Bru families repatriation to resume from Monday

The return of Bru people from two relief camps in North Tripura district to Mizoram would resume from Monday with 121 families deciding to go back this week, a senior Mizoram official said today.

State Home department Joint Secretary Lalbiakzama told PTI that all necessary arrangements have been made by the Mamit district administration on Mizoram-Tripura border to receive the 121 families at two facilitation camps - Kanhmun and Zomuantlang.

He said that those who were returning to Mizoram would be verified at the facilitation camps and once identified as bona fide residents, would be given Rs 5,500 per family as travel expenses.

"We have requested the Tripura government officials in Kanchanpur Sub-Division to help the Bru families hire vehicles," he said.

The Bru families had agreed to return to Mizoram on their own were from Naisingpara and Asapara relief camps, he said.

On arrival at the facilitation camps, the Bru families would be each given a certificate and Rs 80,000 as rehabilitation and resettlement package.

The Bru Coordination Committee headed by leaders like Elvis Chorkhy would coordinate and help the officials at the facilitation camps and also in their resettlement in the designated 15 villages, he added.

The Mizoram government and the Union Home Ministry opted for self-repatriation as many Bru leaders in the relief camps were opposed to the return process. Also the government had spent a huge amount of money in making arrangements for their return but only a few families decided to go back last year.

READ MORE - Bru families repatriation to resume from Monday

To give its infants 'their due', Mizoram attempts to change burial practices

High infant mortality was one of the reasons for the hasty burial of the young. (Picture for representation purpose)

In March 2008, when her second child died suddenly after midnight, five days short of being three months old, Lalrindiki Hmar had to bury him without any ceremony in a small, hurriedly dug grave just an hour later.

The following year, Lalrindiki went through the ordeal again when her two-month-old daughter Lalhmangaihzuali died. Like her elder brother, she was buried without ceremony in a cramped cemetery.
Lalrindiki's fourth child Priscilla died last year, aged three months and eight weeks. This time however, the infant was bid farewell in full ceremony as accorded to the dead in Mizo society. Mourning songs were sung and the whole community came together, to console the bereaved family through the night. Priscilla had attained this right to a proper burial only because she had survived for a week longer than three months. Her two siblings had not been that fortunate.

Of Lalrindiki's four children, only one—her eldest daughter— has survived. While two of them succumbed to unknown illnesses, her youngest, two-month-old Lalhmangaihzuali died of pneumonia.
"It was heartbreaking. The way they died and then the way we said goodbye, it wasn't normal," Lalrindiki said. "When we buried Priscilla with full ceremony, the hurt we felt was less. But her siblings…for the society they were just hlamzuih. But for us, they were human too." "Hlamzuih" is the Mizo term used to describe infants less than three months old. After their death, the hlamzuih are placed in small coffins and buried immediately without the usual customs that accompany the dead. The deceased infants, in many cases, don't even make it to cemeteries with families burying them quickly in their own yards.
In pre-Christian times, eggs were also placed in small vessels and buried alongside the deceased infants, in a belief that the eggs would guide the children to safety at the "mitthi khua", the village of the dead.
Spread out in tiny mountain-top villages divided into warring tribes, the Mizos were mostly subsistence farmers. For them, observing full mourning rituals meant losing many days of farming. It was only towards the end of the 19th century, when the British administration came in, that Christian missionaries developed the Mizo alphabet and introduced modern medicine. In pre-modern Mizo society, Mizo women, besides breast feeding, followed traditional child-rearing practices like chewing cooked rice and feeding it to infants. Infant mortality rates were high and it was only too convenient to bury the hlamzuih without full ceremony. But in August, community leaders gathered to do away with the practice and even the term. One of the reasons cited was the steady drop in Mizoram's infant mortality rate (IMR)—36 per 1,000 births in 2009 to 28 in 2012. While full mourning was not made mandatory, they agreed that "if the 25-odd hlamzuih deaths follow full funeral rituals, it is not likely to affect the community's functioning". The decision also reflects Mizo society's adoption of the United Nation contention that humans are human, from conception till death.
Eighty-one prominent citizens, leaders of various church denominations and members of voluntary organisations were at the meeting. One of the organisations present, the Young Mizo Association (YMA), plays an important role in Mizo society, coordinating all aspects of social life and dealing with death and burials.
Its units, present in Mizo villages, towns and cities, count all men and women above the age of 14 as members. The dead in Mizo society are given an elaborate farewell. In case of a death, YMA volunteers swing into action, informing communities via public announcement systems, sounding the mitthi dar (death gong), preparing the homes of bereaved family members to receive mourners, making tea, singing mourning songs, and digging graves and filling them up after funerals. (There are no undertakers in Mizoram.) Funerals are arranged for the same day, if the deaths occur before 9 am. Two nights of community mourning, song and sometimes, even dance follows.
Last Thursday, members of the YMA met in Aizawl and called for a complete re-examination of the traditions governing the burial of the dead. Laltlankima Khupchong, YMA volunteer from Lalrindiki's locality Chaltlang in Aizawl, said, "It is a good move. When four-month-old infants are buried with full ceremony, it is discriminatory to bury those just a month younger without any. What if one of our own died before they turned three months old? How would we feel?"

