Females outnumber males in Mizo e-roll

Aizawl, Oct 15(UNI) Women voters have edged past their male counterparts by 6,644, according to the latest electoral rolls for the Mizoram Assembly elections.

Of the total 6,11,124 voters in the eight districts of Mizoram, 3,08,884 are females and 3,02,240 males. Women had outnumbered men by 3,816 votes during last 2003 Assembly polls too.

However, Mizo women contribute immensely to the state's economy, church and social activities, but when it comes to politics, Assembly elections in particular, they shy away.

In the 2003 polls, none of the six women candidates won.

This time Mizo women are rolling up their sleeves to see to it that political parties field women candidates and they get elected.

Women Welfare Front (WWF) is actively spearheading the campaign for women candidature in the state Assembly polls to be held on November 29.

''We are making all efforts to see as many women candidates as possible in this year's Assembly elections. We will appeal to the female voters to vote for the women candidates,'' WWF secretary Ms Darhmingthangi told UNI here today.

She added that they had also urged each political party to reserve a few of their party tickets for women.

Though not actively taking part in the movement, Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), the state's largest women body, has given full moral support to the WWF's initiatives.

MHIP president Ms Rozami, who also chairs the Mizoram State Commission for Women (MSCW), regretted that Mizo women lack political awareness at the grassroots level.

The fact that the fairer sex do not favour women candidates is the main obstacle on the women's way to the Assembly House, she said.

''We will field three to five women candidates,'' United Democratic Alliance spokesperson C Lallianchhunga told UNI here today.

Meanwhile, the ruling Mizo National Front and the largest Opposition Pradesh Congress 'can't say' whether they would field women candidates. '' We have no problems in reserving party tickets for women provided there are qualified,'' Congress spokesman Lalsawta said.

Since Mizoram became Union Territory in 1972 (later state in 1986), there have been only three women MLAs - Thanmawii (1978), K Thansiami (1979) and Lalhlimpuii (1987).

Among them Lalhimpui of the Mizo National Front, had become a minister.

UNI ZS KK SB HS1727