Governments came and went, each trying its best to help realise the people’s dream of building a new progressive Mizoram. Finally in December 2008, when the current government came to power, it had the main aim of uplifting the poor and improving their lives through its flagship programme called the New Land Use Policy (NLUP). This was the beacon of hope that many were looking for – a way out of poverty and deprivation. The Government of Mizoram fully realised that real development of the state depended on the progress and economic stability of the poorer section of the society. The New Land Use Policy is a programme for a paradigm shift in the management of two critical resources - land and water, and its main objective is to attain inclusive development for all.

The Government of Mizoram submitted the NLUP Project to the Central Government on the 19th of February 2009. The Central Government, after making a detailed study of the Project, sent it back to the State Government with its recommendations and asked the State Government to re-submit it after incorporating the changes that experts have suggested. The Project with changes was re-submitted to the Central Government on the 19th of June 2009. In August 2009, the Planning Commission sanctioned Rs.100 crores for the financial year 2009 - 2010 for starting work on the NLUP programme. After experts in the Central Government studied the Project and various Committees discussed it, the apex body – the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) finally sanctioned Rs.2873.13 crores on the 15th of July 2010 for NLUP.

The NLUP officials immediately started work on the Project by organizing seminars and workshops in all the districts on various aspects of NLUP and its implementation. State Level Workshops were organised for training of Ministers, MLAs, senior State Government officials, public leaders, leaders of NGOs and other stake - holders to educate them on NLUP. Trainings were also organized for Village Councils, Village Level Committees and District Level Committees in all the districts. A Natural Resources Atlas for Mizoram indicating rainfall, temperature, drainage, watersheds, geomorphological features, geological features, ground water potential, landuse / land cover, soil types and other relevant resource data has been prepared using data from Remote Sensing satellites.

The New Land Use Policy aims at gradually changing the practice of jhumming with a new pattern of land use, empowerment of people, preservation of the environment, adoption of effective water harvesting measures and commercial utilisation of abundant domestic resources and planned marketing of agricultural products. In its first stage, NLUP aims to provide sustainable means of livelihood to 1,20,000 families in 750 villages over a period of five years.

The New Land Use Policy or NLUP was formally launched across the state on the 14th of January 2011. At the main launching function in the state capital, Aizawl, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla handed over the first installment of funds amounting to Rs.20,000 each to 400 NLUP beneficiaries. Launching the policy, the Chief Minister said, “Insurgency played havoc with the livelihood of the Mizos, but today NLUP brings the beacon of hope for those who are ready to put in sincere hard work and are determined to change their lives. The government, on its part, is doing its best to provide sufficient power and better roads at the earliest in order to make NLUP a success. We must work together to make a better and more progressive Mizoram.” He also conveyed his deep gratitude towards the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs as well as the Planning Commission, adding a special mention of thanks to the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh for their keen interest, support and approval. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the NLUP website www.nlup.mizoram.gov.in at the function.

Also speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and NLUP Nodal Minister H. Liansailova informed all NLUP beneficiaries that detailed information on disbursement of NLUP funds will be maintained and assured them that all procedures under NLUP would be clean and transparent. NLUP Implementing Board Vice-Chairman P.L. Thanga outlined the origin of the policy and the road map for its success. He cautioned all beneficiaries that every activity would be closely monitored through remote sensing satellite, and asked them to pursue their chosen trades with strong determination and hard work.

On the same day, simultaneous launching programmes of NLUP were also held at six other districts headquarters, namely, Lunglei, Saiha, Kolasib, Serchhip, Mamit and Champhai as well as the Chakma Autonomous District Council Headquarters, Chawngte.

All Mizoram Farmers Union (AMFU) and Former Legislators Association of Mizoram (FLAM) - two leading NGOS one comprising farmers and the other of former MLAs expressed happiness at the launch of NLUP and hoped that it would usher in new dimensions for the overall growth of the state. In his Republic Day Speech, the Governor Lt. Gen. (Rtd) M M Lakhera said that the NLUP with consensus, commitment and perseverance of all participants will lead to economic self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation through land reforms and restoration of ecological balance.

NLUP being a multipurpose, multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged strategy, the beneficiaries have chosen various trades under agriculture and its allied sectors, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry & veterinary, sericulture and other line Departments, dairy and other livestock farming, fruit cultivation, micro enterprises and handloom.

With the implementation of the project, Mizoram is expected to be transformed socially and economically. All jhummia families will gradually switch over to permanent and sustainable means of livelihood and thus income levels of those involved in agriculture and allied sectors will improve dramatically. The overall growth of the state’s economy is expected to increase from 8% during the past decade to 16% in the next 8 to 10 years. Within 10 years, the per capita income is also expected to increase from Rs. 32,634 in 2008-09 to Rs.51,846.

The project will adopt community participation and utilisation of village institutions. Strategies will be laid out for effective marketing opportunity for NLUP beneficiaries to sell their products. Monitoring cells will be formed at all district and village levels, which will supervise activities of all beneficiaries as well as concerned departments. Indeed, NLUP will bring about the much desired and long awaited economic revolution in the state. To mark the occasion, the 14th of January - NLUP launching day - will be observed as ‘Farmer’s Day’ across the state of Mizoram henceforth.