State Plan at a Glance

STATE PLAN AT A GLANCE

MIZORAM

INTRODUCTION

Mizoram, the 23rd state of the Indian Union, often regarded as ‘the land where the bamboo flowers,’ lies in the Southern most part of the Northeast India between 21° 56’ N – 24° 3’ N latitudes and 92° 16’ E – 93°26’E longitudes. Sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar, its location is of strategic significance geographically and politically and shares a total common international boundary of about 722 Kms with these two countries. The state is bounded on the north by the Cachar district of Assam and by the state of Manipur, on the east and the south by Myanmar and Tripura. It covers an area of 21,081 Sq km. The Tropic of Cancer divides the state into two almost equal parts.

The Physical set up of Mizoram is composed, predominantly, of mountainous terrain. The mountainous hilly ranges are inclined north to south directions in parallel series. In between parallel ranges there are deep gorges, rendering east-west movement particularly difficult. The elevation ranges from 40 metres to 2157 metres at Phawngpui (BlueMountain). The eastern half of the state can be classified as Mountainous Terrain Province. The overall relief of in this province is higher and the slopes are much steeper than in the western half. As one moves west ward, the ranges progressively lose height. The western part of Mizoram depicts characteristics ridge and valley type of landform. Few pockets of flat lands found in the state are mostly valley plains interspersed with hills, narrow river valleys and mountains.

Mizoram enjoys a moderate climate owing to its tropical location and altitude. The region falls under the direct influence of south-west monsoon. The climate is therefore, humid tropical, characterized by short winter, long summer with heavy rainfall. The salient thermo –characteristics of Mizoram is that temperatures do not fluctuate much throughout the year, excepting in the low-lying valley sites.

Along the river banks and valleys under humid conditions, bamboo overlapping with tropical wet evergreen forest and tropical semi-evergreen forest dominate the landscape of the western better half of the state. The sub-tropical forests are found on a higher elevation, mostly confined in the eastern fringe of the State.

Mizoram experiences an extra-ordinarily high level of urbanization. The 2011 Census figure shows that more than half of its total population (52.11%) is living in urban areas .The process of urban growth is intricately associated with the process of internal redistribution of population. Almost all the villages having excessive positive growth of the population are generally found along the main arteries of roads and near the urban centers. Villages experiencing excessive negative growth in their population are found in the interior areas away from the main roads and urban centers of the state. The present pattern of distribution of towns is highly dispersed over most parts of the state though the western ridge and valley areas seem to have attracted more towns of varying sizes than the eastern mountainous region.

The construction of better road communication network since recent past has significant impact on the settlement patterns particularly of villages in Mizoram. A number of modern villages in the state now have sprung up along the main transportation lines where houses are built without much intervening space following the direction of the roads.

Mizoramrecords a literacy rate of 88.8 percent in the year 2001 and with a phenomenal increase in the subsequent decade the figure for 2011 is as high as 91.33 percent, surpassed only by Kerala and Lakshadweep. Owing to its geographical isolationand difficult terrain, Mizoram is a late starter in the field of Education let alone higher education. It wasthe European Christian missionaries who devised a system to abridge Mizo language to writingby using Roman Script way back in 1894. This became the foundation and origin of all formal education in Mizoram. The then first higher education institution in Mizoram, Aijal Night College, now known as Pachhunga University College was started in the year 1958. Higher education in the state therefore is a little more than 50 years old and many of the first generation learners are still alive leading active life. Within a span of fifty years the state has made commendable achievement as far as higher education is concerned. Given theattitude of the government, societal aspirations and environment conducive for higher education there is ample scope for attaining higher levels of access, equity and excellence in the State higher educationsystem.The state is preparing to reap maximum benefits out of the RUSA Scheme so that significant stride in the field of higher and technical education may be attained within the 12 and 13Plan period.

Vision

To make the state recognized nationally for excellence in providing access to higher education for students from educationally and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The state higher education system will continually increase the number of students completing personally and professionally rewarding academic programs. It endeavors to develop well educated and skilled citizens capable of responding to the intellectual, ethical and human resource challenges of a democratic society which meets the developmental goals of our country.

Mission (give detailed description)

Promoting the quality of higher education to inspire all students and prepare them to be successful in meeting today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities through imparting moral and value based holistic education.
Bringing out the best in students by providing quality and skill based education and to motivate them to become programmed and responsible citizen.
To make higher education system accessible to all without any discrimination on ground of race, ethnic affiliation, religion and gender and to usher in a state where all citizens are equally prepared to be productive, socially engaged, and responsible members of a healthy economy and democratic society.
To promote national integration, social justice, human ethical value and democratic way of life through institutions of higher learning.

