Organised and spearheaded by the Youth Wing of Jampui Hill Mizo Convention (YW-MC), and supported by various civil society organisations, the people of Jampui Hill gathered in hundreds peacefully at the premises of Jampui Hill RD Block, Vanghmun, pressing their various demands relating to development issues of the region. A memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister was submitted through the Block Development Officer, Nabarun Chakraborty, who received it and forwarded to the Office of the Chief Minister through proper channel.
Development related demand highlighted in the peace rally included among others establishment of fire station in Jampui Hill, allocation of Aadhar cell in Jampui Hill RD Block, upgrading of Jampui PHC to Community Health Centre, addressing water crisis and establishment of greater Jampui water project, shifting of 33KV electric pole, immediate completion of package 4 of NH44A (Tlaksih to Thumlai), and solution to the current betelnut market crisis and transport hurdle.
The rally came in the wake of multifaceted crises faced by the locals, especially in relation to the last four points. Water is acutely scarce in the hills, with most village water projects remaining non-functional due to poor maintenance work by the concerned department. With regards to erratic electric power supply, the hill has been shut off of power supply five days duration prior to the day of the rally due to destruction caused by cyclone Midhili, which the locals believe, could have been avoided by installation of high tower line. The work on NH44A stretch from Tlaksih to Thumlai, connecting neighbouring Mizoram is going on at a snail’s pace, almost coming to a complete halt. The sale, market value and transportation of betelnut, the main cash crop of the hill, is also facing serious crisis, so much so that the leaders of Jampui Hill Farmers Union and the BAC Chairman, on the very day of the rally, has to rush to Patharkandi in neighbouring Assam trying to look for a solution.
Beside the points highlighted in the rally, other ongoing pressing demands that already reached the Office of the Chief Minister on previous deputations were change of Lushai to Mizo, introduction of Mizo language subject in Tripura University, inclusion of alternative English or Mizo subject in TET, upgrading of Jampui Class XII School to Degree College, and approval and implementation of Mizo (Lushai) Customary Laws.
