Our Correspondent
Kohima, Sep. 27 (EMN): Kohima College, one of the oldest colleges in Nagaland, on Thursday stepped forward to lend a helping hand to people affected by this year’s monsoon emergency. The college’s faculty, led by the principal Dr. Watijungshi, donated a sum of INR one lac to the chief minister’s relief fund (CMRF) to help the affected people.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had announced in the state’s assembly recently that many individuals and organisations had generously contributed to the funds. As on September 14, the funds totalled INR 4,69,24,536. He said that the funds were for relief and rehabilitation operations to the affected families and to meet critical gaps not covered by the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
“I am overwhelmed by the response of the people from all walks of life, who have made valuable contributions to the CM Relief Fund,” the chief minister had stated.
Nagaland was hit hard by unprecedented rains, particularly during the months of July and August, which left in its wake loss of lives; and numerous landslides, road subsidence and blockages; damage to property and crops, and displacement of many families.
An inter-ministerial central team had visited the state in the early part of September to assess the damage. The team will be filing an official report based on which the government of India is expected to release NDRF. So far, the state’s authorities have been engaging relief operations through the funds available with the state.
Chief Minister Rio had also informed before that the government had decided to set up a committee to oversee judicious use of funds. A related event he informed about was a community work from September 29 to October 2 to ‘restore’ damaged infrastructure and to improve drainage and roads in all the district and ADC headquarters. The event will coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as is being observed as part of the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva (Hindi for ‘cleanliness is service, or ‘service to the people through cleanliness’) campaign.
