Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Friday wished the first and lone woman cabinet minister Lalrinpuii, two other woman legislators and women folks of Mizoram in the state legislative assembly on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
Addressing the assembly session during discussion on a private member’s resolution, Lalduhoma said that the current 9th legislative assembly creates record in the political history of the state by having 3 woman legislators elected in the state assembly for the first time.Lalrinpuii and BarylVanneihsangi belonged to the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), while Pravo Chakma belonged to the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF)
He also made special mention that the youngest legislator BarylVanneihsangi is the first woman legislator ever to preside over the session of the state assembly. Being selected among the panel of chairmen, Vanneihsangi presided over the session of the state legislature on Thursday during discussion on demands of 3 ministers.
He expressed gratitude that his ZPM party was voted to power by the electorate having more women voters in the election to the state legislative assembly held on November 7 last.
Mizo being strictly patriarchal society, women hardly have chances to come out in politics not to speak of holding responsible posts in the governance except as government employees.
The first ever woman to be elected as a legislator was L. Thanmawii while Mizoram was union territory with legislature in 1978 on the ticket of the ruling People’s Conference (PC) led by former chief minister Brig. T. Sailo. The second woman to be elected as legislator was K. Thansiami of PC party in 1979.
Lalhlimpuii, elected in the first legislative assembly in 1987 after Mizoram attained statehood, was the first woman minister of state to be inducted in the MNF government headed by then chief minister Laldenga.
Another woman legislator, Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu, was elected in 2014 by-election and was inducted as a minister of state in the erstwhile Congress government headed by Lal Thanhawla in 2017, after a gap of 30 years a woman was inducted as a minister.
Lalrinpuii, who is holding portfolios like health and family welfare, social welfare, tribal affairs, women andchild development and tourism departments became the first woman cabinet minister. She was sworn-in on December 8 last.
