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Area : 21,081 sq km
Population : 891,058
Capital : Aizawl
Principal Languages : Mizo and English
Mizoram is a mountainous
region, which became the 23rd state of the
Indian Union in February 1987. It was one of the
districts of Assam till 1972 when it became a
Union Territory. After being annexed by the
British in 1891, for the first few years, Lushai
Hills in the north remained under Assam, while
the southern half remained under Bengal. Both
these parts were amalgamated in 1898 into one
district called Lushai Hills District
under the Chief Commissioner of Assam. With the
implementation of the North-Eastern
Reorganisation Act in 1972, Mizoram became a
Union Territory and as a sequel to the signing
of the historic memorandum of settlement between
the Government of India and the Mizo National
Front in 1986, it was granted statehood on 20
February, 1987. Sandwiched between Myanmar in
the east and the south, and Bangladesh in the
west, Mizoram occupies an area of great
strategic importance in the north-eastern corner
of India. Mizoram has great natural beauty and
an endless variety of landscape. It is rich in
fauna and flora.
The origin of the word ‘Mizo’ is not known.
The Mizos came under the influence of the
British Missionaries in the 19th Century. Now
most of the Mizos are Christians. Mizo language
has no script of its own. The missionaries
introduced the Roman script for the Mizo
language and formal education. Literacy in the
state has grown rapidly, and Mizoram literacy at
88.8 per cent today, is the second highest in
the country. The state government is striving
hard to attain the top position in the near
future.
About
80 per cent of the people of Mizoram are engaged
in agricultural pursuits. The main pattern of
agriculture followed is Jhum or Shifting
cultivation. Of the total 21 lakh ha. of land
estimated, 6.30 lakh hectares of land is
available for cultivation of horticulture crops.
The existing area under different horticulture
crops account for about 4127.6 hectares, which
is only 6.55 per cent of the estimated potential
area. This indicates the vast scope for
horticulture crops to flourish in Mizoram. The
main horticulture crops are fruit crops viz.
Mandarin Orange, Banana, Passion Fruit, Grapes,
Hatkora, Pineapple, Papaya, etc., and flowers
like Anthurium, Bird of Paradise, Orchid,
Chrysanthemum, Rose and other subsidiary
seasonal flowers. Spices like Ginger, Turmeric,
Black Pepper and Bird’s eye Chillies are also
grown. People have also started extensive
cultivation of oilpalm, medicinal and aromatic
plants.
The ultimate
surface irrigation potential is estimated at
70,000 hectares of which 45,000 hectares is
under flow and 25,000 hectares by construction
and completing 70 pucca minor irrigation
projects and six lift irrigation projects for
raising double and triple crops in a year.
The
entire Mizoram is a Notified Backward Area and
was categorised under ‘No Industry District’ in
mid seventies. With the announcement of State
Industrial Policy 1989, few modern small-scale
industries have come up during the past decade.
To further accelerate growth of industries, a
New Industrial Policy of Mizoram was announced
in the year 2000. The Policy identified thrust
areas like Electronics and Information
Technology, Bamboo and Timber based products,
Food and Fruit Processing, Textiles, Handloom
and Handicrafts, etc.
In order to attract investment from outside
the state, the Policy permits joint venture for
all large, medium and small scale industries
with local partners. Infrastructural development
like Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) at
Luangmual, Aizawl, Export Promotion Industrial
Park (EPIP) at Lengte, Integrated
Infrastructural Development Centre (IIDC) at
Pukpui, Lunglei and Food Park at Chhingchhip are
nearing completion, apart from upgradation of
the existing industrial estates.
Scientific cultivation of Tea has also been
taken up. Establishment of Apparel Training and
Design Centre, Gems cutting and polishing are in
the pipeline to encourage setting up of Export
Oriented Units (EOUs). Of the cottage
industries, Handloom and Handicrafts are given
high priority and the two sectors are
flourishing to meet consumers demand in the
state and in the neighbouring states of
Meghalaya, Nagaland, etc.
With the opening up of border trade with
Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the ‘Look East
Policy’ of the Government of India coupled by
peaceful condition of the state, Mizoram will no
more be a remote corner state of the country,
and as a result of which industrialisation will
substantially gain momentum in the near
future.
Construction of
Tuirial HEP (60 MW) is in progress. Survey and
investigation works of Kolodyne HEP (500 MW) is
completed by CWC. This project provides inland
water transport facilities for the region
besides generating 500 MW of power and the
Government of Mizoram has given paramount
importance to it. 3 MW capacity Tuipanglui and
Kau-Tlabung SHPs were commissioned recently thus
enhancing the state’s hydro generation by 15 MW
capacity. Works on Maicham-II (3MW), Serlui ‘B’
(12MW) and Lamsial (0.5 MW) SHPs are in progress
and expected to be commissioned during 2007.
Total
road length in the state is 5,982.25 km (BRO
& State PWD). Rail link in the state has
been established at Bairabi. Aizawl is connected
by air. In order to have a better connectivity,
the Government has undertaken the Mizoram State
Roads Projects with a total cost of Rs 350 crore
under funds provided by the World Bank.
Connectivity under PMGSY covering a total length
of 2,421 km connecting 384 villages of Mizoram
is making steady progress.
Mizoram
is basically an agriculture-based state. All the
activities of Mizos centre around Jhum
cultivation, and their festivals are linked with
such agricultural operations. Kut is the Mizo
word for festival. Mizos have three major
festivals called Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl
Kut.
Aizawl is located at nearly 4,000 ft
above sea level, and is a religious and cultural
centre of Mizoram. Champhai is a beautiful
resort on the Myanmar border. Tam Dil, a natural
lake with virgin forests, is 60 km from Aizawl
and 10 km from Tourist Resort of Saitual.
Vantawng Falls, 5 km from hill station Thenzawl,
are the highest and most beautiful waterfalls in
Mizoram. The Department of Tourism has opened
Tourist Lodges at Aizawl, Lunglei, Champhai,
Saiha, Lawngtlai and wayside restaurants at
Thingdawl, Hnahthial, Kawlkulh, recreational
centre at Beraw Tlang and Alpine Picnic Hut at
District Park near Zobawk.
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