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Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mizoram MP complains to NCST over I-T demands on tribal traders
Aizawl: Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, the lone Lok Sabha member from Mizoram, on Monday complained to the National Commission for Schedule Tribe (NCST) chairman Antar Singh Arya about intimations received by tribal businessmen in the state from the income tax department to pay income tax while scheduled tribes living in scheduled areas are exempted from paying tax according to Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Vanlalhmangaiha met NCST in Delhi at the latter's invitation, where he raised the issue of income tax. He informed Arya that tribal businessmen and traders received intimations from income tax officials. Income tax has also been deducted from the pension of retired Indian Army personnel, he said, adding that Mizos working in central govt offices and banking sector in Mizoram were also subjected to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) from their salaries, despite belonging to STs. A large number of tribal employees working in the state are also forced to file 'nil returns', creating hardships for them in Mizoram while the common people fail to understand why they are being asked to pay income tax when they are exempted under the Income Tax Act, 1961. The NCST chairman took the matter seriously and deliberated on how to take up the issue with appropriate authorities.
The Print
01-05-2025
- The Print
Mizoram govt making constant efforts to curb drug smuggling: CM
The chief minister said that the state government will continue to take steps to combat drugs and curb trafficking of drugs and other contraband from other countries and states. During a meeting with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) delegation led by its chairperson Antar Singh Arya in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said that the government has constituted a coordination committee to accelerate the fight against drug menace, an official said. Aizawl, May 1 (PTI) Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday said that his government has been making constant efforts to curtail drug smuggling into the state. Mizoram has been grappling with the menace of drug abuse and drug trafficking from outside particularly from Myanmar. According to the state Excise and Narcotics department's record, various kinds of drugs, including 46.5 kg of heroin, 138.8 kg of Methamphetamine tablets and 586.6 kg of ganja (cannabis) were seized in 2024. A total of 7,309 people were arrested in drug and alcohol-related offences during the same period, the record said. The state police's data also said that drugs and substances worth over Rs 211 crore were seized and 468 people arrested in drug-related offences in 2024. Among others, the seized drugs included 80.8 kg of heroin valued at Rs 24.25 crore, 627.7 kg of Methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 81.6 crore and 35 kg of crystal meth worth over Rs 105 crore, the data said. At least 71 people, including 11 females, have died from drug abuse last year, officials of excise and narcotics department said. Mizoram shares an 828-km-long international border with Myanmar in the east and Bangladesh in the west. The northeastern state also shares inter-state boundaries with Assam, Manipur and Tripura. During the meeting with the NCST delegation, Lalduhoma also informed the delegation that Mizoram gives importance to Hindi education. During a meeting with officials to review the status of scheduled tribes in Mizoram and the implementation of various welfare schemes for them on Wednesday, Arya had laid emphasis on promotion of Hindi in the northeastern state. 'Our government favours implementation of a three-language formula in all educational institutions across the state in a bid to promote Hindi education,' Lalduhoma informed the NCST delegation. He said that the construction of six working women's hostels is ongoing. PTI CORR RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Mizoram govt making constant efforts to curb drug smuggling: CM
Aizawl, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday said that his government has been making constant efforts to curtail drug smuggling into the state. During a meeting with the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes delegation led by its chairperson Antar Singh Arya in Aizawl, Lalduhoma said that the government has constituted a coordination committee to accelerate the fight against drug menace, an official said. The chief minister said that the state government will continue to take steps to combat drugs and curb trafficking of drugs and other contraband from other countries and states. Mizoram has been grappling with the menace of drug abuse and drug trafficking from outside particularly from Myanmar. According to the state Excise and Narcotics department's record, various kinds of drugs, including 46.5 kg of heroin, 138.8 kg of Methamphetamine tablets and 586.6 kg of ganja were seized in 2024. A total of 7,309 people were arrested in drug and alcohol-related offences during the same period, the record said. The state police's data also said that drugs and substances worth over ₹211 crore were