"For an extended period of time, the Nigh time Curfew in Aizawl have disrupted the livelihood of people whose business operates at night and does not qualify as a Covid prevention measure, it causes traffic congestion..."
A resident of Aizawl, with no political motive, has started an online petition to repeal the nightly curfew on Aizawl that has been imposed for more than a year as a Covid-19 preventive measure.
The petition was made to Aizawl's Deputy Commissioner through the popular petition website Change.Org with the caption ( In Mizo) -
"For an extended period of time, the Nigh time Curfew in Aizawl have disrupted the livelihood of people whose business operates at night and does not qualify as a Covid prevention measure, it causes traffic congestion since the city operates on an even/odd rationing people rushes to the street from 5:30 till 8:30 windows, since vehicles are not allowed to move pass that designated hours. A developed region is not one where the people are employed by the government and earn government paid salaries, but one where entrepreneurship supported by private business flourishes. We cannot work effectively in this condition.. It is troublesome.."
( Note: In Aizawl, vehicles run on an even-odd day ration, the rule is relaxed in the evening)
As of this writing, the petition has garnered over 6,142 signatures at change.org in just one day.
The post with the link to change.org was posted on a 3 lakh plus membership Mizo Facebook Group named "Mizo Special Report". The petition is gaining massive support within Mizo social media and has been shared multiple times on various social media platforms by frustrated Aizawl residents.
"It's the festive season, we should be set free. Be it attending a church, singing or partying, we deserved to be let free in our own festive season" says Facebooker Ahmaii Renthlei on the said post, showing her support.
While another member while showing support for the Curfew commented " I've heard claims that the curfew actually made our streets peaceful at night, there are fewer people on the street racing with their loud motorcycles, drunken brawls have been reduced."
The Nighttime curfew regime in Aizawl is one of Mizoram's Government's initiatives at curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the state. As of now, among the resident of Aizawl, the Curfew has become highly unpopular, with more and more people coming out against the imposition as businesses are said to have been greatly affected, especially in the festive season.
You can check out the petition here - Sign petition to stop night curfew in Aizawl