Principal Correspondent Kohima, March 17
Chief Minister, TR Zeliang today presented Vote-on-Account amounting to Rs 3868.16 crore to defray the expenses of the State government for the first four months of the fiscal 2015-16 for consideration and passing by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. “Presentation of a full budget has not been preferred due to non-finalisation of the State’s plan with the Central government, as presently we are going through a transitional period from Planning Commission to NITI Aayog and Thirteenth to Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC),” Zeliang said while making the annual financial statement after presenting Vote-on-Account for the first four months for the fiscal 2015-16 amounting to Rs. 3868.16 crore in the Assembly here. On the financial aspects of the State, the Chief Minister expressed the hope that “the award of the Fourteenth Finance Commission that will commence from April 2015 for the next five years would indeed be a significant development that will affect us”. “The positive awards of the FFC reflect, to a great extent, the manner in which we have been able to persuasively put across to them our needs and special problems, and we are looking forward to reaping the benefits of all the hard work very soon,” he said. The CM also expressed happiness that the Government of India (GOI) has accepted the recommendations of the Commission that has recommended devolution of 42% of Central taxes to the States. He reminded how the shortfall of grand-in-aid to cover Non-Plan revenue expenditure since 1989-90 has been continuously adding to the deficit of the State, which was further aggravated when the 13th FC overestimated the revenue potentials and underestimated the expenditure requirements of the State. As a result, he said the State accumulated a deficit of Rs. 1234.45 crore by 31 March 2014, and which is now estimated to be Rs. 1252.85 crore by 31 March 2015. He said as per current estimates, the total receipts for the current year 2015-16 has been placed at Rs. 11754.29 crore and the total expenditure at Rs. 11578.91 crore reflecting a positive balance of Rs. 175.38 crore in the consolidated fund of the state, which is estimated to be wiped off by a deficit of Rs. 175.38 crore in the Public Account. Maintaining that the year 2015-16 is estimated to close with a deficit of Rs. 1252.85 crore, that is at the same level as the closing balance of 2014-15, he expressed the hope that the government will be able to tighten the belt by imposing austerity measures and bring down the deficit to a great extent in the years to come with the implementation of the 14th FC. On the measures to increase the revenue, the CM said that within a year we cannot expect radical change in curbing the deficit scenario of the state, but however maintained that deficit could be decreased gradually with revenue generation through taxes from various sources including Land revenue, CST, oil and refinery, coal and mining. He further said that after assuming the office as the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the government has tried its best for curtailing down expenditure, because of which it has not crossed the target deficit amounting to Rs. 1252 crore. ‘If we had not restrained, the deficit would have increased to Rs 2000 crores,’ he said. The growing burden of deficit has been a matter of great concern for the state government, he said while expressing that the government is working hard to check further escalation of deficit by curbing Non-Plan Revenue Expenditure to the extent possible. Assuring the House that all efforts are being made to ensure that the State does not run into an overdraft, he said steps have been taken up to enhance revenue mobilization of the State in various sectors. He informed the House that the government has decided that the criterion for selection of developmental schemes under State Plan shall henceforth be based on the merit of performance of each department. “Departments that execute programmes with a higher level of efficiency and better results will be allocated a higher percentage of funds each year. Similarly, we will consider downsizing of funds in respect of departments that do not show positive results in implementation of projects,” he said. “The Government cannot ignore the mandate of the people and the responsibility to deliver the goods,” he said while adding that it is time to realize the goal of the DAN government to work with the people and for the people, and make our land a land of peace and prosperity.
Naga political issue: Zeliang asserted the Naga People's Front (NPF) led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government remains firm and strong in its commitment towards resolution of the Naga political issue. The cease fire and the peace talks are holding on, resulting in a relatively peaceful environment in the State, he said. “The Prime Minister, Narendra Modu had already announced the Central Government’s commitment to resolve the Naga political issue in a time bound manner, and the interlocutor to the Naga peace talk is actively engaging himself to help in thrashing out possible points of agreement between the parties,” he informed the House. The Chief Minister also opined that on the part of the State Assembly, “we need to reconstitute and re-activate the Joint Legislature Forum on the Naga political issue, so that we may be able to contribute more positively in our collective endeavour to facilitate the peace process”.
