Our Correspondent
Kohima, Jan. 26 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday said the Central government is “considering” the removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) of 1958 in Nagaland.
“The state government has taken up with the Central government for removal of AFSPA from our state. The Central government is considering the matter and we are hopeful of a positive decision soon”, Rio said, addressing the 73rd Republic Day at the Secretariat Plaza in Kohima.
Following the killing of 14 innocent civilians at Oting-Tiru and Mon last year, there was a public outcry against the continuation of AFSPA in the state. Amid the demand for repealing the act, the Centre declared Nagaland as “disturbed area” till June 2022, much against the will of the people.
The chief minister further expressed confidence that justice would be delivered to the families of the victims.
“We are taking every measure to lessen the pain of the family members, who lost their near and dear ones, as well as of all those who suffered injuries”, he assured.
The Special Investigation Team of Nagaland Police led by senior police officers has made “good progress” in its investigation. In addition, the Army’s Court of Inquiry is reportedly “being completed at a fast pace”.
“We are sure that justice will be delivered for the families”, the chief minister added.
He went on to add that the Naga insurgency in the 1950s was one of the reasons for imposition of AFSPA in Nagaland. Since then, six decades have passed.
There has been ceasefire with the various Naga political groups since the last nearly two-and-a-half decades and this has improved law and order in the state, he said.
“Negotiations between the Naga political groups and the government of India have been going on in a cordial atmosphere to find a solution. There is good understanding of each other’s positions and concerns, so crucial for overcoming all the differences and coming to a consensus”, he added.
Rio further stated that the members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had come together and formed an all-party government to ‘convey to the negotiating parties to give the people an honourable, inclusive and acceptable solution’.
We will continue to facilitate and be hopeful of an early solution, he added.
The chief minister also said that the creation of the four new districts is a step towards “ensuring good governance”.
“Ensuring good governance and bringing it in an effective manner right at the doorstep of every person has been the endeavour of my Government all throughout”, he said.
Towards this end, the state government has approved creation of four new districts -- Tseminyu, Niuland, Chumoukedima and Shamator -- while also giving recognition to Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe.
Speaking further on the reasons for creating the four districts, Rio said: “Tseminyu district fulfills the desire and aspirations of the Rengma people to have a district of their own. Shamator district creation is the culmination of sincere efforts made by the Yimkhiung and Tikhir people by resolving their decades old disputes amicably, and recognition of Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe”.
“The creation of Niuland and Chumoukedima districts was the need of the times, and besides giving the right historical perspective, resolved the matter with regard to the headquarters of the erstwhile Dimapur district”, the chief minister added.
As for the other demands for creation of new districts, he reiterated that the government would not divide single tribe districts keeping with the Government’s motto of “unity”.
Rio conveyed best wishes to the people of the new districts for the rapid and allround development as well as celebrating the occasion of Republic Day for the very first time in their new districts.
Nagaland, which is nearing six decades as a state, has been capable of marching shoulder-to-shoulder with all the other states. It is contributing in strengthening the nation in every manner and helping achieve all the developmental goals, Rio said.
Rio, who had taken the ‘precautionary dose’ on the occasion of Republic Day, said that the vaccine is the best protection against serious Covid infection and needs to be taken by each and every person above 15 years of age in the state.
“There are many who have fallen prey to misinformed and false messages from unscrupulous elements and are still to get vaccinated”, he said.
He called upon all such individuals to “heed the voice of reason, the voice of the billions who have benefited from vaccination and get their dose immediately”.
He also urged all to continue adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviours, particularly mandatory wearing of masks in public places and SOPs aimed for preventing the spread of Covid-19.
‘In spite of the best efforts, many succumbed to the disease and our hearts go out to all the bereaved families, friends. The pandemic is not over yet and we are facing the third wave, which has already affected many parts of the country’, he said.
The Health and Family Welfare department has been ramping up its infrastructure over the last year. Total of 1281 oxygen beds and one hundred 163 ICU beds including 97 with ventilators have been set up. Every district has been provided with at least one PSA oxygen generator plant. A 200-bedded acute care hospital at Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, Dimapur was built and made operational. Similarly, an additional 50-bedded fully equipped ward has been established at District Hospital Dimapur. The Police Department also operationalised a fully equipped 100-bedded hospital at Police Referral Hospital, Chumoukedima. We should be adequately prepared in these respects, he informed.
The overall law and order situation in the state in the year gone by remained peaceful. The district administration, state police and other security agencies are always committed to render their service and assistance to maintain a peaceful atmosphere and for controlling the law - and - order situation in the state, Rio assured.
The department of Higher Education, Nagaland is pursuing with the Government of India to set up Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) and National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in the state.
The technical education sector will receive a further boost with the commencement of academic sessions at Government Polytechnic, Wokha and Peren from 2022-23.
As part of the JICA Assisted Nagaland Forest Management Project under Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it has covered 91 villages across the State till now and will further cover 94 villages. The project has so far achieved 16,255 hectares of plantation area with 50 lakh seedlings planted and generated 7 lakh man days employment. The department will also be implementing a pilot Jhum Project funded under CAMPA, Gol.
The Public Health Engineering department under the Jai Jeevan Mission, has provided a total of 1,46,662 functional household tap connections covering 218 villages till date. During the year, a total of 2,06,363 tap connections are targeted for coverage of 1990 schools, and 1726 Anganwadis have been provided piped water supply.
Under the Public Works department, the widening of NH-2 for 24 km from Tsungiki Bazaar to Izheto will start soon. Widening work for 59 km on NH-2, Alichen to Ungma, Mokokchung to Yisemyong and Unger to Tuli and strengthening of NH-29 (Dimapur city) has been sanctioned. Construction of 11 minister’s quarters at Thizama and the staff’s quarter complex at Dwarka, New Delhi have also been completed. The Nagaland State Transport department has taken up construction of the heliport at Chumoukedima, he informed.
While celebrating ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate 75 years of India independence, he urged every citizen to take a pledge on Republic Day, to re-dedicate oneself to ensure that the fruits of development reach everyone and every nook and corner of Nagaland.
“We have achieved a lot over the decades, and unitedly we should be able to make Nagaland a more developed and progressive State”, Rio said.