Goals:

Goals / Performance Measure / Strategic Objective (Key interventions)

Quality Assurance

/ Increase proportion of Accredited Institutions, Infrastructure development and Academic reforms. / Develop and implement a system of quality assurance for all higher education institutions focusing on programme accreditation, institutional audits and reviews, quality promotion and capacity development.
Monitoring the state of the higher education system in relation to the goals of national policies and international trends.

Attaining high level GER

/ To increase GER of the State from the present 21.6 to 27 by the end of the 12th Plan. / Infrastructural Development of existing Colleges, Upgradation into Model Colleges, opening of more departments and Faculty improvement.

Equity assurance

/ Gender sensitization Campaign, Initiative for better performance of ST/SC Students and Students from economically weaker section like provision for incentive and scholarship / Creation of equal opportunity cell, Language lab, Gender sensitization programme, awareness Programme for Positive discrimination etc at the institutional level are the key for equity assurance.

Moral and value education

/ Creation of Counselling Cell, Mentoring System, Reinforcement of the role of teacher as a moral guide. / Faculty improvement not only in terms of academic but also improvement of the role of teacher as a moral guide, mentor and counsellor should be given due importance. In order to equip the teachers to perform such role they will be made better aware of the professional code of ethics. The service of Mizoram College Teachers Association, the only Govt. recognised Service Association for Govt. College Teachers will also be utilized to motivate the teachersto inculcate moral values among the youth.

Skill Upgradation

/ Provision for Professional Oriented education and Skill development Courses / Opening of Engineering College, Institute of Fashion Technology, College of Sports & Physical Education, Institute of Management and Commerce and Introduction of diverse Vocational Courses are the key interventions in this regard.

Faculty Improvement

/ Enhance research activity by providing research grant, incentives, leaves etc. Attendance of OC, RC and short term training, seminar, workshop, conference etc. / Research, Innovations and Quality Improvement grant is being applied for all existing Colleges across the state.
Training needs analysis of teachers at institution level would form the basis for giving training to the faculty in phase manner.

Improvement of Student Teacher Ratio

/ To improve the present STR of the State i.e 17:1(regular faculty) 16.2:1 (including contract faculty) to 15:1 / Recruitment of Faculty at least 3 for each institution under the Scheme Faculty Recruitment Support. Number of Faculty recruit should be raised to keep pace with the increasing GER so that the targeted STR (15:1) would be maintained.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Basic Information
Name of State : MIZORAM
Area (in sqkms) / Total:21081 / Rural:20494 / Urban:587 / Tribal: / Hilly:
Number of Districts / Total: 8 / Predominantly Rural:1 / Predominantly
Urban:1 / Predominantly Tribal:8 / Predominantly Hilly:8
Number of Blocks / Total:25 / Predominantly Rural:23 / Predominantly
Urban:2 / Predominantly Tribal: 25 / Predominantly Hilly: 25
Demographics
Population (In Lakhs) as per the Census year 2011
SC / ST / OBC / General / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / 598 / 322 / 258307 / 270341 / NA / NA / NA / NA / 36344 / 36904
Rural / 209 / 89 / 257987 / 249480 / NA / NA / NA / NA / 30260 / 30383
Total / 920 / 411 / 516294 / 519821 / NA / NA / NA / NA / 555339 / 541867
Hindu / Muslim / Sikhs / Christians / Jains / Others / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 36344 / 36904
Rural / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 30260 / 30383
Total / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 555339 / 541867
Population 18-23 years (In Lakhs) as per the Census 2011
SC / ST / OBC / General / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 36344 / 36904
Rural / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 30260 / 30383
Total / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 66604 / 67287
Hindu / Muslim / Sikhs / Christians / Jains / Others / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 36344 / 36904
Rural / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 30260 / 30383
Total / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 66604 / 67287

Note:Detail data on SC/ST/OBC/G and on different religious group are not available except the total figures mentioned in the table

Enrollments(2014-15) - (In Institutions under the State Government )
SC / ST / OBC / General / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Rural / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total / 13 / 29 / 6696 / 6394 / 12 / 10 / 23 / 22 / 6744 / 6455
Hindu / Muslim / Sikhs / Christians / Jains / Others / Total
M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F / M / F
Urban / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Rural / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total / 38 / 67 / 6 / 2 / NA / NA / 6434 / 6330 / 1 / NA / 265 / 56 / 6744 / 6455

