanmar, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said here Wednesday.

"The Multimodal Transit Transport Project would not only improve connectivity between northeast India and Southeast Asian nations but also boost the economy of the region," Lal Thanhawla said after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Ground here.

India in 2010 began constructing a river port and waterway terminal in Myanmar, aimed at promoting trade and connectivity between the two countries.

Construction for the Myanmar-India Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project linking Kaladan river in Sittway township of Rakhine state in Myanmar was undertaken with India's funding.

Referring to the Mizoram government's flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) - Lal Thanhawla said: "The central government had approved Rs.2,873 crore under special central assistance for implementation of the NLUP for rebuilding rural economy."

He said that over 120,000 families would be benefited by the NLUP, which is aimed at ending the traditional 'jhum' cultivation (slash-and-burn method of shifting cultivation).

Lal Thanhawla said: "Already 90,139 farmer families have benefited under the state government's flagship scheme and 29,861 more families would benefit during this financial year."

"The Planning Commission has appreciated the Mizoram government for launching such a unique scheme. The NLUP's success could be a model for other northeastern states," he added.

The Mizoram government initiated its NLUP in January 2010 to put an end to the age-old shifting or slash-and-burn method of cultivation, and help the tribal farmers to shift to stable cultivation of various cash crops.

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Mizoram body writes to Pranab for health centre

After having exhausted all options to get a redressal following non-functioning of a government primary health centre in a tribal area for over two decades now, the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum has finally knocked at the doors of President Pranab Mukherjee.

“The primary health centre at Borpansury has been idle for over 20 years. The poor Chakma tribals have to either pray to God or travel 10-12 hours on the bad road to Aizawl to see a doctor...,” wrote Paritosh Chakma, general secretary of the forum, in a memorandum to Mukherjee.

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Guv greets Mizos on I-Day

Aizawl, Aug 15 : Mizoram Governor Vakkom B Purushothaman today greeted the people on the occasion of India's Independence Day.

" I count it as an honour to be here in Mizoram to discharge my responsibilities for the betterment of the state and its people. Ever since my arrival I have been impressed by the warmth and the sincerity radiated by the Mizo people. This happiness I believe stems from the strong community bond that exists among the people, making the Mizos one big and united family," the Governor said in his message aired from AIR, Doordarshan and local cable TVs. Expressing grief over the death of several people following natural disasters in Mizoram, the Governor praised the Mizo traditional values of helping others in times of sorrow.

" This strong bond which binds the Mizos together must continuously be nurtured and strengthened to propel the state towards greater achievements," he said. " Mizoram is a land of great potentials but it is for us to discover and capitalize on them for our benefit. We must work towards making Mizoram a productive land and generate revenues within the State. God has blessed this land with rich natural resources and the most favourable climate. We therefore have the resources, the capabilities and the required human strength. Let us strive with determination and dedication towards making our state not only self-sufficient but a state from which surplus would flow out to neighbouring states and other parts of the country. He reiterated that Mizoram has huge potential in the tourism industry, which is an important service-oriented sector and a composite service provider.

" I am happy to state that the government is focusing on available assets such as eco-tourism, rural tourism, adventure tourism, culture and heritage tourism, religion tourism, nature tourism, film shooting and health/herbal tourism in order to promote tourism and to open avenues of employment and entrepreneurship for the youth," he said. " Measures are being taken to improve our education system and to develop the skills of youth to make it more relevant in context to the fast changing global scenario. I would urge the youth to develop their skills and besides seeking employment in the state government, set up their own industry or look for employment in other parts of the country or in different parts of the world," he said. He also thanked the church leaders, Young Mizo Association and other voluntary organisations for the services being rendered by them towards humanitarian causes and for the improvement of society. " On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of our Independence Day, let us once again join hands and rededicate ourselves to the task of building a strong and united India," he said.

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Helicopter service opens in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 15 : Mizoram’s helicopter service linking district headquarters and other places was inaugurated on Tuesday by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla. The Chief Minister emphasised that the helicopter service was crucial due to problems in road communication and absence of other means of transport like inland water and railway.

Speaking at a function at the Thuampui helipad near here, he said that the safety of the passengers should be given top priority by Pawan Hans, which provided the service. Out of the Rs 1,308 lakh for annual wet leasing, 75 per cent would be borne by the Union Home Ministry and the matching contribution of 25 per cent would be paid by the State Government. An official statement said that the helicopter service, linking nine towns, would be available for people from August 16 and the fare would be Rs 50 a minute.

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Mizoram Independence Day Gift

Mizoram: Calling it an “Independence Day gift,” officials in the state capital, Aizawl, have announced that Mizoram will have a helicopter service as of Tuesday, Firstpost reported.

(Independence Day falls on Wednesday.) 

