Here is coverage of various schemes in Nagaland

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 15 (EMN): In an attempt to make the public understand the centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS) and projects better, several such programmes were discussed during the media workshop called VARTALAP held in Kohima on Feb. 14.

Schemes like Poshan Abhiyan, Ayushman Bharat, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yojana and farmers’ welfare-related programmes were highlighted during the event.

Ayushman Bharat: E-card issued to over 13,000 families

Giving the present status of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Nagaland at various levels, Dr. Kikameren Longkumer, deputy director of Health and Family Welfare said that a total of 13,372 families have been verified and issued e-cards till date, and 131 claims have been made, amounting to INR 13.12 lakh.

Longkumer disclosed during his technical session on the scheme that the total targeted family in the state of Nagaland is 2, 33,328. The beneficiary family is entitled to a benefit cover of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year (on a family floater basis) for hospitalisation expenses, including pre and post-hospitalisation expenses as well as coverage of all pre-existing conditions from the beginning of the policy, he added.

He said that a total of 59 hospitals have been empanelled — 54 public hospitals (including 11 district hospitals, CHCS, and PHCs) and five private hospitals. He added that a total of INR 45 crore was given to the state of Nagaland for this scheme. He went on to say that the department has received the first instalment of INR 18.75 crore, while the second and third instalments are yet to be received.

Longkumer said that the scheme is implemented in insurance mode wherein Apollo Munich Insurance Company has been selected. The premium against the benefit cover of INR 5 lakh for the current policy is at INR 444 per family per year. For any delay in the payment of hospital claims (to be cleared within two weeks), the Insurance Company will pay a penalty of 1% per week for the delay to the Hospital, he added.

Farmers’ welfare schemes

 Peter Yanthan, representative from the Directorate of Agriculture, gave a detailed presentation on central schemes for farmers’ welfare during the workshop. The schemes for the state of Nagaland include, National Food Security Mission (NSFM) at various levels, Small medium scale enterprise, soil health, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), etc.

He pointed out that palm oil is a new crop in India and is the highest yielding perennial crop with the potential of achieving 20.30 MT of fresh fruits bunches per hectare per year after five years. The total area covered under the palm oil plantation in the state is 1000 hectare in nine districts, with Dimapur, Niuland, and Jalukie as the leading planters during 2018-19.

The RKVY scheme was implemented in all the districts with 44 projects covering 64 villages. Out of 64 villages, as much as 18 villages and nine projects under Zunheboto district were covered, giving the highest record of RKVY scheme in the district.

Emphasising on organic farming in the north-eastern region, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare launched Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER). Under this mission, the total area of 5100, and about 5300 farmers were covered. The crops include king chilli, ginger, brown rice, kholar, large cardamom, sesamum, soyabean, etc.

More than 1 lakh units household latrines constructed

Sub-divisional officer, Water and Sanitation Support Organisation, PHED, Engineer Wonjanbeni Odyuo spoke about the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) at the event. The core idea of the SBA was “safe sanitation,” she said and clarified that the achievement of Open Defecation-Free in Nagaland last year was limited to rural areas only.

The department (PHED) has constructed 1, 13, 858 units household latrines, 705 units of sanitary complex, and solid liquid waste management (SLWM) in 234 Gram Panchayat.

The construction of individual household latrines costs INR 12,000 per unit, with the funding pattern ration of 90% by the centre and 10% by the state. The construction of sanitary complex stands at INR 2 lakh with funding ratio of 90% by the centre and 10% by the state.

The solid liquid waste management is taken up in project mode for each village with final assistance capped for a GP on number of household basis. The funding ratio pattern is 90% by the centre and 10% by the state. The funding status at the Gram Panchayat (GP) having up to 150 households is INR 7 lakh, GP up to 300 households at INR 12 lakh, GP having up to 500 household at INR 15 lakh, and GP having more than 500 households at INR 20 lakh.

Poshan Abhiyan

 Additional Director of Social Welfare department, Tutula Pongen in her presentation on the Poshan Abhiyan during the workshop said that the national nutrition mission aimed at reducing malnourishment, low birth rate, and prevalence of Anemia.

It may be mentioned that the target beneficiaries under the scheme are from the age group of 0–6 years, pregnant women and lactating (Breast feeding) mothers, and adolescent girls.

Poshan Abhiyaan was started at Kiphire and Tuensang in March 2018 (first phase). It was extended to Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Peren, and Mon in June 2018, and remaining five districts in September the same year, she Pongen. Apart from launching of the programme, training on community-based events (CBE), and incremental learning approach (ILA) on module1,2,3 in the entire districts were done where all CDPOs, supervisors, and 3980 anganwadi workers were trained, she added.

The ICDS-CAS mobile phones and growth-monitoring devices procurements are all bided in the government e-marketing (GeM) portal. The selection process for the devices is completed and all the equipments are expected to be delivered by Feb. 28, Pongen added.