Samaw.com

DoNER Minister Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar had said he was grieved to see the backwardness of the three autonomous district councils of Mara, Lai and Chakma in the southern part of the state and added that he was disturbed to learn that the minority population (Chakmas, Mara and Lais) in the southern part had been deprived of development funds.

The minister told mediapersons in Aizawl on February 13, 2008. UNI reported below:

Mr Aiyar said he was grieved to see the backwardness of the three autonomous district councils of Mara, Lai and Chakma in the southern part of the state and the fact that the entire rural Mizoram was still reeling under Mautam (bamboo flowering famine) and acute food shortage.

”Once we get the Sittewe (proposed sea port at Kaladan) going, southern Mizoram will get sufficient rice, coming from Myanmar and Bangladesh,” the minister assured.

Mr Aiyar also said he was disturbed to learn that the minority population (Chakmas, Mara and Lais) in the southern part had been deprived of development funds.

”It appears that only a very small proportion of funds have reached these people who constitute 15 per cent of the state’s population. I can now understand why the minorities are demanding Union Territory status. Mizoram should remain one, but it can remain united only when all the sections of the people feel that they are equally treated,” he affirmed.

He also advocated that double-cropping in the southern part would make the region self-sufficient.

Source: webindia123.com

So, this is how the DoNER minister saw the southern part of Mizoram state. According to the report that appears in Zawlbuk.net, he toured the project area by a helicopter and also paid a visit to certain villages in the area.