School Pass Outs – Senior Secondary (In lakhs)

Board / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / Average of 3 Years
State Board Schools / 0.05952 / 0.07232 / 0.06260 / 0.06481
CBSE Schools / 0.00170 / 0.00135 / 0.00121 / 0.00142
Other Board Schools
Total / 0.06122 / 0.07367 / 0.06381 / 0.06623
District Wise Profile (Base line data- 2012-13)
District / Total population (in lakhs) / 18-23 age population (in lakhs) / GER / Govt. Colleges
(Affiliated to Mizoram University) / Affiliated Colleges
(private) / Affiliated Colleges
(private-gen-aided) / Affiliated Colleges
(private-tech-pro-aided) / Constituent College / Govt universities / Private Universities / Polytechnic Colleges
(Diploma level)
Mamit / 86364 / 9858 / 6 / 2 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Kolasib / 83955 / 9647 / 10 / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Aizawl / 400309 / 51379 / 26 / 12 / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / 1 / 1
Champhai / 125745 / 14203 / 8.5 / 2 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Serchhip / 64937 / 7814 / 8 / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Lunglei / 161428 / 18829 / 16.5 / 3 / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1
Lawngtlai / 117894 / 15181 / 8.5 / 2 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Saiha / 56574 / 6980 / 9.5 / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total/Average / 1097206/ 137151 / 133891 / 16337 / 93/ / 24 / 1 / NA / NA / 1 / NA / 1 / 2
District Wise Profile – (Perspective plan for 2014-15) – newly proposed (planned)
District / Govt universities / Private univ. / Constituent/ University Affiliated colleges / College (private-prof) / College (private-gen) / Govt. College (gen) / Govt College (tech-prof) / Polytechnic Colleges (pri) / Polytechnic Colleges (govt)
Mamit / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Kolasib / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Aizawl / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 2 / NA / NA
Champhai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Serchhip / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lunglei / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lawngtlai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Saiha / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total/Average / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 4 / NA / NA
District Wise Profile – (Perspective plan for 2015-16) – newly proposed (planned)
District / Govtuniv. / Private univ, / Constituent/ University Affiliated colleges / College (private-prof) / College (private-gen) / Govt. College (gen) / Govt College (tech-prof) / Polytechnic Colleges (pri) / Polytechnic Colleges (govt)
Mamit / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Kolasib / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Aizawl / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 2 / NA / NA
Champhai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Serchhip / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lunglei / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lawngtlai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Saiha / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total/Average / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 4 / NA / NA
District Wise Profile – (Perspective plan for 2016-17) – newly proposed (planned)
District / Govtuniv. / Private uni. / Constituent/ University Affiliated colleges / College (private-prof) / College (private-gen) / Govt. College (gen) / Govt College (tech-prof) / Polytechnic Colleges (pri) / Polytechnic Colleges (govt)
Mamit / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Kolasib / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Aizawl / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 2 / NA / NA
Champhai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Serchhip / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lunglei / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 1 / NA / NA
Lawngtlai / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Saiha / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA
Total/Average / 1 / NA / NA / NA / NA / NA / 4 / NA / NA

NOTE:

