Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MARCH 17
Chief Minister TR Zeliang today introduced the Nagaland Backward Tribes Commission (NBTC) Bill 2016 at the ongoing 11th Session of the 12th State Assembly.
The NBTC bill seeks for establishment of a ‘Commission for Backward Tribes in the state of Nagaland’ to safeguard the backward tribes of the state with special focus on the six backward tribes-Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchungru- belonging to Longleng, Kiphire, Mon and Tuensang districts.The function of the Commission, which will consist of a Chairperson and two members (one female member), would include studying and making recommendations on educational, employment and health aspects pertaining to them. The Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of Personnel & Administrative Reforms department, stated in the statement of object that it was felt necessary to introduce the Bill with a view to establish an effective mechanism for safeguarding the rights of backward tribes of the state with regard to implementation of policy of reservation of posts for them, and make recommendations on developmental, education, employment and health aspects of the backward tribes. The bill has been put up for consideration till March 19.
Committee on prohibition of gambling and online tables report
The report of the Committee on Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill 2015 was tabled in the State Assembly on Thursday by the Chairman of the select committee for the bill, parliamentary secretary Khriehu Liezietsu.
The proposed bill seeks to prohibit gambling and to promote and regulate games of skill in line with various judgments rendered by the High Courts and Supreme Court, describing games that require a preponderance of skill as not amounting to gambling.
The committee is said to have thoroughly examined the bill and deliberated on its social and legal implications. Stating that it is satisfied with the legalities and the revenue that would be generated, the committee has unanimously recommended that the bill be passed. It was also stated that the report of the committee was considered and adopted on March 8, 2016.
Mention may be made here that the said bill was referred to a select committee during the last budget session in July 2015 with the following members- Liezietsu as Chairman and parliamentary secretaries Mmhonlumo Kikon, BS Nganlang, L Khumo and Dr. Imtiwapang Aier as members.
Other reports that were laid during the third day of the session included the Annual Report (2011-2012) of the Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NSMDC); Annual Report (2012-2013) of the Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NSMDC) and Annual Report (2014-2015) of the Nagaland Information Commission, by the Chief Minister TR Zeliang, while parliamentary secretary for Home Guards & Civil Defence and Sericulture, EE Pangteang laid on the table a copy each of the Service Rules of Home Guards (Gazetted) and Service Rules of Home Guards (Non-Gazetted), parliamentary secretary for Fisheries, Printing & Stationery, Shetoyi laid the Nagaland Government Printing Press (Technical) Service Rules, 2015, and parliamentary secretary for Labour, Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Mmhonlumo Kikon laid the Nagaland Shops and Establishment Rules, 2015. Annual Administrative Reports for 2015-16 of 34 state departments were also laid during the business hour.
The department of Health & Family Welfare has claimed that it is steadfastly moving towards improving the health delivery system in the state and is developing the proposed medical college in Kohima with 100 academic seats linked with the Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK).
According to the department’s annual administrative report 2015-16, the state government has already invested Rs.20.46 crores against this project while the Government of India has released Rs.7.50 crores as the first instalment. The upcoming Nagaland Medical College Kohima will initially function from two campuses- administrative, academic, hostel complex for students and residential complex for faculty and staff at Phriebagie, while the teaching hospital campus will be at the NHAK. The ongoing construction of district hospital Kohima building at Phriebagie will be converted and utilized for the college, it was stated.
