Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Thursday expressed deep concern over the increasing number of deaths among young men in the state, calling for urgent collective action to address the issue.
Speaking at the general body meeting of the Former Legislators’ Association of Mizoram (FLAM) in Aizawl, Lalduhoma highlighted the alarming trend, stating, “Many graves belonging to young and middle-aged men can be seen in cemeteries across the state.”
The Chief Minister shared findings from his self-study, revealing that for every young female death, seven young men lose their lives. He pointed out that this has resulted in a growing number of young widows without stable means of livelihood.
While there is no official data, the increasing deaths are largely attributed to the consumption of spurious liquor and drug abuse. Mizoram, where 87% of the population is Christian, is officially a dry state, but illegal liquor and drug-related fatalities remain a concern.
Lalduhoma emphasized the need for action at the family level, urging households to take a proactive role in tackling the crisis. “A collective effort should be made to address this. The fight should start from every home,” he said.
On governance, the CM criticized previous administrations for sub-standard development projects and assured that his government has formed a State Project Monitoring Committee to ensure proper execution of initiatives.
FLAM, established in 1994, currently has 117 members and 59 associate members, including widows of deceased former MLAs and MPs. Lalduhoma commended former legislators for upholding parliamentary decorum, which he said continues in the present assembly.
