Aizawl, Oct 24 : This year, the 68th Young Mizo Association's (YMA) General Conference was held at Khawbung town of Mizoram state from October 15 to 18, informed my old student and now a facebook friend Marema Chhakchhuak, along with posting the conference pictures. Khawbung is a small town along the Mizoram-Myanmar border and the venue of the conference.
Prior to the YMA conference this year, the construction of two approach roads to the pandal were taken up and completed. The pandal was erected at the Mini-Sports complex in the town through the Central YMA Office in Tuikhuahtlang.
As we know that Mizoram is a tiny state in the Lushai and Mizo hills of our country which still requires spread of education and good governance after it left path of insurgency to walk the path of peace consequent to the Mizoram Accord of 1986.
Present Mizo youth love music and since most of them are born after the two turbulent decades of violence and insurgency, they take peace for granted and express their desire for mainstreaming through education and employment.
Over the years, the YMA has acquired the status a strong social organization that discusses various cultural, environmental, educational and developmental issues. These matters are discussed as a part of conference agenda and various resolutions are passed during the conference.
During the conference, a resolution opposing the proposed construction of the Tipaimukh dam for a hydro-electricity project was passed.
According to the YMA, the construction of the dam would displace many Mizo people and submerge a large area of land and affect the ecology of this tiny state.
The YMA conference also called upon the state government to strictly enforce the Mizoram Revenue Act passed this year and crackdown on illegal settlements in the international border areas adjoining Myanmar.
The delegates of the YMA conference passed a resolution suggesting the government to create safety reserve forest areas to prevent depletion of water resources through afforestation drives and community participation.