‘Consultation amongst stakeholders underway’

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, MARCH 15 Governor PB Acharya today said that the Nagaland government will continue to take active part in facilitating the peace process between the Government of India and different Naga groups towards an early settlement to the protracted Naga political issue. Addressing the first day of the week-long eleventh session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) which commenced today, Acharya said consultation process amongst various stakeholder groups has been going on actively after the signing of the “framework agreement” by the Centre and the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015. He appreciated the recent efforts of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of the Nagaland Legislators Forum for Naga political issue to meet Central leaders of various political parties to apprise them of the history and situation of the Naga political issue and seek their support for an early settlement. The Governor stated that on the other hand, the unilateral abrogation of ceasefire by NSCN (K) in March 2015 has caused much anxiety to the people and the state government along with civil societies have been appealing to the Government of India and the NSCN (K) to resume the ceasefire. He acknowledged the joint effort of the Naga Hoho and the Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO) for going to Myanmar in February last on the request of the PWC and conveyed the desire of the state government and the people for resumption of ceasefire to the authorized representatives of NSCN (K). Towards this, he appealed to all sections of the society to be “large hearted” and support the peace process for the sake of future generations. On the law and order front, the Governor said the situation in the state has been “largely peaceful” with the administration, the police and the para-military forces effectively dealing with the overall situation. He pointed out that the unfortunate murder of an innocent couple near Shamator on February 6 last had led to problems in Kiphire, Pungro and Shamator areas, however, he said due to collective efforts of the government agencies, civil societies and legislators, the situation has been brought under control. Also, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a DIGP has been constituted to probe the incident and the subsequent acts of arson and destruction of properties at Kiphire, Pungro and Shamator, he said, and appealed to the people of the state to assist and cooperate with the SIT in apprehending the culprits. “These incidents also require introspection within the civil society. Safety of the minority community in any area should be the prime concern of the majority community in that area,” Acharya said. He added that the tendency for exacting revenge must be avoided and the law be allowed to take its course. Meanwhile, the Governor asserted that the past year has seen many positive developments in the state and he apprised the August House about the policies and programs, achievements and plans of the government on the occasion. He announced that the Nagaland Backward Tribes Commission Bill 2016 to establish a commission in the state to safeguard the rights of backward tribes will be tabled in the current state Assembly session. He also highlighted that the government is committed to addressing gender issues and has adopted Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) as a key strategy to achieve gender mainstreaming, which will help in ensuring that gender concerns across all sectors are identified and prioritised in the budget making process. “The state government is now in the process of formulating a concrete strategy for strengthening the state’s ongoing efforts on GRB,” he informed. In the power sector, the Governor said construction of 66/11 KV, 20 MVA Sub-Station at Sovima and an additional 25 MVA, 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Kohima will be commissioned during the current year. He also stated that the Central Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has approved soft interventions for 5 clusters in various districts of Nagaland, and one industrial infrastructure project in Longleng. Under the department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, he said two new ITIs at Peren and Dimapur will be set up while the Central Ministry of Labour & Employment has approved establishment of a Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for differently abled persons in Nagaland. In the health sector, Acharya informed that more laboratories enabling rapid DNA diagnosis of multi drug resistant TB in paediatric TB, TB in PLHIV and extra pulmonary TB will be set up in the state. He also mentioned that the construction of Battalion Headquarters 12th NAP (IR) at Chingtok, Longleng and 13th NAP (IR) at Yachang, Mokokchung are nearing completion. He said as part of prison reformation process, various vocational activities are being in Central Jail at Dimapur and the district jails of Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur. He informed that the legal infrastructure is being strengthened and Video conferencing facility with all the district courts and district jails is being installed, and 95 Lok Adalats on recovery suits, criminal compoundable matters, traffic and petty offences and bank recovery cases were conducted during the past year. The Governor also announced that the financial assistance to the living World War II veterans of Nagaland has been enhanced from Rs.3000 per month to Rs.6000 per month with effect from 2015-16. Agriculture being the mainstay of the state’s economy, the Governor highlighted that the state government’s strategy is to increase production and productivity with suitable technologies in the farming sector. He said that during 2015-16, the target to achieve 6.81 lakh metric