Law & order situation: Meanwhile, Zeliang regretted the recent law and order incidents and untoward happenings in Tuensang and Dimapur districts. "The Government is taking all possible steps to book the culprits and to take effective steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in future," he said. The CM also appealed to all law abiding and concerned citizens of Nagaland to come forward, and extend a helping hand to the Government, especially to the law enforcing agencies to enable them to collectively be in a better position to enforce the rule of law, and prevent such incidents from happening again in future.
Ministry reshuffle: Addressing a press conference after the first day session, Zeliang said that the much awaited major reshuffle of his ministry would be done right after the conclusion of the session. He said that it is upto the ‘dissident NPF legislators’ whether to join back or not. On inclusion of Congress into the ministry, he said since the Congress legislators supported the government during the confidence session of the Assembly, we don’t have objection to include them if they are willing. Expressing that in Nagaland we want to have a “partyless government”, he said everybody should unite because of the Nagaland political issue to work towards finding an early solution to the vexed problem and make the state peaceful and progressive. He also asserted that the difference between the Congress and BJP exists at the national level but here, there should not be any problem.
Dimapur lynching: Replying to query, he said that the issue is not being discussed in the floor of the Assembly as it might interrupt the investigation of SIT set up to enquire into the alleged rape and one-men Judicial Inquiry constituted to go into the details of the angry mob forcing inside the Dimapur Central Jail dragging out the accused Syed Farid Khan and lynching, besides destruction of other properties. He also revealed that the total of arrested persons in connection with case has gone up to 55.
CM on Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang said that the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) has not received any official report regarding occurrence of drought in the State during the year 2013-14. The Chief Minister was replying to a starred question by MLA, Tokheho Yepthomi on the measures taken up for drought affected areas in Nagaland during 2013-14 during the 8th Session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Zeliang however said that eight individual cases had applied for relief and were accommodated under SDRF. Three cases were from Mokokchung district while five were from Wokha district, the
Chief Minister stated. Replies on creation of UDC for Dimapur Replying to a starred question asked by MLA Tokheho Yepthomi, the Minister for Home Yanthungo Patton mentioned that there was no proposal to create Urban Deputy Commissioner for Dimapur district. Tokheho suggested creation of a separate Deputy Commissioner for Urban areas along with Police Commissioner in Dimapur in order to effectively maintain law and order and execute development activities and also because of the problems of shifting DC office to the new site in Chumukedima. Minister for National Highways Nuklutoshi replying to starred question asked by MLA Tokheho Yepthomi said that there are nine (9) National Highways in Nagaland of which three (3) are under Border Roads Organisation and seven (7) under NPWD including NH-702 D near Mokokchung connecting Maraini which is yet to be entrusted by the Ministry. He also mentioned that due to contractors’ problems, land owners problems and poor workmanship along with time frame allocation of funds roads conditions were poor. He added that because of very low bidding of contractors under NPWD, the quality of work was poorer comparing with roads under BRO.
Yitachu on compulsory education Replying to a starred question during the 8th session, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Yitachu stated that the department is fully implementing compulsory education to all children in the state. He stated that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and Nagaland Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 have been implemented in the State. Yitachu also stated that the Education department has taken up the supply of text books and uniform. He said that the concern offices have been informed to collect text books for the 2015 academic session
Obituary reference on late AE Lotha During the 8th Session, obituary reference was made to former Special Secretary of NLA, A.E. Lotha who passed away on February 27 at Dispur hospital Guwahati after a brief illness. Nagaland Legislative Assembly Speaker, Chotisuh Sazo mentioned that Late A.E Lotha was a humble and dedicated officer who faithfully served with sincerity and honesty.