The service is meant to provide connectivity to hilly and remote areas that are often cut off from the rest of the country during emergencies and natural calamities.

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Mizoram panel to resolve border disputes

Aizawl, Aug 11 : Mizoram has formed a committee to resolve its boundary disputes with Assam and Tripura, an official said Friday.

The five-member committee will be led by legal expert and former minister C. Chawngkunga. "It will study the inter-state border disputes and make recommendations to the state government within three months," an official from Mizoram's land revenue and settlement department told reporters.

However, when contacted, a Tripura government official told IANS that they were not aware of any boundary dispute with Mizoram.

But the Mizoram official said the state boundary committee was constituted recently after the central government ignored the state's request to form a boundary commission to resolve the border disputes with other northeastern states.

Mizoram, a mountainous state, has a 123 km border with Assam, 66 km with Tripura and 96 km with Manipur, with which it has no dispute.

It also has an international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh.

The Meghalaya-Assam, Arunachal Pradesh-Assam and Mizoram-Assam boundary disputes occasionally create trouble between villagers, security forces and officials in these states.

Meghalaya was formed in January 1972 while Mizoram became a state in 1987. Both were once part of Assam.

Tripura and Manipur were sovereign princely states and became part of India in October 1949.

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Promise to post teachers end agitations in Mizoram

The Lal Thanhawla government has agreed to post more teachers to fill the gap in different schools in Mamit and Serchhip, ending four days of agitation in the two district capitals today.

Sources said following a meeting of Mamit headquarters Mizo Zirlai Pawl (students' association) and education department officials at Mamit on Tuesday night, the government agreed to post English teacher and general teacher in Government Mamit High School.

The government also promised to post teachers at Govt Mamit HSS, Government Mamit College and three primary and upper primary schools outside Mamit town to ease teachers' shortage.

"Even though the government has not met with our cent per cent demand, we have agreed to call off the agitations as the move solves the teachers' shortage to some extent," said Mamit MZP secretary Z D Lalremruata.

Meanwhile, the students of Serchhip HSS too called off their boycott of classes today after the government made arrangement for posting of history and mathematics teachers at the school.

READ MORE - Promise to post teachers end agitations in Mizoram

Ralte is CEO of Chandigarh Housing Board

CHANDIGARH: Rodney L Ralte has been given the charge of chief executive officer, Chandigarh Housing Board, relieving Rajesh Jogpal ( HCS). Jogpal will take over as director, Social Welfare, besides being managing director, SC, BC and Minorities Financial and Development Corporation and managing director, Child and Women Development Corporation, UT.

Tilak Raj (HCS), land acquisition officer, UT, has temporarily been given additional charge of chief general manager, Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Ltd vacated by Varsha Khangwal, who has been repatriated to Haryana. Yogesh Kumar, joint registrar, cooperative societies, has been repatriated to his parent state of Haryana and this post has temporarily been given to Balbir Singh, secretary, state transport authority.

READ MORE - Ralte is CEO of Chandigarh Housing Board

HIV cases decreasing in Mizoram

 HIV cases have declined during the past few years in Mizoram while the total detected since October 1990 till April this year was 6,905.

Stating this, Project Director of the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society Dr Eric Zomawia said today that 1,91,398 blood samples have been tested since October 1990 till April 2012 with the number of new cases decreasing each year.

He attributed the decrease in new HIV cases to the joint efforts by churches and the NGOs in cooperating with government agencies like the MSACS.

HIV infection among the pregnant woman in the state was 0.47 per cent during last year, according to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), he said.

Altogether 306 people with full-blown AIDS have died in the state since 1990.

READ MORE - HIV cases decreasing in Mizoram

Ten ADCs in NE states to get direct fund

Aizawl, Aug 6 : Ten autonomous district councils in four Northeastern states will get direct fund from the Planning Commission, an official in Mizoram's Lai ADC said.

Lai ADC's planning board vice chairman Hmunhre told reporters at Lawngtlai recently that the Planning Commission has endorsed the proposals submitted by a 23-member task force under the chairmanship of B K Chaturvedi set up by the Planning Commission.

"The autonomous district councils will submit their plans to the Planning Commission which will directly release the plan fund to the councils. This will come into effect from the 12th Plan," he said.

There are three ADCs each in Mizoram, Assam and Meghalaya and one in Tripura.

The ADCs have been seeking ways to get direct non-plan too, which however involves a long process at it requires Constitution amendment, he said.

