‘Act eastern Nagaland’

Kohima Bureau Kohima, March 26 (EMN): With the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) announcing special interventions to address issues of developmental imbalance in eastern Nagaland, opposition MLA CL John on Tuesday challenged the PDA to follow act on its assurance. He reminded that during DAN-II, the government announced INR 300 cr. special package for eastern Nagaland areas which failed to materialise. He pointed out that works programme were done but no work was carried out and the then chief minister Neiphiu Rio had "ran away" to Delhi. The MLA expressed hope that with Rio returning to the state as chief minister, the special package will be delivered for the people of the eastern Nagaland particularly in the light of the new commitment he has made during his budget speech. Stating that the most vital need in the eastern districts was roads, John suggested that the special intervention be put into this sector and route the works through the DUDA. Despite directing some snide at the chief minister, the MLA also appreciated the DAN-I under Rio's chief ministership for having given focus on the ENPO areas and creating two districts and a separate department for the area in the form of DUDA. Also, while appreciating the PDA government's programme for overall development of the ENPO areas, opposition MLA Chotisuh Sazo pointed out that there was a decrease in the fund allocation for the backward areas. He questioned as to how the new government planned to give special focus but give lesser budget. Sazo also questioned why special focus was given to only ENPO areas. He mentioned that there were other districts like Phek, Peren etc. which are inhabited by backward tribes. He said all the tribes of Nagaland fell under OBC but in the state, they are divided into two categories- advanced and backward tribes. Maintaining that equal development should be given to all the backward areas, he underscored that the society should not be further divided, but that, development should be equally distributed to all the backward pockets.