mi(sual).com

Ever wonder why development is so slow and barely visible in Mizoram? I am sure we all do. Blame it on politicians and corruption which is nothing new. Apart from that, here are good examples of why Mizoram isn’t there yet.

It’s the 10th year of MCGN (MIZO CHRISTIAN GLOBAL NETWORK), a non-profit and non-denominational Christian organization. The organization, founded by Dr. Lalliana Mualchin has members across the globe.

Via Mumbai Mizo website, I came across a write up on 10 years of MCGN (1996 - 2006). The report has a section “SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES” which outlines MCGN efforts to help Mizoram in Hydro electricity, Information Technology, Printing etc. and the disappointing assistance ,response from other Mizos and Mizoram Goverment. Former Chief Minister Lalthanhawla, Lalthlamuana( Principal Informatics Officer ICT Cell), David M. Thangliana (which I quess is the famous Newslink Editor) are some of the names appearing in the report.

That section of the report in verbatim:

SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES

1. Hydro Projects: Dr. Rochunga Pudaite, President of Bibles for the World brought the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Speaker, Pu Rokamlova to request Liana to help them introduce Hydro Projects in Mizoram. Liana found a local engineer, Mr. Joe Keating. Joe contacted his friend and US-AID manager in Delhi, Mr. Ron Sommer. Liana called Mizoram Power Minister, C. L. Ruala. Pu Ruala flew to Delhi and then Ron accompanied him to Aizawl. For the start of and funding of Hydro Projects, Ron gave specific instruction. Evidently, Chief Minister of Mizoram, Pu Lalthanhawla and Pu Ruala did not follow Ron’s instructions. Mizoram was not open and did not get US help. Under the circumstances, Ron had to move on and got a huge power project for a state in southern India. The American friends said that Mizoram is not ready.

2. Ginger and Passion-fruit Juice Export to Japan:Liana met the International Marketing executive of Santory company of Japan while he was a Visiting Professor of Kyoto University. They wanted Mizoram products expecting that they will do an honest job in sending the raw materials without mixing with soil and rocks. Santory was impressed with ginger samples and passion fruit juice Liana took to Japan and wanted to work with Mizoram. Unfortunately, interested people in Mizoram could not follow instructions to start the business and did not send required samples. Japanese politely said Mizoram is not ready.

3. Planting and Processing Konya-ku for Export to Japan:Santori was also interested to work with Mizoram in planting and eventually processing Konya-ku, a famous Japanese health food. Liana brought Konya-ku sample from Japan and it was sucessfully grown in Mizoram. Mizo people call the plant a kind of “tel-hawng” which can grow easily all over Mizoram. Again, Mizo people did not take the offer.

4. Another Hydro Project Opportunity:A good Christian from Northern California offered a new stainless-steel penstoke for hydro-power plant in Mizoram. He was willing to pay for its cleaning and shipping it to Calcutta port. However, no one from Mizoram can give us technical specifications of the hydro plant as needed by the generous man. Again, Mizoram was not ready for this project.

5. Radio Station:A Christian group in Canada was willing to make a suitcase-size Radio Station for Mizoram at a very low cost but they needed photos or topographic information of the land around the station for proper design of the transmitter. We also need someone to work with Government for getting a radio station license. We could not get the needed photos or information nor a person willing to work for the license from Mizo people. Thus, nothing can move forward.

6. Information Technology Jobs for Mizoram:In 1998, John Thanglura Darlong introduced us to Lalthlamuana (Muana) and we committed to work on Information Technology with him. Muana was an IT staff with Central Govt. in Delhi. We wanted to start a software company to train unemployed Mizo engineers and get consulting work. Our motivation and desire was to find jobs for our many unemployed young people and learn business skills. We also met the owner of Olive Technology, Hyderabad and a Chinese American MBA, both fine Christians who wanted to help us. Muana was quite excited and we communicated heavily via ICQ. Our Chinese friend became suspicious of Muana and left us. We called our Mizo company, “Information Technology Consultant Services (P) Limited,” or INFOTECH. It so happened at that time that Mizoram P&E and PWD were interested to use electronic payroll and billing system. Muana went to Aizawl to bid for the contracts. His TV interview in Aizawl was the last we heard of him. Later, a concerned Mizo gave me a copy of an official document showing that he got those contracts with our company, using Olive Technology as a reference and was paid a huge sum of money. During my visit to Mizoram, I voiced my concerns of Muana’s character based on my personal experience to the then Chief Secretary, H.V. Lalringa and also to the Chief Minister. The state IT position was offered to Muana regardless. We were cheated by a Mizo who is now possibly responsible for IT matters for Mizoram.

7. Color Offset Publishing for Jobs and Quality Publications in Mizoram:In 1999, David M. Thangliana requested us to fund the publishing of a quality newspaper. Having had his own news publication, he proposed a bigger paper with a new color offset. Our desire was to publish quality materials and to generate more jobs for Mizoram. Any potential financial profit would only further the goal. We funded and David operated with miserable failure. He ruined a brand new offset in less than a year with a great loss to us, and hardly any to him. Thus, our effort to work on publishing was another casualty with gross mismanagement and cheating by another Mizo.

One wonders why it is so difficult to do things that are clearly needed for Mizoram as illustrated by the above opportunities and experiences. It seems that Mizos are expecting something without giving real efforts. Either they are not ready, as stated by American and Japanese friends, or immature in doing significant projects. From our experience we feel that the Mizo leaders do not impart the values of integrity, hard work and perseverance to society. On the contrary, getting easy money from government or outside sources, without any accountability, is too common for Mizos. High moral standards and honesty are badly needed to improve the society. Both church and political leaderships have the same problem in this respect. One way for healing from this problem or rather sickness is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.

For all the above opportunities, praise and honor belong to the Lord!

For full report: mcgn.org

News and Views by Joshua Lalrempuia: mumbaimizo.org

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