READ MORE - Ten ADCs in NE states to get direct fund

President asks Mizoram to activate Chakma health centre

Aizawl : The president's secretariat has asked the Mizoram government to activate a primary health centre, constructed 20 years ago in Mizoram's Chakma tribal-inhabited region but non-operational since then, an NGO said Friday.
The action was taken in response to a memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee by the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF), an NGO looking after the Chakma tribals' welfare.
MCDF president Hemanta Larma said in a statement that the president's secretariat asked Mizoram Chief Secretary Vanhela Pachuau to take action to open the health centre at the earliest.
"The Mizoram government had constructed the 20-bedded primary health centre in 1992 at Borpansury village bordering Bangladesh in Mizoram's Chakma region, 200 km east of Aizawl. Since then it has been lying vacant."
"After lying abandoned for 20 years, the state government spent about Rs.1 crore to rebuild the only health centre in the area in 2010. Since then, no doctors or any other medical staffs have been posted in the centre and it is still lying in a state of disuse," Larma added.
MCDF general secretary Paritosh Chakma said: "Lack of healthcare is a cause of great difficulty, hardship and pain to the 12,000 tribals in the area. Several people die of preventable diseases every year."
"The poor health service is compounded by bad road connectivity, forcing people to take a 10-hour mountainous road journey to Aizawl to seek any medical help," he said.
The MCDF said they were forced to move the president after a series of letters, agitations and appeals to Mizoram government led to no positive response.

READ MORE - President asks Mizoram to activate Chakma health centre

30MW limit for Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 6 : The power situation in Mizoram is limping back to normal after yesterday's blackout.

C.L. Thangliana, chief engineer of the power and electricity department of Mizoram, told The Telegraph that power had been restored but with restrictions on withdrawal from the northeastern grid.

"The frequency has not been stabilised and because of that we cannot draw more power," he said.

The limit has been set at 30MW for peak-hour demand. This is expected to continue till further notice.

When the northeastern gird collapsed yesterday at 1.01 pm, the state was drawing 37MW of power. What made matters worse was that the network handling 10.5MW of power generated by the state also tripped at that crucial moment. This meant power supply to even essential services like the All India Radio station here was disrupted.

Normally, the peak-hour demand is restricted at 80MW, Thangliana said.

Mizoram, which is not yet self-sufficient in power generation, gets a major part of its electricity from the central share that permits drawing 82MW from the grid, he said.

"But there is always a shortfall of 25 per cent to 30 per cent," Thangliana said. He attributed the high shortfall to problems of generation at the various sources.

Mizoram's peak-hour demand is 107MW. The state's generates about 40MW. The shortfall is covered through load-shedding everyday. Consumers can help by learning to conserve energy.

Thangliana denied allegations that the power department's load-shedding favoured the cities and affected rural and suburbs more. "Whatever we have is judiciously shared by all consumers in rural and urban areas," he said.

Thangliana said more projects were in the pipeline for generating 2,332MW of power, which would make the state self-sufficient in power.

However, wrangling over the high cost of land compensations for submergence areas has resulted in the delay in implementing at least two projects. According to official documents, the state gets 26.14MW of power from 22 diesel power stations in different parts of the state and 8.25MW of power from micro/mini hydel power stations.

READ MORE - 30MW limit for Mizoram

Copter service in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug. 3 : After Meghalaya, it is the turn of the Congress government in Mizoram to commission a domestic helicopter service within its territory for six days a week from August 14 in collaboration with Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd.

The decision to introduce helicopter rides to nine towns in Mizoram from Aizawl was taken yesterday at a high-level meeting of senior officials in the Assembly building. It was presided over by chief minister Lalthanhawla.

According to the Mizoram government’s principal consultant of the civil aviation, Wing Commander (retd) Lalzawma, the inaugural flight in a copter having six seats will take off on August 14 from Thuampui helipad in Aizawl. The helicopter will take 30 minutes to land at Lunglei, the second biggest town in Mizoram in the state’s southern flank.

The road distance between Lunglei and Aizawl is 417km. The price of an air ticket will be Rs 1,500.

The towns chosen for the rides from Aizawl are Saiha, Lawngtlai, Champhai, Khawzawl, Lunglei, Kamalanagar, Hnathial, Serchip and Kolosib.

The longest ride (50 minutes) in this Dauphin type Pawan Hans helicopter will be between Aizawl and Saiha. The shortest duration (15 minutes) is between Aizawl and Kolosib.

Aizawl is connected by Air India flights from Calcutta, Guwahati and Imphal while a Jet Airways daily flight links it with Calcutta.

A Cessna Caravan flight between Imphal and Aizawl was terminated after the nine-seater small aircraft crashed in Mizoram’s lone airport at Lengpui, 40km from Aizawl, on May 4 last year after it overshot the tabletop runway and dived into a runway side ditch. All the nine passengers suffered injuries.

The regular departure from Aizawl by the Pawn Hans helicopter will be maintained from August 16, two days after its ceremonial inaugural flight between Aizawl and Lunglei, official sources added.

READ MORE - Copter service in Mizoram