Indigenous Mizos be benefited first Zoro

Aizawl, Mar 17 (UNI) The Zo Re-unification Organisation (Zoro) today urged that development projects in Mizoram should be implemented in such a way that the Indigenous people are benefited the most.

The Zoro demanded implementation of the recent UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People to ensure that they get the ''lion's share'' from the natural resources of their land.

The organisation regretted that Centre-State agreement on Tuirial hydel project has given only 12 per cent and 10 per cent to the Mizos, who have sacrifice vast area for the projects.

Zoro general secretary Lalmuanpuia Punte also alleged that Chakma tribals of the Chittagong Hill Tracts have become homeless due to the project, which will never benefit them.

''We also know how tea estates in Cachar have rendered the indigenous Cacharis landless. In view of this, it is high time that we protect ourselves from the threats of assimilation in the name of development,'' he said.

UNI ZS PP DB1654