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Naveen Verma interacting with students at the Mahatma Gandhi Academy of Human Development, in Mokokchung.[/caption]
Dimapur, Aug. 13 (EMN): Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Naveen Verma, IAS, visited the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram and its learning Institutes -- Mahatma Gandhi Academy of Human Development (MGAHD) and National Institute of E-Learning and Information Technology (NIELIT) -- and inaugurated a ‘smart classroom equipped with better electronic facilities for teaching and learning’ at NIELIT.
A DIPR news bulletin, while informing about the visit of the bureaucrat from the central government, stated that Verma also visited the new administrative and hostel buildings currently under construction, and surveyed the new proposed Ashram site ‘which is a 332 acre-land donated by Chuchuyimlang village’.
The DIPR also informed that Verma interacted with the students at the institute where he advised them to be sincere in learning and have a clear direction in their careers.
At the Mahatma Gandhi Academy of Human Development, which is a joint initiative of Tata Institute of Social Science and National Gandhi Ashram sponsored by HANs Foundation, Verma interacted with the students and faculty members and said that each must have a plan for life, not only to survive oneself but also to help the society. He also shared programmes and schemes of the government for the development of the Northeast states.
A public reception in honor of the DoNER secretary was organised at Anumai Amphitheatre, Chuchuyimlang village. Speaking at the programme, Verma thanked the village for the donating huge land to the Ashram for its development; he also shared the importance in the initiative taken up by DoNER in the Northeast region development.
The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Sachin Jaiswal, while welcoming the DoNER secretary, thanked him for visiting the ashram and said that his visit showed his great concern for the ashram and also for the district in general. Besides, the deputy commissioner also encouraged the people to follow and take up schemes on which DoNER can contribute, and get benefit of it.
Natwar Takkar who is the Founder of Nagaland Gandhi Ashram Chuchuyimlang in the year 1955, delivering his short speech, recounted the history and shared fond memories of the Ashram in the yonder years.
Folk songs, cultural presentations and special numbers were presented by different groups at the programme. ,
Earlier, Naveen Verma also visited ‘ECHAHABA Tea factory’, which manufactures Merangkong brand Tea at Tuli and interacted with tea farmers of the Co-operative Society and members of Merangkong village council. An exhibition-cum-demonstration of bamboo mat woven by women artisan at Tuli was also displayed. Dr. Aotoshi, chairman of ECHAHABA Tea Growers Co-operative Society, Merangkong facilitated the sessions. The registrar of co-operative societies, officials of Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency also attended the meeting, the DIPR reported.
