Serchhip, November 2026: The Haw Runpui festival was celebrated at Zote South village today, with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma attending the event as the Chief Guest. The constituency MLA, V. Malsawmtluanga, was also present as the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that Zote South was among the oldest villages in Mizoram and had celebrated its centenary in 2007. He described it as a village known for its generosity and for supporting people during the Mautam famine.
He said the people of Zote South were hardworking and had remained prosperous even during the Mautam famine of 1911, when they had sufficient stocks of rice and other food grains. Their industrious nature continues to be reflected in their ginger trade, he added.
In 2025, the villagers sold 3,224.66 quintals of ginger through the government and another 1,715.59 quintals independently, earning a total revenue of ₹2,01,21,100. This year, they sold 2,014.75 quintals through the Society, amounting to ₹1,00,73,750.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the village's longstanding emphasis on education. He mentioned prominent personalities associated with Zote South, including Lalsangliana, the first Member of Parliament from Mizoram when it was a Union Territory; former Chief Secretary Lalhmingliana, IAS, and his son Lalhuma, IAS; and V. Lalsangliana, IAS. He said the village had produced several distinguished personalities who had made significant contributions to Mizoram.
He also noted that Zote Bakery was a well-known establishment in the state and had provided livelihoods to many people.
Government Development Initiatives in Zote South
Highlighting major development works undertaken in the village, the Chief Minister said that local MLA V. Malsawmtluanga had used his MLA Local Area Development Fund to carry out works relating to roads, transformers, the Community Hall and renovation of the YMA Run.
The 11 KV power line from Thenzawl has been completed at a cost of ₹199 lakh under the SASCI scheme. An additional 250 KVA transformer is to be installed under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), and the equipment has already arrived. A new low-tension (LT) line measuring approximately 250 metres is also planned.
The Government Primary School quarters have been completed at a cost of ₹50.18 lakh under SASCI 2024–25. A new building will also be constructed to replace the existing dilapidated school building.
Road-widening and blacktopping work on the Chawmkai–Zote South stretch is under way with NABARD assistance of ₹21 crore. Work on blacktopping the Thenzawl–Zote South road has also commenced, he said.
Mizoram Vision 2047
Speaking about Mizoram's development vision, Lalduhoma said that, in line with India's ambition to become a developed nation by 2047, Mizoram was also aiming to contribute one per cent of India's GDP by that year.
To achieve this goal, the state's per capita income would need to reach ₹16 lakh annually by 2047. At present, it is estimated at around ₹3,25,000 per year, or approximately ₹27,000 per month. The state aims to increase this figure nearly fivefold by 2047, he said.
The Chief Minister said that Minimum Support Prices were being provided for nine crops to support farmers, while efforts were under way to strengthen the processing sector.
He also spoke about initiatives to encourage young people to become job creators rather than job seekers. Under the Bana Kaih initiative, loans are being made available at favourable interest rates, and a Venture Capital Fund has also been established.
He added that the government was working to improve infrastructure and strengthen trade and connectivity. Plans were also being considered for an Indo-Thailand Corridor to expand trade opportunities.
Emphasising that the Mizo people should not remain economically disadvantaged, the Chief Minister urged the gathering to work hard, maintain honesty and strive to match the progress of other communities in every field.
Book on Mizoram's First Woman Nurse Released
During the programme, the Chief Minister also released a book documenting the life of Pawngi, a native of Zote South who was born in 1889. She was the first Mizo woman to become a nurse and among the earliest women from the community to work in government service.
Zote South is located between the southern and northern parts of Mizoram. The village was part of Lunglei district for a long time but was subsequently included in Serchhip district to facilitate faster development.
The village currently has around 150 households and a population of 837.
