Country's oldest working jourlist felicitated

  From A Correspondent

Silchar, Oct 15: The Government of Mizoram in association with Mizoram Jourlists Association (MJA) Mizoram claimed and declared that Lalbiakthanga Pachuau Editor of a vercular daily newspaper Zoram Tlangau as the oldest working jourlist in the country. A function was held in this regard in the auditorium of Information and Public Relations Department Government of Mizoram in Aizawl recently. The Minister of Information and Publicity Department Lal Thanzara handed over a citation in recognition of the claim and for his numerous contributions to the society mainly social work. Lalbiakthanga is one of the four Prominent Press Representatives for Life a recognition given by the Mizoram Government. He is now 90 years running.

 He wrote his first news article on May 16, 1953 in Zoram Thupuan newspaper and started publishing and editing his own daily newspaper Zoram Tlangau since 1970 till today. Lalbiakthanga had been elected as the President of Mizoram Jourlists’ Association for 3 terms. He co-founded the Association for Voluntary Blood Dotion in Mizoram as General Secretary and later was elected as President for a number of times from 2001 onwards. Under his leadership, the state blood dotion rose from 22.47% to 94%. The Association is alive and active, in fact, is the main source when it comes to blood dotion.

 Lalbiakthanga’s contribution towards this field has earned him three Special Awards by State Blood Transfusion Council; not to mention the numerous state wise awards for his contribution in this particular field. The war veteran turned jourlist has been decorated with War Medal, Burma Star, Independent Medal, Jammu and Kashmir General Service Medal with clasp: Jammu and Kashmir, Sainya Seva Medal with Clasp: Jammu and Kashmir. He has held the post of President, II W A function was held in the capital Aizawl for this occasion by A function was held in the capital Aizawl for this occasion by World War, War Veteran Association of Mizoram numerous times.

 The veteran jourlist was one of the key delegates at the Mizo Peace Talks during the 1980s. He is the founder President of Mizoram Social Defence Union during the 1990s and campaigned rigorously against alcohol and drugs which had started to become a mece for the society. Lalbiakthanga was elected as the first President of Mizoram Cooperative Society in 1975 which thus later became the only state owned bank now popularly known as The Apex Bank. He has visited Jordan, Germany, Denmark, USA, Netherlands, UK, Egypt, Israel and UAE. This has been shared at a press release by Zo Hmingmawia, secretary, MJA General Headquarters.