A festival to showcase the success of the Mizoram government’s flagship economic programme – New Land Use Policy will be held in Aizawl from March 6-9. Talking to mediapersons on Monday, Lal Thanzara, Information & Public Relations minister said the economic growth Mizoram has witnessed is the direct result of our government’s NLUP and that farmers across the state have benefitted from the policy to great extent.
Started in 2011, the chief aim of the NLUP is to develop and give all farmers in the state suitable, permanent and stable trades. The policy also aims at to give all the village farmers self sufficiency in rice, vegetables and give them help in money with necessary guidance.
The major aim of NLUP is creating a new Mizoram through socio-economic transformation development and to wean away farmers from jhum cultivation to adopt sustainable on farm and off farm economic activities.
“To get back on their own economic track is almost impossible for the poorer section of the population of Mizoram, they don’t have the capital to start afresh, as per their selected trades, the NLUP has doled out rupees one lakh on installment basis, it is heart touching to see poor farmers getting back on track,” Lal Thanzara said.
The successful farmers and other beneficiaries of the policy will showcase their products and success stories will be told at the festival. The media cell of the NLUP will stage documentary films and photo exhibition will be held at the venue.
According to New Land Use Policy Implementing Board chairman, PL Thanga, the per capita income of Mizoram has risen since NLUP came into being. “If I am not mistaken Mizoram could be the highest achiever in per capita income when the new statistics come out. In 2011 per capita income was Rs 57,654 and the latest graph showed that Mizoram has Rs 1,14,524 on 2015, the projected per capita income for the current fiscal is Rs 1,25,107,” PL Thanga said.