District Planning and Development Board meetings in Kohima and Phek focus on horticulture schemes, road safety, and shortage of medical officers in PHCs.
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DIMAPUR — The monthly meetings of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) for Kohima and Phek districts were held on Wednesday.
Kohima: In Kohima, the meeting was held at the DPDB Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Kevipodi Sophie, MLA and chairman of DPDB Kohima, while B Henok Buchem, Deputy Commissioner and vice chairman of DPDB Kohima, presided over the session.
According to a DIPR report, in his address, the chairman noted that several achievements were made in the previous year and expressed confidence that greater progress would be achieved in the current year through collective effort.
The following four societies—Rhodo Realm Academy, Middle PWD Colony, Kohima; Joint Forum Equity, Botsa; Sunrise Shuttles Badminton Club, Khikha, Rüliezou, Kohima; and Nagaland Police CSR and Security Board, PR Hill, Kohima—made presentations. Following this, the house held a detailed discussion and approved their registration, recommending the same for further necessary action by the concerned authorities.
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The Horticulture department presented a detailed overview of its organisational structure and ongoing flagship schemes and programmes. The presentation was made by Mhasi Yashü, horticulture officer, Department of Horticulture, who highlighted activities under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
He highlighted activities including distribution of citrus planting materials, area expansion for citrus, kiwi, banana, pineapple and Naga Mircha cultivation, site verification and field inspections, vegetable seed distribution, and promotion of low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation. Infrastructure created under various schemes, such as packhouses, primary processing units, water resources, protected cultivation units, rural markets and cold room facilities, was also presented.
The department further informed that training programmes, including specialised training on kiwi pruning conducted by a scientist from New Zealand, have been undertaken.
Under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER), the department reported that 500 hectares of certified persimmon cultivation has been taken up in the Western Angami cluster covering villages under Sechu-Zubza Block, including Zubza, Kiruphema, Sechuma, Mengujuma, Jotsoma, Khonoma, Mezoma and Thekrujuma.
As per SFAC guidelines, The Green Caravan, Kohima, has been engaged as the Resource Institute to assist in the formation of farmer producer organisations/companies. Distribution of quality planting materials, machinery, persimmon dehydrators, field inspections and establishment of small processing units were also highlighted.
The department briefed the house on activities under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), including ginger cultivation for livelihood enhancement, integrated rural markets and collection centres. Other initiatives, such as the strawberry farming model project at Sechu-Zubza and the Naga Mircha Festival 2024 were also mentioned.
During the discussion, the deputy commissioner sought clarification on the status of GI certification for tree tomato and king chilli and organic certification under NPOP. The department informed that the GI certification process is ongoing and that certification is being pursued on a crop-specific basis, while MOVCD-NER activities are presently in the fourth phase.
The regional transport officer made a presentation on National Road Safety initiatives in view of Road Safety Month, which is observed across the country. The presentation focused on reducing road accidents through education, enforcement and training of students, drivers and all stakeholders.
Emphasis was laid on the importance of seatbelt use, avoiding mobile phone use while driving, and preventing reckless driving. Basic road safety measures for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders were also highlighted.
The regional transport officer also highlighted the Good Samaritan guidelines introduced by the Government of India in 2018 to encourage people to assist road accident victims without fear of legal or procedural harassment.
The house was briefed on provisions related to hit-and-run accident compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act. In cases of death due to hit-and-run accidents, a compensation of INR 2 lakh is provided to the next of kin, while victims suffering grievous injuries are entitled to compensation of INR 50,000.
The deputy commissioner took note of reports of wild elephants creating havoc in Chiephobozou and directed the Chiephobozou EAC to monitor the situation and regularly update the district administration to enable timely preventive measures.
Phek: The Phek DPDB meeting held at the DC Conference Hall, Phek, discussed the urgent need for the posting of medical officers against the nine primary health centres (PHCs) running without doctors under the Chief Medical Officer, Phek, including the newly upgraded Meluri district.
The matter regarding the shortage of medical officers in these nine PHCs was highlighted to the members during the PowerPoint presentation of the department activities made by Dr. Sedeu Rupreo, district programme manager, Phek.
Kudecho Khamo, Advisor for CAWD and Taxes, who is also the advisor of DPDB Phek, expressed concerns for healthcare services as the utmost important for the citizens and informed the house that the posting of medical officers in the PHCs will be initiated soon.
The matter regarding the naming of roads and institutions after the names of important Naga personalities in the district was also deliberated during the meeting as per a directive received from the Home department, Government of Nagaland.
Thehakhrienuo Nisa, ADC Phek, presented a report on the Inter-Departmental Sports Tournament conducted from November 4 to the 6th, 2025, in the district, where the DEF Phek emerged as the overall champion of the tournament.
Rhosietho Nguori, Deputy Commissioner Phek, who conducted the meeting, requested the officers and members of the DPDB to be more concerned and actively participate in the monthly mass social work held in Phek town. The DC also reminded the heads of the offices in the district to attend monthly DPDB meetings regularly and reminded the officers to represent the department in all the development activities of the district.
Deputy Commissioner of Phek, Rhosietho Nguori, who conducted the meeting, requested the officers and members of the DPDB to be more concerned and participate in the monthly mass social work held in Phek town. He also reminded the heads of the offices in the district to attend monthly DPDB meetings regularly and reminded the officers to represent the department in all the development activities of the district.