READ MORE - To give its infants 'their due', Mizoram attempts to change burial practices

Sonia launches food security scheme in poll-bound Mizoram

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today formally launched the Food Security Scheme at a public rally here for Mizoram and said it would cater to the needs of lakhs of poor people in the country.

The scheme would ensure that lakhs of malnourished and hungry people would now be able to avail food at an extremely low price in the country, Gandhi told the public rally.

The AICC President lauded the Lal Thanhawla led Congress government in the state for successfully running the administration in the past five years and urged the people to vote for the party in the ensuing assembly elections.

"Your concern would be pursued and your voices heard," she said.

She also laid the foundation of the Sainik School to be constructed at Chhingchhip village in Serchhip district and inaugurated the fourth phase of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state.

Meanwhile, young members of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) wore 'Pawndums' (black shawls) to register their protest alleging that central leaders visited the state only during election campaigns and not in trying times.

READ MORE - Sonia launches food security scheme in poll-bound Mizoram

Despite launch, food security scheme implementation to take time in Mizoram

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will officially launch the  food security scheme in Mizoram on September 20, but it would take some more time for its actual implementation, a state minister said today.

While visiting Aizawl on September 20, Gandhi would launch the Food Security Scheme to signify that it would be implemented in this Congress-ruled state, state's Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister H Rohluna said.

"(But) it is impossible to implement the Scheme immediately as there are a number of issues to be resolved before actual implementation," he said.

The minister expressed hope that a meeting convened by Union Food Minister K V Thomas in Delhi on October 4 would be crucial for settling unresolved issues on the scheme.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had earlier said the state government would make all efforts to implement the Scheme despite a plethora of problems, including financial, being faced by his government.

READ MORE - Despite launch, food security scheme implementation to take time in Mizoram

129 Reang families to be repatriared to Mizoram

Altogether 129 displaced Reang families, currently lodged in refugee camps in North Tripura district, will be repatriated on September 30, officials said today.

A meeting of Mizoram's District Collector (Mamit) V Lalremthanga and Additional District Magistrate (North) Ranjit Kar held on Tuesday at Damcherra in North Tripura gave a final go-ahead to the repatriation of the displaced families from Tripura.

Over 37,000 Reangs fled Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts of Mizoram in the wake of the Mizo-Reang conflict in 1997-98 and have been staying in six refugee camps for the past 16 years, official sources said.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF) has alleged they have not been informed anything about the repatriation process.

"It is very painful that we are kept in the dark on the whole episode," Bruno Msha, General Secretary of MBDPF, said.

READ MORE - 129 Reang families to be repatriared to Mizoram

Arunachal studying Mizoram's NLUP project

Aizawl: The Nabam Tuki government in Arunachal Pradesh is studying Mizoram Chief Minister's New Land Use Policy being implemented in Mizoram as it wants to implement NLUP like projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

An official statement on Tuesday said that Arunachal Pradesh State Land Use Board Director Joram Puppa was in Aizawl to study how the Mizoram government implemented the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the Congress government.

The statement said that Puppa met R. Selthuama, Chairman of the NLUP Implementing Board, officials of the NLUP Marketing Cell and line department on Monday.

Lal Thanhawla instructed the NLUP Implementing Board officials and all the other people involved in the implementation of the NLUP to extend all possible cooperation to Puppa.

Puppa said that the Arunachal Pradesh government wanted to implement the NLUP-like project called the Integrated Socio-Economic Programme' in that state and had approached the Planning Commission and the Central leaders for funding.

He asked the Mizoram government to enlighten him so that the Arunachal Pradesh government would smoothly implement the programme, the statement added.

READ MORE - Arunachal studying Mizoram's NLUP project

Repatriation of Brus will start from Sept 30: Mizo govt

Repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps of Tripura to Mizoram will begin from September 30, a state official said today.

In the first phase, 527 refugees, including 172 children, residing in Naisingpara and Asapara relief camps will be repatriated as they have already aired their willingness to return to Mizoram, Joint Secretary of Home Department said.

