Sonia unveils food subsidy in poll-bound Mizoram

Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday launched the UPA government's food security scheme in Mizoram and assured it would cater to the needs of poor people in the country.

"The scheme would make sure that lakhs of malnourished and starving people would now get food at a very low price in the country," Gandhi told at a public meeting here.

Praising Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla-led Congress state government, she said: "The state government has successfully run the administration in the past five years and achieved development in various fields."

Sonia appealed to the people to cast their votes for the Congress party in the elections to the 40-seat assembly, expected to be held in November.

She said: "If the Congress government is re-elected in the state, people's concern would be pursued more vigorously and their voices would be heard with all sincerity."

The United Progressive Alliance chairperson also laid the foundation of a Sainik School at Chhingchhip village in Serchhip district.

She flagged off the fourth phase of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the state government.

The Mizoram government launched the Rs.2,873-crore NLUP in 2010 to solve food scarcity by moving away from "Jhum cultivation" (slash and burn method of cultivation) to stable farming.

NLUP aims to support 125,000 "Jhumia" (shifting cultivator) families in four phases so they settle under stable agriculture.

Meanwhile, members of the main opposition Mizo National Front dressed in black shawls, called 'Pawndums', demonstrated here alleging Congress central leaders visited the state only when elections were coming.