Qualitative Profile:
Are there any Educationally Backward districts in the State or districts with special concerns? Provide an educational profile of the State on a district-basis, identifying the weakest and strongest areas in the state, any disciplines or academic areas where certain areas have the potential to improve, districts with special needs in terms of vocational/agricultural/medical education etc.
No. of EBDs (as per UGC list of 374 EBDs) = 7(Seven)
Weakest 5 districts / Reasons
Dist 1 Mamit District / District with the lowest GER in the state and included among the 374 EBDs of UGC. It borders Bangladesh, Assamand Tripura. Poor communication system necessitates strengthening of existing Colleges to cater to the need of students in catchment areas. There are two Colleges both offering UG Course in Arts and enrolment is very low.
Dist 2 Lawngltlai District / Situated in the south western most part of the state, it borders Bangladesh. It is one of the 374 EBDs of the UGC. There are two autonomous district councils under the Sixth Scheduled of the Constitution of India. The district has two colleges both offering UG Course in Arts. The district is covered under Backward Regions Grant Fund.
Dist 3 Serchhip District / Located in about 110 Km from the State capital Aizawl, it shares a short boundary with Myanmar. It has the highest percentage of Scheduled tribe population in the state. There is only one College in the distinct and offers UG Courses in Arts and Science. It is included among the 374 EBDs of the UGC.
Dist 4 Saiha District / Situated in the southernmost fringe of Northeast India, it is included among the 374 EBDs of the UGC. It is in the highest altitudinal zone of the State, bordering Myanmar on the east and southern sides. The district is under the administration of Mara Autonomous District Council established under the VI Scheduled of the Constitution of India. There is one College offering UG course in Arts. The district is covered under Backward Regions Grant Fund.
Dist 5 Kolasib / Situated in the northern most parts of the state, it borders Assam in the north. There is only one college in the district and offers UG Courses in both Arts and Science. In spite of its proximity to other states and better road and railway connection it records low GER. It is EBD as per UGC list.
Strongest 5 Districts / Reasons
Dist 1 Aizawl District / The largest and the most urbanized district of the state. It is acting as economic as well as educational hub of the state. It has better infrastructure as compared to the other districts of the state.
Dist 2 Lunglei District / Situated in the south central part of Mizoram, it is the biggest district in the state. There are three Govt. Colleges, one private College and one diploma level Polytechnic. One College has UG Course in both Science and Arts and two are offering only Arts.
Dist 3 Champhai District / Shares it border with Myanmar and trade with Myanmar takes place mostly through informal channel. Owing to the presence of few patches of flat land for paddy cultivation, the district particularly its headquarters Champhai is known as “The rice bowl of Mizoram”. There are two Colleges, one in Champhai offering UG Courses in Arts and Science, another one in Khawzawl offering UG Course in Arts.
Dist 4 Kolasib District / Situated in the northern most parts of the state it borders Assam in the north. The district has a locational advantage owing to its proximity to other states and serves as a main link of road connection with other states. The only railhead in the State is also located at Bairabi in this district.
Dist 5 Saiha District / The southernmost district located in the highest altitudinal zone of the State, bordering Myanmar on the east and southern sides. The district is under the administration of Mara Autonomous District Council established under the IV Scheduled of the Constitution of India.
Districts with special Needs / Reasons
Dist 1 Aizawl District / Due to high concentration of population in the State Capital Aizawl, it is acting as an Educational hub of the State. For huge majority students across the State who cannot afford to continue higher education in reputed institutions outside the State, Aizawl is the best option for them. Hence concentration of students from all over the state in Aizawl itself. Aizawl District though the most developed district of the states needs special attention so as to continue to function as an educational hub of the State. In order to fill the critical gap in higher education system of the state, opening of diverse disciplines such as Social Work, Management, Banking, Insurance, Environment, Engineering, Sports and Physical education etc fairly new to the State’s Higher education system as a whole should be undertaken. Opening of professional courses in Medical education, Agricultureetc should also be accorded top priority. Introduction of vocational courses most relevant to the stateis expected to bring significant improvement in employability of the new graduates.
Dist 2 Lunglei District / The biggest district of the State, Lunglei District has Lunglei the second capital of the State as its headquarters. The district occupies the most prominent and nodal position in southern Mizoram and hence emphasis needs to be given on establishment of bigger institutions. The then Mizoram Education Reforms Commission in its reports also opined that “Instead of establishing small institutions at places having small catchment areas, it is better to establish bigger institutions at centrally located places with bigger catchment areas.
Dist 3 Champhai District / Due to its proximity to Myanmar and existence of informal trade and cross border migration the district needs special attention. Given the existence of gainful agriculture and allied activities in patches of flat land across the district, provision for courses on Agriculture and allied activities needs to be introduced as there is potential for further improvement of the activities.
Dist 4 Kolasib District / Owing to its proximity to other states the district serves as a main link of road connection with outside Mizoram. The only railhead in the State is also located at Bairabi in this district. There is scope for improvement of fishery, handloom industry and forest based particularly bamboo industry in the district, if relevant vocational courses are made available to the critical masses of the students.
Dist 5 Lawngtlai District / Having separate autonomous legislative, executive and judicial functions within the distict, the Lais and the Chakmas administer their respective autonomous regions in accordance with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The headquarters Lawngtlai is also going to be the nodal point in India for the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project which will link the town with Setpyitpyin (Kaletwa) in Myanmar through a 62 kilometer highway. There is scope for improvement of skills in Animal husbandry, horticulture, floriculture, tourism, cultural tourism, handloom etc.
Institutional Data
Number of Institutions Covering the State:
State Public University / Central University / State Private University / Deemed University / Institutions of National Importance / Others / Total
No. / -Nil- / 1 / 1 / -Nil- / 1 / 4 / 7
Name / - / Mizoram University / ICFAI / - / NIT / NIELIT, RIPANS, IGNOU, CVS&AH.

NIELIT – National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology.