Aizawl, Aug 15 (IANS): Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla, on the occasion of Independence Day, Thursday praised the people for helping maintain peace in the state.

Lalthanhawla unfurled the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl.

In a brief speech, the chief minister said Mizoram has shown progress in various fronts and the per capita income of the people has also increased.

He said the success of the government's flagship programme - the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) - for the development of rural areas, would further boost agricultural growth as well as the economy of the state.

The state government launched the Rs.2,873 crore NLUP in 2010 to solve food scarcity by moving away from "Jhum" (slash and burn method of shifting cultivation) to permanent farming.

The NLUP aims to support 120,000 "Jhumia" families to settle in stable agriculture over five years.

Lalthanhawla praised the people of Mizoram for helping maintain peace in the state.

He said that barring a few abductions by militant outfits from neighbouring Tripura, the situation in the state was largely peaceful during the past one year.