Mizoram wants decent school dress code

AIZAWL, Feb 2: Trendy Mizoram has had enough of teen skin show. And for a change, the call for a decent dress code in educational institutions isn't meant for girls only. Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the northeastern State's potent students' body, has formally asked the government to fix a design code for schools and colleges across Mizoram. The idea is to discourage girls from wearing leg-baring mini skirts and boys from donning underwear-exposing low-waist pants.
"Skin-showing dresses made fashionable by rappers and rock stars find their way to Mizoram almost instantly. Even school children catch on to atrocious styles, going to the extent of tweaking their uniforms," MZP president VL Krosshnehzova said. "We have submitted a formal request to School Education Minister Lalsawta seeking the government's help in fixing a design code for uniforms in educational institutes across Mizoram," he added.
Lalsawta, who left for New Delhi, could not be contacted. The church in predominantly Christian Mizoram feels MZP has a point. "Fashion may be a way of expressing oneself, but traditional values of modesty should also be upheld. We are happy the students themselves have realized this," said Stephen Rotluanga, Bishop of Aizawl Diocese.
Other priests hole the dress code would also have a positive impact on the "cult madness" in Mizoram. The State has at least 95 Christian cults, some espousing polygamy, others idolizing Satan and others specializing in grave digging and conducting "pagan rites" with skulls. (Agencies)

Mizoram's plea to banks, NGOs for State development

AIZAWL, Feb 2: Mizoram's Agriculture Minister H Liansailova today called for an active involvement of banks and NGOs for the effective implementation of the North Eastern Region Vision,2020. He was addressing an inaugural function of the State Credit Seminar, 2010-11, organized by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Mizoram regional office, at the State guest house here. Liansailova emphasised on the need for government departments, banks, financial institution as well as different societies and NGOs to work together in close co-operation for socio-economic development of the State. For successful implementation of the State government's flagship programme, the New Land Use Policy, Liansailova urged banks and various financial institutions in the State to extend their support and stressed the need for strengthening marketing support and improvement of banking habits among people of Mizoram. He also mentioned the State Government's intention to follow priority areas identified in the NER Vision, 2020 for development of the northeast region and take up horticulture, sericulture, medicinal plants, fisheries and other activies in which the efforts of line departments, banks and farmers need to be synergised for effective implementation. "In all these developmental efforts, active involvement of banks, government departments and NGOs to work in close coordination is crucial for adequate and timely flow of credit in rural areas," he said. Micro finance and financial inclusion should be implemented with all dedication to improve the outreach and banking facilities made available in rural areas, he said and emphasised on the need to provide farmers training for various farmers' clubs and technology transfer in the rural areas. NABARD General Manager PC Sahoo informed participants that the State focus paper 2010-11 has made a projection for institutional credit support of Rs 306.68 crore for Mizoram with an increase of about 30 per cent from the previous year. He indicated that the projection for agriculture and allied activities is Rs 65.26 crore and Rs 46.49 crore for non-farm sector. (UNI)