AIZAWL: The year 2017 began in
Mizoram with the mercury dropping to 3.2 degree Celsius and January 12 being the coldest ever in the history of the state. There were, however, plenty of new highs with
Aizawl FC's scintillating run in the 2016/17
I-League season that stole the nation's attention.
On 30 April 2017,
Aizawl FC became the first club of the northeast to win the country's top football league. The Mizo club, consisting mostly of homegrown players, accomplished yet another humongous feat as they maintained an unbeaten record at home from April 2016 to December 2017, for a staggering 616 days.
Two most important events of the year were President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the state. Kovind, on his maiden visit, addressed the state legislature on November 30, becoming the second Indian president to address the Mizoram assembly after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited on December 16 to inaugurate the 60-megawatt Tuirial Hydro Electric Project at the Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl.
Launching the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), the PM said the Centre will provide Rs 5300 crore to the northeastern states under the scheme over the next three years.
However, the Bru refugee crisis continued to haunt the state, with the government's proposed repatriation of over 32,000 refugees, lodged in six relief camps of North Tripura district, unable to begin. The Brus had fled to Mizoram in a mass exodus in 1997 following communal tension triggered by the murder of a forest official by Bru militants on October 21, 1997. The state government officials identified 32,857 refugees from 5,413 families as bona fide residents of Mizoram. The increase in number from the previous count of 21,000 became one of the main reasons why repatriation could not begin as planned from November 30 last year.
The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), in a memorandum submitted to Union home minister Rajnath Singh on January 9, made a series of new demands including Rs 15 lakh for each repatriated Bru family and jobs for all the able-bodied youth. The Supreme Court, however, put on hold the proposed repatriation keeping the fate of the refugees undecided. Another proposal by the ministry of home affairs to initiate the repatriation process from December also failed as the Centre was yet to sanction funds according to the revised estimate amounting to around Rs 123 crore.
While the state government made fresh proposals for commencement of repatriation from first week of March next year, the state home department officials pointed out that the actual implementation of the process would solely depend upon availability of funds from the Centre. However, preparations have been undertaken by the state government and district administrations at the Mizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura border in Mamit district, Kolasib district on the Assam border and Lunglei district on the Bangladesh border to begin the process by March next year.
Natural disasters also played havoc and claimed many lives throughout the year. At least 13 people died and 11others were injured in landslides, mudslides and flood after an unprecedented spell of heavy rainfall — the highest recorded in the last 40 years — in the state during monsoon this year. The state disaster management and rehabilitation department said 5,434 houses were destroyed, 172 domestic animals killed and 10,627 hectares of paddy and vegetable cultivation areas devastated by the heavy downpour.
Resumption of peace talks with the Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention (Democratic) faction led by H. Zosangbera on April 28 was a positive step this year. HPC (D) continued its demands for a separate autonomous district council for the Hmar community under the sixth schedule of the Constitution by carving out the area adjoining Manipur.
Such demands were rejected outright by the state and the talks were also delayed as the government tried to rein in another HPC (D) faction led by Lalhmingthanga Sanate.
When the next round of talks between the state government and HPC (D) resumed on September 21and 22, the framework agreement which was sent to the government for final approval could not be finalized. However, a memorandum of settlement was signed which is expected to give more political and financial autonomy to the Sinlung Hills Development Council which might be re-named as Sinlung Hills Council.
The alleged gang-rape of a woman and murder of her friend on July 16 by two Border Security Force (BSF) constables deployed in Silsury village at Mizoram-Bangladesh border created quite a furore across the state. The BSF constables were eventually arrested on September 5.
The state government distributed Rs 30 lakh to the families who lost their animals in the outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome which killed around 5,000 pigs last year.
Though there were no signs of the PRRS this year, swine fever killed over 200 pigs during June and July in 2017.
With Mizoram going to polls in February next year, the year has been has an interesting one on the political front with parties being born and new alliances being forged.
Zoram Exodus Movement formed by retired priests, government officials and senior journalists was successful in forming an alliance with the Zoram Nationalist Party and Mizoram People's Conference under the banner of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). An anti-corruption watchdog called People's Right to Information and Development Implementation Society of Mizoram (PRISM) was also converted into a political party, calling itself People's Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram. The Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), an ally of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), merged with the BJP on October 25 along with its two district council members in the Mara Autonomous District Council.
After repeated warnings from the Centre, strict vigil was maintained along the international border in the state to prevent the entry of the Rohingya refugees. Around 1,600 Rohingyas, mainly women and children, took shelter in Laitlang, Zochachhuah, Hmawngbuchhuah and Dumzautlang in Lawngtlai district during their fourth phase of exodus.
The district administration provided relief camps, health facilities and food to the displaced people while local people and NGOs also extended an helping hand. At the fag end of the year, all troubles and political upheavals were briefly forgotten with the onset of Christmas as the Yuletide spirit swept across the state with people soaking in the festive spirit.
