Mizoram to hike petrol and diesel price

Aizawl, June 23 : A Cabinet meeting, chaired by chief minister Lal Thanhawla in Aizawl yesterday decided to hike the price of petrol and diesel by 0.50 paisa per litre, and approved ‘The Mizoram Energy Conservation Fund Rules, 2010”, “Amendment of Mizoram Air & Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules and decided to raise duty allowance of Mizoram Home Guard Volunteers.

Stating the reason for hiking petrol and diesel price, the chief minister said that as the state government had spent Rs. 4046 lakhs for buying rice so in order to stabilise the financial condition of the state it had to hike the prices of petrol and diesel.

Mizoram also have very less rice quota unlike previous months. The state government had to buy rice through economic cost from the centre monthly incurring a loss of Rs. 1190 per quintal. This is the fact that while Mizoram buys rice from outside at Rs. 2137 per quintal, the state government had sold rice at Rs. 950 per quintal. As per statistic from Agriculture department, Mizoram had 29,646 metric tons of rice during 2006-2007, 15,688 metric tons during 2007-08 and 68,917 metric tons during 2008-09.

On the other fronts, the Cabinet meeting gave nod to a one-time relaxation for one year in the recruitment rules for selection of Science, Mathematics and English subject teachers and also decided to relocate Sainik School and its related matters from the Home Department to the School Education Department. The Cabinet meeting also approved in principle the Sixth Pay Commission Report, and agreed to implement it at the earliest, after making necessary revisions as per the suggestions of the Employees’ Federation. The Cabinet meeting then approved in principle to implement the “Scheme of Revision of Pay of Teachers and Equivalent Cadres in Universities & Colleges on the Recommendation of the Sixth Central Pay Commission”, and re-arrangement of various posts among different Departments in the Secretariat.

A decision on proposed New Land Usable Policy (NLUP) Grant-in-aid Rules, 2010 (Grant-in-aid to Executing Agencies and Individual from NLUP Board and Grant-in-aid to NLUP Board from the Government) has been postponed for reconsideration in future meetings.

R.Lalzirliana inaugurates HSS lecturers training

Aizawl: Home Minister R.Lalzirliana,here today graced an inaugural function for 'Training of HSS Lecturers on Scheme of Examination & Question Setting Technique' held at MBSE's Conference Hall as a Chief Guest.

Addressing the trainees, Home Minister highlighted that development and security of a country deeply depended upon the quality of education prevailed therein. It was a high time for each and every lecturer to have self introspection in order to gauge whether parents have absolute faith in them to look after their wards. Minister wondered why enrolment at private schools was always higher than that of government schools in spite of their exorbitant rate of admission and monthly fees. This pro-private schools- attitude deeply ingrained in the minds of parents today itself is a clarion call for teachers/lecturers to have self introspections and find out what went wrong in its entirety. Minister exhorted trainees to measure up to their great sobriquet 'Builder of the Nation' by giving their hearts and souls to their teaching job.


Minister further stressed that making a man humane and good citizen, rather than academic excellence alone is the ultimate aim of education, and urged the trainees to keep these facts in mind always. "In order to set standard and comprehensive questions teachers need to know their text books, syllabi and courses thoroughly, otherwise irrelevant and half-baked questions not only put culprit teachers ashamed but also tarnished the image of their schools and became a sore thumb to Board," added the Minister.

Director MBSE,Laldawngliana presided over the inaugural function which was also attended by Director(Acd) MBSE, R.Vanramchhunga, some MBSE officers . and 75 Lectures from 8 Districts.

Mizoram Minister Chakma inaugurates training on school safety

Aizawl: Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Shri Nihar Kanti Chakma inaugurated today a 'Training on School Safety" at Central YMA Hall.

The Minister addressed the participants and said that Mizoram is fortunate for not coming across grave disasters, yet it is very necessary to be prepared in advance. Disaster Management committees were set up at state, district, block and village levels and trainings had been conducted every year. The Minister expressed that school safety training is very essential to ensure the safety of students in case of possible natural calamities. He inaugurated the training with wishes of success to the teachers attending the training.

The inaugural function was presided over by Rohmingliana Secretary, DM & R. Dominic Lalhmangaiha State Project Officer, GoI - UNDP DRR Program gave the keynote address and Dr. Lalrokima Chenkual Head Faculty, DMC, ATI explained the objectives of the Course. The training is to be held on 16 - 18 June, 2010.

1,000 Mizo families shun census fearing devil’s wrath

The fear of the Beast or the Devil in the Christian-dominated state of Mizoram has caused almost 1,000 families to refuse to enroll their names in the National Population Register (NPR) taken up along with the Census 2011 in Aizawl from May 15.


