RTI awareness increasing in Mizoram:State Information Chief

Anurag

Aizawl, Oct 11: An increasing number of people in Mizoram have started using the Right to Information (RTI) Act since its enactment in October 2005. This is evident from the increase in RTI queries over the last five years.

"RTI applications increased from 476 in 2006-2007 to 1045 in 2011-2012, which was positive sign," Mizoram state information commissioner Lal M Dingliana said while inaugurating RTI week at Kolasib on Monday.

Since the RTI Act was implemented in Mizoram, we have witnessed significant progress in different fields. It has enabled the people to understand more about the government's functioning and the various schemes made for them, he said. It has shortened the wide gap between the people and the government.

Speaking at the function ,Kolasib DC Niharika Rai also said that the RTI was one of the most important rights enjoyed by the citizens of India.She advised the SPIOSs to provide answers to RTI queries without delay and emphasised that the RTI Act should give us sincerity and honesty in our works.

According to sources, different departments of the state government have received 3505 RTI queries since April 2006 till September 2012. Of these , 67 RTI applicants made appeals to the Mizoram state

information commission against non- furnishing of documents of the concerned departments.

There were 371 RTI applicants during 2007-08, which decrease to 177 in 2008-09. The RTI applications increased to 695 in 2009-10 and further to 1045 during 2011-2012. The RTI week will be observed across the state during this week.

News

Aizawl,Oct 3: In Mizoram the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is observed every year as the first day of cleanliness week. In Aizawl, the main function was held in Aizawl Municipal Council Office in Thuampui on Tuesday morning. Addressing the gathering, Aizawl Municipal Council Chairman, Mr. CT Zakhuma asked the people to continue cleanliness drive throughout the year. He also said, disposal of garbage and refuge materials by the Local Councils in Public Private Partnership Mode has proved successful. The Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nghaklianmawia also addressed the function and distributed 1 thousand rupees each to the Local Councils for launching cleanliness campaign in their respective localities. He also said, clean Govt. High Schools, localities and Hotels will be selected during observation of the week which will be ending on next Tuesday.

The function was presided over by the Executive Councilor, Mr. Lalzirliana. Penticostal Youth Dept.of UPC North East India also observed the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as Social Work Day. Members from difference localities started picking refused and waste materials from Sikulpuikawn, KhatlaKawn, Vaivakawn, Bawngkawn, Chanmari and Bethlehem and they met together at Millenium Center where the closing function was held. The Penticostal Youth also distributed milk and eggs to the patients and workers in Aizawl Civil Hospital. Similary PYD youths

also observed the day as Social Work Day in their respective villages.

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Aizawl, Oct 3: Chief Minister, Mr. LalThanhawlawill attend a Seminar on 'Good Governance' to be organised by Ethics Committee in Saikuti Hall on Wednesday.

In the first session, the Ethics Committee Chairman, Rev. C. Rosiama will present his papers on good governance. After the presentation there will be a short discussion on his paper. In the second session,

Rev. C Lalsangliana will present his papers on good governance which will be followed by discussion. Besides religious and NGO leaders, Govt. servants from the rank of UDC are going to attend the Seminar.

Truck crushes family of three on NH 54

Aizawl, Oct 1: A family of three-a husband, wife and their only son-died tragically in a road accident as they were travelling on a scooter on their way to their farm. The three were crushed to death by a truck fully loaded with bricks around 8:30 am between Kawnpui town and Bualpui on NH 54.

As the truck was found on the wrong side of the road it was presumed to be the fault of the driver. The truck drivers with his handyman fled from the scene along with all the vehicle’s documents and were nowhere to be seen at the site of the accident. The residents of the town have boiled in anger over the tragic incident.  The people of kawnpui this morning blocked the national highway for a few hours this morning; however they dispersed within a few hours. The police are trying their best to establish the identity of the owner of the truck which has Mizoram registration plates and that of the driver.

Locals ban taxi parking in South Aizawl neighbourhood

Locals ban taxi parking in South Aizawl  neighbourhood

Anurag

Aizawl, Sept 28:The volunteers of the local council and a local vigilante group enforced the order of Mission Veng local council’s and prohibited the parking of taxis in the taxi rank starting from 5 am on Thursday. This action made the Sikulpuikawn taxi stand devoid of taxis and passengers had to board the taxi outside the stand causing traffic congestion.

The cabbies have been accused of indulging in immoral behaviour in public like selling liquor,playing cards and occasionally engaged in drunken brawl.

“The taxi drivers did not pay heed to the local authorities’ repeated warnings, forcing us to issue the ban’’, said Francis Lalrammuana, secretary of Mission  Veng Council. The taxi drivers also allegedly charged higher fares compared to other taxi ranks and also often refused to take passengers to some destinations if those destinations were not favourable to the cabbies. The cabbies were also accused of parking beyond the stand limited by city traffic authorities.

Anthurium Festival Pictures

Helicopter service in Mizoram

Helicopter Service runs into teething problems

Anurag

Aizawl, Sept 27:The Helicopter service in Mizoram that was launched recently to ease the communication problem faced by the people of this hilly state is itself facing neglect of the authorities.

Mamit, which is one of the District headquarter has not got helipad till now. The Aviation wing is funded by Ministry of DoNER so that construction of helipad could be carried out in different parts of Mizoram. The Construction work in Thenzawl, Saitaul, Champhai and Mamit is expected to begin by November this year. Since there has been no proper chartered or hire of the helicopter yet, so limited service is provided to the commuters.Despite all these, tickets are full most regularly except the Copter service in Kolasib and Hnahthial.

Anthurium Festival 2012,Mizoram

  Stalls offering food, wine and much more…

Anthurium festival 2012 was held in Tourist Resort  Reiek from 20th  September to 22th September. The three day festival is organized annually by the the Tourism  Department in collaboration with the Horticulture Department with financial support of the Central government. It has a dual purpose- promoting the cultivation and marketing of the enthralling flower and attracting more tourists to the scenic beauties of Mizoram.

All together 32 stalls were put in this festival, with each stall offering different items to the visitors reaching there. Near the main entrance, the stall of State Bank of India was ready with   services like Internet Banking, Mobile Banking and rewarding loan offers. Peace Home, Durtlang,  which has  30 women volunteer at their centre were selling paper made products, decorative items and bed-sheets. Open Doors (NGO) which is funded by NABARD had a stall named “Quality Bag’s” ,selling purse and bags in different size and design  specially made by its members.

Aroma of traditional Mizo food  coming out of  “Hmar Bai” stall was so mouth-watering that most of the food-lovers were seen in and around the stall gratifying their taste-buds. Other  food stalls selling hotdogs, chowmein, momos and snacks were there for enthusiast of fast food. Tandoori stall was  also a centre of attraction. Despite the presence of   local beer and local red wine  stall,”Zawladi”( brand name of grape wine) prepared by Champhai Grape Grower Society was the most sought after product at the festival. One of the visitor, Hlima Pachuau, who had purchased three bottles of  “Zawladi” said, “You can get one bottle of grape wine in 140 bucks only in this festival  which is costly  if you purchase it anywhere else’’.

 Many  Horticulture products were on display for sale by the local  farmers.Local entrepreneurs were selling loom, cane and bamboo products like Ashtray, Bati stand, Coner Stand, Hats at their stall. Mizoram Rifle Association also had a stall and it was conducting Rifle Shooting Competition for which a special Shooting range was prepared. One stall was exclusively for the adventure lovers where one could try rope climbing and other adventurous sports. Festivals  like this, if organized frequently will surely make Mizoram, a hotspot of tourism.