Mizo: The close-knit society which works on PLD approach

Pi Darringaii with her two daughters and grandchildren became homeless when their house collapsed in the landslide. Nobody injured but they lost their roof over their head.

One of the daughters stitches in a private tailoring business to support the family but rearing domestic animals was the main source of income for survival.

The sixty-two-year-old widow was clueless to find her next move when neighbors came forward with immediate relief and provided shelter. The farmer club members of FARM Northeast program also joined villagers to collect the damaged property and items in the convenient neighboring house and cleared the debris on the same day. There was no outside assistance either from the state government departments, institutions or even the concerned department, i.e. Disaster Management Department.

Mizos are a close knitted community and willingness of helping other is a remarkable characteristic inherited by them from their ancestors. The village leaders along with NGOs came together to devise a solution to handle the situation and decided to construct a new house for Pi Darringaii through Hnatlang (Collective work, a kind of labor pooling). Every villager was asked to contribute depending on their will through kind, cash or material.

FARM Northeast program believes in People-Led Development (PLD) where traditional systems are more efficient and sustainable in addressing local issues, revive traditional practices in the sectors of local governance system, social security, agriculture. The FARM team from Zoram Entu Pawl (ZEP) led by Lalremruata along with three animators have been instrumental in motivating the community strongly to come forward for a good cause.

The Village Young Mizo Association (YMA) started the house reconstruction work and it was interesting to observe that not only neighbors but the whole village were eager to help her. Each member of the family including children contributed the very best of their efforts, abilities to construct the house. They brought materials and other available resources for the construction. The unity and cooperation among the community were unforgettable too.

They focused on same goal, purpose and wish to recuperate the loss of the family. The village people have been helping the victim family for several weeks now and the house is still under construction.

The new house will be completed soon and Pi Darringaii and family will be safely living together and become a happy family once again.