In Mizoram, it is a battle over local beneficiary schemes of the past, present, and future

In Mizoram, The ruling Mizo National Front’s policy entailing ₹3 lakh for each beneficiary of the Socio-Economic Development Policy has come under attack from the Congress and the BJP. State Congress president Lalsawta trashed the MNF claim, saying “They gave only ₹25,000 and only a few party workers got the money, not the farmers and skilled workers who needed it.”

AIZAWL Assembly elections in Mizoram have been the blandest in India since 2008 when the church-backed Mizoram People’s Forum came up with the “model code of conduct” to prevent violence and inducements experienced during the 2003 State election.

The code has been punctured during the run-up to the State’s mandate 2023 by a war of words, albeit genteel, over local beneficiary schemes of the past, present, and future.

Apart from ‘Zo unification’ envisaging a greater homeland for the ethnic groups within the Zo family, the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) has been harping about the success of its Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP). The scheme offers financial support of up to ₹3 lakh to beneficiaries for taking up a trade of their preference.

“Some 60,000 families were provided with assistance of ₹50,000 each and another 60,000 were given ₹25,000 each in the second phase. The third phase was suspended temporarily as its initiation coincided with the announcement of the polls,” MNF veteran and Mizoram’s Deputy Chief Minister Tawnluia said.

State Congress president Lalsawta trashed the MNF claim. “They gave only ₹25,000 and only a few party workers got the money, not the farmers and skilled workers who needed it,” he said.

The SEDP, he said, was an “inflated version” of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), which was launched in January 2011 by the Congress government headed by Lal Thanhawla to offer financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each to 1,20,000 families identified by the agriculture and allied departments.

“People were lured by the promise of ₹3 lakh, thrice as much as the Congress government had offered, and voted the MNF to power in 2018. They found out in less than five years that they have been cheated,” Mr. Lalsawta said.