Assembly pushes for Mizo language inclusion in Eighth Schedule

Aizawl: Mizoram state legislative assembly on Monday unanimously adopted an official resolution moved by state education minister Vanlalthlana, seeking inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India.Participating in the discussion, chief minister Lalduhoma expressed gratitude to the Mizo Language Development Board (MLDB), which had initiated the official resolution after holding consultations with all stakeholders in the state for the inclusion of Mizo language in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India.Allaying fear expressed by some members that inclusion of Mizo language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution may adversely affected the Schedule Tribe (ST) status of the Mizos, Lalduhoma said that Mizos are included as a ST in the Schedule Tribe Order of 1950 and the order remains in effect till date.

He, however, suggested unanimity among all the political parties to make the entire state a scheduled area under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, as has been done in the case of Meghalaya.“The Mizo language can be studied up to the doctorate level in the Mizoram University and is also studied at different levels in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur,” the CM said.Meanwhile, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the apex Mizo students’ body, while not opposing the official resolution outright, said on Monday that MZP and its affiliated sub-tribe based student associations did not express agreement to inclusion of Mizo language in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India.“We have never expressed our agreement in the matter when holding discussion with the 8th Schedule Study Group formed under the MLDB,” the MZP leaders told media persons in Aizawl.