The dread stems from Chapter 13 Verse 17 of the Book of Revelations in the Bible which says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his name.”

The problem has stemmed from the Unique Identification Authority of India stipulating that no one could buy or sell property without the Unique ID card. According to adherents of the belief, since buying or selling of property made one a follower of the Beast, one having the UID card, which authorised property transactions, automatically made one a follower of the Devil.

Those refusing to be enumerated belong to the Mizoram Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church of Mizoram.

Champhai District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said when he summoned Lalzawna the leader and high priest of a sect, he was told that his religious belief would not permit him to register his name and he was ready to face any punishment. Serchhip Deputy Commissioner said that adherents of the belief claimed they had the religious freedom to disobey the government and were not afraid of punitive action.

“They are not afraid of being prosecuted for their beliefs as they are more afraid of being identified with the Devil,” one enumerator said.

The Presbyterian Church Synod, the highest decision making body of the largest Church in the state on June 13 issued a message to all members asking them to cooperate with census officials as it was the duty of every citizen to do so. 

  Trouble with numbers 

Reports of district magistrates state that 939 families have refused to registered in the NPR

In Aizawl district, 483 families have refused to register in the census, including 132 from Aizawl city and 158 families in Champhai

In Serchhip district, 135 families refused to be enumerated

Over 130 families from Lawngtlai and 33 families from Kolasib district have refused register themselves in the 2011 Census

Impressive Progress of Integrated Watershed Management Programme in Mizoram

The Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) in Mizoram has been impressive with the coverage extending over 433803 hectares of land. Out of the 52 sanctioned projects spread over eight districts 51 projects are operational at present. During the current financial year 2010-11 Rs. 4.41 crore has been released as Central share so far. During 2009-10 a total of Rs. 5.057 crore were released for the sanctioned projects16 projects were under which a total of 62435 ha of land was covered. Since 1995-96 Centre has released Rs.155.45 crore under the scheme..

The main objectives of the IWMP are to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water. The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table. This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area. In addition, the Scheme of Technology Development, Extension and Training (TDET) is also being implemented to promote development of cost effective and proven technologies to support watershed management.

DoNER Ministry Approves Sainik School in Mizoram

The Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) has approved in principle, the construction of a Sainik School at a total cost of Rs. 82.89 crores at Chhingchhip in Serchhip district of Mizoram. The Minister of Mines & DoNER, Shri Bijoy Krishna Handique conveyed this to the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri Lalthanhawla, in a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. Shri Lalthanhawla expressed satisfaction and said that the approving of the Sainik School was timely and in line with the recent development plans for the education sector in Mizoram. The project was retained under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) of the Ministry of DoNER during the Financial Year 2010-11.

Shri Handique said that the Ministry of Defence has conveyed its willingness to start the Sainik School upon completion of the construction of buildings. The Chief Minister of Mizoram hoped that the construction of buildings would be completed by 2014.

One day consultation on mental health

Aizawl: Mr. Lal Thanzara, Parliamentary Secretary has innaugurated 'One day Consultation & Two days Workshop on Mental Health( Depression and Suicide) at I&PR Conference Hall, today. Noted Psychiatrists, NGO's and Church leaders participated in this consultation which is jointly organised by Volunteers for Community Mental Health(VOLCOMH), Mizoram and SAARTHAK, New Delhi.

Parliamentary Secretary pointed out that much emphasis being given on spiritual and physical health while mental health is being neglected at one's own peril. He lamented at the loss of many youths with a prospect of bright future due to suicide acts. That lack of awareness on mental health and apathy towards mental illness were the main causes of increasing suicide acts in Mizoram, he stated. He had also lauded the commendable efforts of VOLCOMH and vital contributions made by sympathetic people in News papers even as he conveyed government's assurance and co-operation on such kind of goodwill missions and noble acts.



Dr.John M Ralte has also equated the importance of Body, Mind and Soul by saying that there can be no soul and body that is healthy with a mind that is unhealthy and sick. He explained that out of 100 people with unsound minds 10% are mentally ill while the rest are people suffering from mental problems.In his views, it was foolish of people with mental problems to avoid Psychiatrist when he/she had no problem of visiting a Physician when physically sick.

'Suicide and Depression' were the main theme of this consultation in which Dr.C.Lalhrekima, Dr.John M. Ralte and their colleagues of noted Psychiatrists in the city were the panel of experts. The consultation which kicked off today will be followed by seminar on the same topic at Central YMA Hall, Aizawl, tomorrow. People suffering from mentally related problems are welcomed to approach VOLCOMH at their Counseling Center and Drop-in-Centre at Central YMA Building,MG Road, Aizawl.