Mizoram women body celebrates 5 years of existence

Mizoram’s apex women body, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) celebrated its 50 years of existence (Golden Jubilee) amid fanfare across the state.The grand celebration held at Assam Rifles ground or Lammual in Aizawl was graced by home minister K. Sapdanga and health minister Lalrinpuii. Sapdanga lauded the organisation for its outstanding contribution to the Mizo society in the form of social work and community services. He said that the women body has been actively involved in giving care to infants in creche and anganwadi centres, awareness generation projects and family counselling on its own expense, the services which are not proper to be rendered by other civil society organisations or philanthropic organisation like Young Mizo Association (YMA) and Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or Elders’ association. The home minister, who was the chief guest on the occasion, asserted that the birth of several philanthropic organisations in the state are due to the work of the Christian missionaries, who set their foots in Mizoram in 1890s.

Citing that Mizo women are forerunner in moulding the Mizo society and families, Sapdanga said that government can’t be run without the participation of women especially in education or earning a living. The Mizo women have played a crucial role in the protection of Mizo society, he said. The home minister also urged members of MHIP to make massive efforts to ensure Mizoram as a suitable place to live in for future generations.Lalrinpuii, who graced the event as guest of honour, said that the status of Mizo women has significantly improved due to the steps taken by MHIP over the years. She said that enactment of Mizo Marriage, Divorce, and Inheritance of Property Act, 2014 and women reservation in some civic bodies also reflect women empowerment in the society.

Citing that the Mizoram society has been greatly affected by drugs and alcohold abuse and addiction of other intoxicants, the health minister urged the women folk to back the government and other NGOs in their fights against substance abuse and other anti-social elements. MHIP, one of the largest voluntary organisations in Mizoram,  was established on July 6, 1974 with Aizawl as its headquarters. The basic principles of the organisation is based  on philanthropic social work with no expectation of any return benefit.  It aims at creating a state of welfare in which every individual is cared for irrespective of Caste or Creed. However, since it being a women organization, most activities emphasis on upliftment of women and children.