The refugees, belonging to 102 families, would arrange for their own transports from Tripura. The transportation expenses would be reimbursed by the Mizoram government at the rate of Rs 5,500 per family, he said.

After crossing over the Mizoram-Tripura border, the Bru families would be first lodged in facilitation camps from where they would be taken to the designated villages where they would settle.

Three facilitation camps would be established at New Eden, Kanhmun and Zomuantlang villages in Mamit district, he said, adding that in the camps it would be verified whether they were bona fide residents of Mizoram.

READ MORE - Repatriation of Brus will start from Sept 30: Mizo govt

Mizo cop body writes to CM for wage hike

Contending that they receive barely a fifth of the monthly allowances government nurses get, a body representing over 13,000 policemen, from constables to inspectors, in Mizoram directly petitioned the chief minister for a revision of wages and allowances, thus bypassing the chain of command.

The Mizoram Police Subordinate Officers' Association (MPSOA), in a letter to CM Lal Thanhawla, said their salary and allowances be revised. They said their earlier demand made in 2011 was rejected by the pay review committee.

A police inspector receives a basic salary of Rs 4,600 per month, and a constable Rs 1,900. The cops pointed out they receive just Rs 850 per month in allowances, while government nurses receive Rs 4,000 per month.

"Salaries of policemen have not been revised by the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th pay review committees and we request our demands be discussed in the next cabinet meeting," the letter said.

READ MORE - Mizo cop body writes to CM for wage hike

Arrangements to repatriate Bru refugees

Arrangements are being made to soon resume the repatriation of the Bru refugees from Tripura to Mizoram, Joint Secretary of Home Department, Lalbiakzama said today.

Members of the state-level Core Committee on Bru Repatriation will go to Mamit tomorrow and make arrangements for the immediate resumption of the repatriation of the Bru refugees, lodged in six relief camps in North Tripura district, Lalbiakzama said.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already made re-allocation for free ration to be distributed to the refugees after their return, he said.

READ MORE - Arrangements to repatriate Bru refugees

Murder case solved: Police

Police in Southern Mizoram's Lungle district today claimed to have solved the triple murder case at Tawipui North in which three members of a family, including an 11-year-old boy, were killed.

C. Lalramzauva (39), the younger son of one of the victims Lianngenmgi (76), confessed that he murdered his family members on Monday night.

Lalramzauva told the police that he committed the crime after his elder brother, Vanlalbela and their family members objected to his proposed marriage to his lover.

The family members objection was due to the fact that his girl friend was a divorcee, having three children and a drunkard, police said.

He further told the police that he used a small axe to commit the crime and the broken safe was to mislead the investigators as there was no money inside.

Three members of a family Lianngengi (76), her son Vanlalbela (50) and grandson Chhakchhuakthanga (11) were found dead in Tawipui North village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district on Tuesday morning

READ MORE - Murder case solved: Police

Pig virus returns to haunt Mizoram

By Adam Halliday
Aizawl, Sep 5 : A deadly pig virus, which first broke out in India earlier this year, has made a comeback in Mizoram. Almost 250 infected pigs have been culled in the past two months and more than 900 suspected samples are currently awaiting the tests, senior officials said.

The virus, which causes Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, is also known as blue-ear pig disease.

Earlier this year, it claimed the lives of more than 3,800 pigs in the state. Another 5,600 recovered during the epidemic.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome leads to failed pregnancies and respiratory illnesses in young pigs.

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome was first reported in the US in 1980s and caused an epidemic in China about five years ago.

It first hit Mizoram earlier this year, with the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health issuing a disease alert in June.

Experts from a central government veterinary laboratory in Meghalaya are expected to arrive next week to assist veterinarians in Mizoram, who were recently equipped to test for the virus.

Various districts have been directed by the Centre to extend the ban on pig imports from Myanmar, from where the virus is believed to have entered the country.

READ MORE - Pig virus returns to haunt Mizoram

Kidnapped 6-yr-old traced in Mizoram, teenager held

A teenager suspected of kidnapping a six-year-old girl was arrested in Kawnpui town on Monday. After the arrest the police had to control an angry villagers who protested the alleged abduction of the girl.

Vanrammawii had disappeared from her grandparents' house on Sunday as she played with the alleged kidnapper, who was reportedly a guest in a nearby house.

"The teenage girl was found near a quarry with the six-year-old girl. Both were safe. We have taken the kidnapper into custody but have so far not been able to interrogate her," said a policeman from Kolasib.

He added, "An angry mob from Kawnpui came in vehicles and we had to keep them away from the accused for the whole afternoon."

READ MORE - Kidnapped 6-yr-old traced in Mizoram, teenager held