Saiha town is one of the headquarters of MLA Constituencies and the capital Town of Saiha District. It is located in the Southern part of Mizoram. It has good opportunity for economic development for having hinter resource areas covering 6 villages. Saiha Town is linked by NH 54 and goes on to Aizawl, the State Capital, which is the most important link road of Mizoram to other states of the country. The nearest railhead is at Bairabi which is 513 kms and is connected by road. Now, the Government is taking initiative for border trade with Myanmar under Act East Policy.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. Geography:

Saiha is the administrative headquarters of Saiha district. It is the third largest town in Mizoram after Aizawl, the state capital and Lunglei. Tuipang, Zawngling, Phura, Niawhtlang and Chapui are the other sub-towns in Saiha district.

2. Geology:

As described by the Geological survey of India (Engineering Geological DivisionShillong) in August 1995, the general geology of Saiha urban area is represented by a repetitive succession of arenaceous and argillaceous sequence of sedimentary rocks of Tertiary-age(7 to 38 m.yrs) which were later folded and faulted into north-south heading anticlines and synclines. The rocks types exposed in the area are mainly green Shale, siltyshales and mudstone etc. belonging to Bhuban formation of Surma group.

3. Soil:

The soil of Saiha area is not identified particularly, meanwhile the soil of Mizoram as a whole are well drained except in few flat land and capable of providing sustenance for plant growth. The soil have capability to retain moisture and maintain its supply throughout the growing season of normal crops.

4. Climate:

Mizoram lies under tropical climate and experience moderate temperature and rainfall. Saiha Town is in the Southern part of Mizoram, having warm-wet in summer and cold dry in winter. It has congenial climate and mild temperature. During summer, it received heavy amount of rainfall due to the influence of south-west monsoon. May is the warmest and hottest month of the year and during winter December, January and February are the driest/coldest months of a year. There is a little moderate difference between summer and winter, when during winter, the temperature varies from 11°C to 18°C from 18°C to 29°C in summer.

5. Rainfall:

The whole of Mizoram lies under influence of south west monsoon and north eastern monsoon. Mizoram receiving heavy amount of rainfall during the monsoon season. The rainfall received from the month of June to September is 60-80% of the annual rainfall. A little rainfall experienced in the month of December and January due to the influence of South east monsoon. Usually, the Southern parts of Mizoram due to the influence of south-west monsoon. Saiha Town located in the southern most part of Mizoram and received heavy rainfall. The average annual rainfall is around 2030 mm.

6. Humidity:

Saiha Town has a climate of humid tropical characteristic by short winter and long summer with heavy rainfall which increased toward southern region due to south west monsoon. So, Saiha Town area has higher humidity than the northern parts of Mizoram.

7. Flora and fauna

The District is rich in Floran Fauna which are abundantly available in Palak Lake’s, Forest Reserve, Tokalo Wildlife Sanctuary and high altitude mountains of Azino, Mawma, Salyu, Tlialtu and Kahrie.

8. Economy:

In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Saihaas one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).

It is one of the two districts in Mizoram currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

9. Divisions:

The district has 2 R.D. Blocks, Saiha also known as Siaha and Tuipang also known as Tipa V. The two assembly constituencies in this district are Saiha and Tuipang.

10. Demographics:

According to the 2011 census Saiha district has a population of 56,574, roughly equal to the island of Greenland. This gives it a ranking of 628th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 40 inhabitants per square kilometre (100/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -7.34%; the only district in Mizoram to have decreased population. Saiha has a sex ratio of 979 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 90.01%. However, This is due to shifting of Sanagau RD block from Saiha District to Lawngtlai District.

The majority of the district inhabitants are Mara people, who also have an autonomous district council called Mara Autonomous District Council composed of the two R.D. Blocks of Saiha and Tuipang; the Lai people, on the other hand, are the main inhabitants of Sangau R.B block, which is part of the Lai Autonomous District Council.

