iMizoram : i Mizoram

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

'No major business slated for Mizoram assembly's monsoon session'

Aizawl, July 18 :The two-day monsoon session of the Mizoram assembly scheduled to begin July 23 may probably not witness any significant business transaction, an official said Wednesday.

"There would be no significant business in the two-day session (July 23 and 24). Only some routine matters would come up before the house," an assembly official told reporters here.

The session called by Governor Vakkom Purushothaman is likely to be the last session of the present assembly, the official added.

The five-year term of the 40-member Mizoram assembly expires Dec 15 this year.

The Election Commission has already started preparations for the next assembly elections in the Congress-ruled state bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.

In the upcoming polls, the main fight will be between the Congress and the main opposition party Mizo National Front, which is supported by some regional parties.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Two-day monsoon session of Mizoram assembly

Aizawl: The Monsoon session of the Mizoram legislature, summoned by the state governor Vakkom Purushothaman, to commence from July 23 would be sitting for two days only.

The Business Advisory Committee of the assembly which met today under the chairmanship of the speaker R. Romawia decided that the legislature would hold the session on July 23 and 24.

No financial business like incorporation of the increase in the plan outlay in the annual budget would be taken up during the session, state finance department officials said, adding that budget matters were left to be taken up by the next assembly.

The state annual budget presented by finance minister H. Liansailova on March 15 last was based on the plan size of last fiscal as the Planning Commission was yet to allocate the state plan outlay for 2013-14 and Liansailova said that the increase in the plan size would be incorporated during the next session.

The coming monsoon session of the state assembly is most likely going to be the last session of the present assembly as the state assembly polls are likely to be held by this November end.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Mizoram on alert after seizure of 'party drug' methamphetamine

The anti-narcotics agency of Mizoram has alerted its units to look for party drug, methamphetamine especially in areas close to Myanmar. The move comes in the wake of the Forensic Science Lab in Aizawl confirming that the small reddish-orange pill, each marked 88, were party drug.

It was seized by narcotic officials from two middle-aged men from the outskirts of Aizawl. Both of them were from Tahan in Myanmar's north-western Sagaing Division and had in possession 135 grams of heroin too.

"We were not immediately sure what the pills were, but we suspected it was meth because of the huge amounts of pseudoephedrine we have been seizing over the past two years, which is a known meth precursor," said a senior official in the excise and narcotics department.

Another senior official said one of the peddlers revealed during interrogation that one meth pill is sold for Rs 150 in Tiau, a town in Myanmar close to the border, and is sold inside Mizoram for Rs 350 each.

Sources in the Young Mizo Association, a voluntary organisation, recently given a national award for supply-side reduction activities, said peddlers have only just begun flooding the streets with meth pills and sometimes give it for free to addicts as trial doses.

Mizoram MLA jailed on forgery charges

AIZAWL, July 15 – Mizoram Legislator RL Pianmawia who was accused of making a fake rubber stamp for withdrawing funds from the MLA Development funds has been sent to jail by a District Court. Pianmawia is also the deputy chief whip of the ruling Congress Legislature Party.

This is the first time that a legislator in the State has landed in jail, that too from the ruling party in the State.

Following the denial of anticipatory bail by the District and Sessions Judge, KL Liana yesterday, the Congress MLA representing Tuival constituency surrendered before the police this morning as per the court instructions. He was then produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court which sent him to Central Jail. The FIR against him was filed by K Laldinthara, Opposition Mizo National Front secretary Vigilance.

The MLA’s advocate will move a bail plea tomorrow, it is learnt. Special superintendent of Central Jail, Lalthankima Sailo told The Assam Tribune that Pianmawia was handed over to his care this afternoon.

Being a legislator, he is due for ‘Class I’ treatment which entitles him to a separate room, a TV, water filter and a new bed-roll including mattresses, etc. He has also been assigned a peon from among the convicts. Besides, he is allowed meals of his choice.

While, an MLA’s incarceration, even if for a night has given the law a face-up, Pianmawia has come out smelling sweeter than a rose in all this, as far as his people are concerned. According to his supporters and constituency people, ‘He got trapped in a silly case only because he went out of his way to help his people.”

“He did it for us actually,” is the refrain from the Young Mizo Association (YMA) North Serzawl village. As per documents, Pianmawia had earmarked the amount from the MLA funds of about Rs 1 lakh for the YMA, N Serzawl to repair a link road in that village. A YMA conference is soon to be held there. However, the dealing officials at the Aizawl District Deputy Commissioner’s office had knowingly or accidentally sanctioned the amount in the name of the Village Council (VC) of N Serzawl.

When the YMA came for the money sometime in April they could not withdraw it and after discussing the matter with the MLA decided to take a short cut by making a rubber stamp of the VC as it was “money sanctioned for them anyway.” But since the VC was not consulted on this they were surprised to see a signboard on the village road which said that the work was done by the VC.