seized and 468 people arrested in drug-related offences in 2024. Among others, the seized drugs included 80.8 kg of heroin valued at ₹24.25 crore, 627.7 kg of Methamphetamine tablets worth over ₹81.6 crore and 35 kg of crystal meth worth over ₹105 crore, the data said. At least 71 people, including 11 females, have died from drug abuse last year, officials of excise and narcotics department said. Mizoram shares an 828-km-long international border with Myanmar in the east and Bangladesh in the west. The northeastern state also shares inter-state boundaries with Assam, Manipur and Tripura. During the meeting with the NCST delegation, Lalduhoma also informed the delegation that Mizoram gives importance to Hindi education. During a meeting with officials to review the status of scheduled tribes in Mizoram and the implementation of various welfare schemes for them on Wednesday, Arya had laid emphasis on promotion of Hindi in the northeastern state. "Our government favours implementation of a three-language formula in all educational institutions across the state in a bid to promote Hindi education," Lalduhoma informed the NCST delegation. He said that the construction of six working women's hostels is ongoing.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NCST chairman calls for stopping jhum cultivation in Mizoram
Aizawl: National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) chairperson Antar Singh Arya on Wednesday highlighted the importance of discontinuing jhum cultivation practices in Mizoram, while advocating alternative farming methods that would be more environmentally sustainable through a pilot project initiative. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During a review meeting in Aizawl with senior state officials discussing safeguards and development programmes for STs in Mizoram, Arya raised these concerns. The NCST delegation, including commission members Nirupam Chakma, Dr Asha Lakra and Jatothu Hussain, is conducting a four-day visit to the state. During the meeting, the chairperson stressed the importance of promoting Hindi across the state and requested the administration to take necessary actions. Commission member Nirupam Chakma provided an overview of the commission's responsibilities and discussed the tribal community's situation in the state's southern region and border areas. Lakra shared her insights regarding health, education and women's status. State chief secretary Khilli Ram Meena and other senior govt officials presented information about Mizoram's tribal welfare and development initiatives.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NCST 'satisfied' with implementation of welfare schemes for tribals in Mizoram: Chairperson
Aizawl, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes chairperson Antar Singh Arya on Wednesday said the commission is "satisfied" with the implementation of the Central government's welfare schemes and development programmes for tribal people in Mizoram. Arya, along with three members of the NCST, was on a four-day visit to the northeastern state to review the implementation of the Centre's welfare schemes for tribals. He addressed a press conference here after meeting senior officials of the Mizoram government. Arya said the NCST is "satisfied" with the implementation of Central government's welfare schemes and development programmes for tribal people in the state. He, however, said that there is still a need for more improvement in the implementation of the Central government schemes. Earlier, during a meeting with state government officials to review the status of scheduled tribes in Mizoram and the implementation of various welfare schemes for them, Arya laid emphasis on the need to popularise Hindi in the state and urged the state administration to take steps in this regard, an official said. The NCST chairman also noted the need to do away with the prevalent system of 'jhum' cultivation being practised by farmers in the state, the official said. He suggested framing a pilot project to introduce alternate systems of cultivation which have less environmental impact. During the meeting, NCST member Nirupam Chakma gave his observations on the status of tribals in the southern part of Mizoram and the border areas, while another member Dr Asha Lakra also highlighted her observations on health, education and the status of women in the state. Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena and other senior officials of the Mizoram government highlighted the status of the state with respect to the welfare and development of tribals in the state as well as the status of various schemes being implemented under central and state governments. Meena told the meeting that all government schemes and programmes are focused towards the welfare, development and well-being of tribals as more than 94 per cent of Mizoram's population belonged to the ST category. Mizoram Director General of Police Anil Shukla, who was present at the meeting, also said that no complaint on atrocities against tribals have been registered in the state in the past three years. The NCST led by Arya also visited Mara Autonomous District Council and Chakma Autonomous District Council on Tuesday and interacted with leaders of the two councils in the southern part of Mizoram.