11. Saiha District Population 2011:

In 2011, Saiha had population of 56,574 of which male and female were 28,594 and 27,980 respectively. In 2001 census, Saiha had a population of 61,056 of which males were 31,242 and remaining 29,814 were females. Saiha District population constituted 5.16 percent of total Maharashtra population. In 2001 census, this figure for Saiha District was at 6.87 percent of Maharashtra population.

12. Saiha District Population Growth Rate:

There was change of -7.34 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Saiha District recorded increase of 34.80 percent to its population compared to 1991.

13. Saiha District Density 2011:

The initial provisional data released by census India 2011, shows that density of Saiha district for 2011 is 40 people per sq. km. In 2001, Saiha district density was at 44 people per sq. km. Saiha district administers 1,399 square kilometers of areas.

14. Saiha Literacy Rate 2011:

Average literacy rate of Saiha in 2011 were 90.01 compared to 82.90 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 92.64 and 87.34 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 87.12 and 78.46 in Saiha District. Total literate in Saiha District were 42,233 of which male and female were 21,861 and 20,372 respectively. In 2001, Saiha District had 40,983 in its district.

15. Saiha Sex Ratio 2011:

With regards to Sex Ratio in Saiha, it stood at 979 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 954. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate. In 2011 census, child sex ratio is 932 girls per 1000 boys compared to figure of 961 girls per 1000 boys of 2001 census data.

16. Saiha Child Population 2011:

In census enumeration, data regarding child under 0-6 age were also collected for all districts including Saiha. There were total 9,653 children under age of 0-6 against 11,191 of 2001 census. Of total 9,653 male and female were 4,997 and 4,656 respectively. Child Sex Ratio as per census 2011 was 932 compared to 961 of census 2001. In 2011, Children under 0-6 formed 17.06 percent of Saiha District compared to 18.33 percent of 2001. There was net change of -1.27 percent in this compared to previous census of India.

17. Saiha District Urban Population 2011

Out of the total Saiha population for 2011 census, 44.38 percent lives in urban (District headquarter) regions of district. In total 25,110 people lives in urban areas of which males are 12,741 and females are 12,369. Sex Ratio in urban region of Saiha district is 971 females as per 2011 census data. Similarly, child sex ratio in Saiha district was 908 in 2011 census. Child population (age 0-6) in urban region was 3,796 of which males and females were 1,989 and 1,807. This child population figure of Saiha district is 15.61 % of total urban population. Average literacy rate in Saiha district as per census 2011 is 95.10 % of which males and females are 96.09 % and 94.09 % literates respectively. In actual number 20,270people are literate in urban region of which males and females are 10,332 and 9,938 respectively.

18. Saiha District Rural Population 2011

As per 2011 census, 55.62 % population of Saiha districts lives in rural areas of villages. The total Saiha district population living in rural areas is 31,464 of which males and females are 15,853 and 15,611 respectively. In rural areas of Saiha district, sex ratio is 985 females per 1000 males. If child sex ratio data of Saiha district is considered, figure is 947 girls per 1000 boys. Child population in the age 0-6 is 5,857 in rural areas of which males were 3,008 and females were 2,849. The child population comprises 18.97 % of total rural population of Saiha district. Literacy rate in rural areas of Saiha district is 85.77 % as per census data2011. Gender wise, male and female literacy stood at 89.75 and 81.76 percent respectively. In total, 21,963 people were literate of which males and females were 11,529 and 10,434 respectively.

19. Public Infrastructutre& Services:

Human Resource Development requires the removal of several social, economical, infrastructural and other issues such as; poverty, poor economic opportunities, social deprivation, etc. The objective is to provide each individual the opportunity to live a long and healthy life participating in the development process as real agents of change. Provision of safe drinking water is one of the major aims that all households can avail by 2020. This will help in reducing water borne diseases.

20. Infrastructure & Services, Nutrition Service :(ICDS) Anganwadi Centres

To improve health and nutritional status of children and mothers along with enhance the capability of mother to looks the normal health & nutritional needs of child through proper nutritional and health education, 126 AWC functioning in Saiha district.

21. Infrastructure & Services, Education

The district has one college which has only arts stream and there is only one Gov’t Higher secondary school. The district is having 212 PS & UPS, 70 secondary and Higher Secondary schools.