“After this we hurried to Aizawl to find out how VC money had gone into other hands. But before we could file an FIR we were called by the MLA who explained that he had earmarked the money to the YMA for repairing the road and that the official order from the DC had inadvertently written VC instead in the hurry to get the money out for the project. We agreed that the matter need not be taken further, and gathered at the DC’s office. Then in the presence of the officials he burnt the fake stamp,” said the source. However, the N Serzawl VC being from the opposition MNF camp, the matter took a different turn when the MNF party vigilance secretary decided to file an FIR against the MLA.

HIV cases decline in Mizoram

AIZAWL, JULY 15 : HIV cases in Mizoram have declined considerably in the past few years. According to Mizoram health minister Lalrinliana Sailo, HIV cases in the state have declined during 2007-2011 as per ‘Technical Report India, HIV Estimates-2012, NACO" by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Report, thanks to the steps taken by Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS).

Sailo was saying this at a Governing Board meeting of MSACS at his office today attended by Health Secretary Esther Lalruatkimi, IRS, and MSACS Director Dr. Eric Zomawia besides representatives from YMA and Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP). The minister lauded the measures taken by MSACS in organising Red Ribbon Football Tournament and Red Ribbon Drama Competition to tackle the menace which is being plaguing lives of Mizo youths. Not only this, several NGOs and churches in Mizoram are also taking measures against the spread of HIV, the minister added.

Sailo also opined that in order to tackle this menace, there should be close collaboration between NGOs, government departments, churches and even media can play a great role in this regard. The meeting highlighted that as per Technical Report India, HIV Estimates-2012, NACO, HIV infection between age group 15-49 during 2011 was 0.74 percent in contrast to 0.79 per cent during 2007. The report also highlighted that the infection rate was 0.78, 0.76 per cent during 2009, 2010 which clearly shows that rate of HIV infection in Mizoram is on decline.

The meeting also accepted MSACS Action Plan for the period 2013-2014 which was approved by National AIDS Control Organization, Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. According to MSACS report during 2012-13 HIV test was conducted to 59088 (General 38560 and Pregnant Women 20528) of which 1142 (General 1022 and Pregnant Women 120) were tested positive. Till today, 6060 HIV patients have been given treatment from ART Centre. MSACS expressed happiness over churches and NGOs for their endeavour towards HIV patients.

Mizo Marriage Bill deliberated

AIZAWL, July 15 : Mizoram State Law Commission in its 18th meeting today discussed on the Mizo The Marriage Bill, The Inheritance Bill, 2013 and reviewed them.

The meeting was held under the leadership of its Chairman R.Lalrinawma, MLA at his Office Chamber here in Aizawl.

The meeting had a discussion and reviewed The Mizo Marriage Bill, 2013 and The Mizo Inheritance Bill, 2013, drafted by R.C.Thanga Draft and also on The Mizo Divorce Bill, 2013, drafted by Zahmingthanga Ralte, and has made necessary modifications.

The meeting proposed to hold seminar and consultation programmes for wider discussion over the Bills, after which, they shall be put up to the State Assembly.

Talking about the bills being reviewed Chairman, R.Lalrinawma, and MLA said such Bills are important for all the Mizo families.

This is especially for the improvement and upliftment of the condition of the Mizo women, he added.

Even the state government finds it crucial, the Chairman further said, and added that due to the need for utmost cautiousness the Bills cannot be brought forward earlier in time, but now it has been brought to its final stage which is thankful.

It is necessary that such crucial laws are had by the society, the Law Commission Chairman said.

The meeting was attended by R.Lalrinawma, MLA, Chairman besides Zahmingthanga Ralte, Member-Secretary, P Sing-thanga, Secretary, Law & Judicial Department, AK Rokhum, Additional Advocate General, RC Thanga, Special Public Prosecutor-cum-Government Advocate, Marli Vankung, Additional District & Session Judge, LH Lian-hrima, Advocate and Michael Zothankhuma, Sr.Advocate.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Laldenga’s death anniversary observed

AIZAWL, July 9 – Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) leaders today laid wreaths at the tomb of the late MNF supremo Laldenga at the Treasury Square here, on the occasion of his 23rd death anniversary.

Laldenga died on July 7, 1990 but his death anniversary fell on Sunday this year, so the party paid respects today.

Founder president of the erstwhile underground MNF, he declared Independence from the Indian Union in 1966 plunging Mizoram into disturbance for 20 years.

He signed the historic Mizo Accord with the Centre on June 30, 1986 after which Mizoram became one of the most peaceful States in the country till date.

He became Chief Minister of Mizoram in 1986 in the interim government with the present Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla as the Deputy CM.

Laldenga became the first CM after Mizoram attained full-fledged Statehood on February 20, 1987. His government was toppled after 19 months and he was found to be suffering from cancer while being the leader of the opposition. He died in London during treatment. He was was laid to rest on July 13, 1990.