tons of foodgrains production with productivity level of 2270 kg per hectare has been surpassed. Under the Land Resources Development, he said a comprehensive plan has been prepared to develop 5000 hectares of coffee plantation in the state in the next 5 years under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) in collaboration with Coffee Board of India. Also, in an effort to promote sustainable development, the Soil & Water Conservation department is testing soil from different parts of Nagaland and daily weather conditions are being monitored across the state, while extensive jhum land survey is also being undertaken. He stated that under the National Hydrological Programme (NHP), Rs.28 crores has been allocated for the state to be implemented from 2016-17 to 2022-23, and under this programme, new hydrological stations will be installed across the state and existing stations will be upgraded to develop a Hydrology Information System enabling integration of data sharing by all stakeholders. Under the Rural Development department, he mentioned that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has generated employment of 127.05 lakh man days during 2015-16 till now. On the education sector, the Governor said all efforts were being made to improve the quality of education in government schools. Currently, he said rationalisation of schools and teachers was in good progress and the process of streamlining of personnel management in the department and budget monitoring in the directorate have drastically brought down expenditure on salaries. For improvement in quality education, he said 47 Science and 68 Math teachers were selected through open interview and posted in Government Middle Schools, especially in the far flung areas of the state while another 200 Primary Teachers have been selected through open interview to be posted in the districts of Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire, which he feels, will greatly mitigate the issue of deficit teachers in GPS in these districts. He also remarked that recently 533 graduate teachers were appointed under RMSA to man the 111 GMS upgraded to high schools and will be functional from this academic session. Acharya also pointed out that the main thrust area of the State Council for Educational Research & Training (SCERT) during 2016-17 will be setting up of new DIETs at Peren, Longleng and Kiphire, including 3 new BITEs at Sechu, Longkhim and Chuchuyimlang. In the field of Higher Education, he said that establishment of new Polytechnics in the six remaining districts are in good progress. Under NST, construction of Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kohima and Inter State Bus & Truck Terminus (ISBTT) at New District Hq., Peren are nearing completion, he said. Meanwhile, he said the department of Geology & Mining will continue regional coal exploration at Changki Blok-A in Mokokchung district under promotional funding and take up second phase of prospecting/exploration of platinum group of minerals in the Naga Hills Ophiolite, funded by the Ministry of Science & Technology during 2016-17. The NSMDC has also taken up the 9km Zipu-Moke road and 20lm Laluri-Mimi road, which he said will facilitate establishment of Mega Cement Plant at Mimi. Under the Science & Technology department, the construction of the Innovation Hub, along with a Planetarium is expected to be completed by March, 2016, while in the Information Technology & Communication (IT&C) sector, he said Nagaland became the first state in the country to successfully take over the State Portal and State Service Delivery Gateway (SP & SSDG) Mission Mode Project, and the state also became the first in North-Eastern Region to start the pilot project for National Information Infrastructure (NII) at Peren district. The Governor also highlighted about the recently launched State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and informed that SDRF personnel will be deployed at eight strategic district headquarters with the objective to respond quickly to natural calamities across the state he added. Under NST, construction of Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kohima and Inter State Bus & Truck Terminus (ISBTT) at New District Hq., Peren are nearing completion, he said. He said the Municipal Affairs department has completed preparation of Smart City Plan for Kohima and has submitted the same for the Stage-II Smart City Challenge competition under the Smart City Mission. The department has also completed survey on Housing Demand in ail the 23 ULBs of the State under Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana (Housing for All by 2022), he added. Under Urban Development, he stated that Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and National Urban Livelihood Mission are being implemented, while infrastructure improvements in water supply, solid waste management, sewerage and sanitation has been taken up for the state capital under the ADB assisted North Eastern Region Urban Development Program. The Governor expressed hope that the House will deliberate on various issues concerning good governance, development of the state on all fronts, welfare of the people, and that collective efforts will take the state forward. The motion of thanks on the Governor’s address was moved by MLA Vikho-o Yhoshü and MLA Namri Nchang seconded the motion. During the first day of the session, the Chief Minister TR Zeliang made obituary reference on the passing away of former Governor of Nagaland Late General (Retd) K.V. Krishna Rao (January 30, 2016) and former Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting MP from Meghalaya, late PA Sangma (March4, 2016) while NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo made obituary reference to former MLAs, late L Nokzenketba (February 5, 2016), late Lalkholam Kuki (February 9, 2016), and late T Sakusangba Aier (February 24, 2016).