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Governor PB Acharya, Chiefr Minister TR Zeliang, NLA Speaker Chotisuh Sazo along with the recipients of 'Governor's Award for Distinction' in the field of Art, Music and Literature at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Kohima on Thursday.[/caption]
Kohima, Jan. 26: Governor PB Acharya has appealed to all sections of the people in Nagaland to cooperate with the ongoing election process to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), stating that the election is not for any individual interest but for the growth and development of “our towns.”
Addressing the public on the 68th Republic Day celebrations at the Nagaland Secretariat Plaza in Kohima on Thursday, the Governor said elections to municipal and town councils have been notified after a gap of more than 12 years adding while the government was making necessary arrangements for successful and smooth conduct of the polls under the supervision of the State Election Commission, the provision of 33% reservation for women in ULBs has been opposed by several tribal bodies and civil society organisations on grounds that it infringes Article 371A of the Constitution.
“It is important that we govern our towns with the modern concepts and principles of urban administration to successfully manage the ongoing rapid urbanisation in the State,” Acharya said. He maintained that the very concept of creating township in the State was to provide infrastructure and better management of the towns, for which, the government has notified for conducting ULB elections to establish municipal bodies in 32 towns.
“Let us sink our differences and march forward for peace, progress and development,” he appealed.
Appreciating the various tribal bodies and civil society organisations, who have provided support and assistance to the law and order machinery in keeping the situation in the State peaceful so far, he underscored the need for continued collective efforts in maintaining a peaceful environment.
While reiterating that the State government is firm in its commitment to continue supporting the ongoing political dialogue towards achieving final settlement to the protracted Naga political issue, he called upon the NSCN (K) to respect the wish of the people by re-entering the cease-fire agreement with the Government of India.
Highlighting different initiatives being undertaken by the State government on various fronts, Acharya stated that the government has laid new focus on the area of human resource development through quality education and skill development. He said the Education Department has decided to declare the year 2017 as the “Year of Research” and as such, special emphasis would be given to research aspect, particularly by the SCERT Nagaland.
“We have also tried to address the imbalance in the deployment of teachers by carrying out redeployment and fresh appointments at certain places, particularly of science and math teachers,” he said.
He announced that the newly established four government polytechnics in Phek, Dimapur, Tuensang and Peren are likely to commence academic activities from next session. While stating that the State has now 17 accredited colleges, he said efforts are underway to establish a college in Tseminyu area under PPP basis.
On the health sector, Governor announced that the externally aided Nagaland Health Project (NHP) funded by World Bank (WB) has been successfully negotiated between the Government of India, State government and WB and the MoU has been entered recently on January 16 last. This project is expected to compliment and supplement the activities and programmes of the health department, he added.
The department is also said to have expanded its reach by creating 109 new sub-centres and upgrading 8 sub-centres to Primary Health Centres, and major upgradation of district hospitals at Tuensang and Wokha besides taking up construction of new PHC building at Seyochung.
Amid the controversies surrounding the Food and Civil Supplies Department, Governor said the department is providing 5 kg of food grains per head for Rs 3/kg to priority households under the National Food Security Act 2013, and 35 kg per household under AAY at the same rate throughout the State successfully.
On the development of rural and urban areas, Governor said the department of Rural Development has issued 4.25 lakh job cards till now under MGNREGS with earmarked outlay of Rs 518.24 crore during 2016-17, while 96 village level organisations were formed and 1711 SHGs were promoted under the ‘Nagaland Rural Livelihoods Mission.’ With the aim to empower 1280 underprivileged youth and women through computer skill training, he informed that DUDA in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) has set up computer centres in Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire.
Besides Urban Development department taking up various activities in Kohima and Dimapur under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), he said the department of Municipal Affairs is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Housing for All by 2022 and also projects in principle for Kohima, Dimapur and Shamator.
Under Tourism, he said the first phase for development of Tribal Circuit of Peren-Kohima-Wokha under Swadesh Darshan Scheme (2016-16) of the Ministry of Tourism is being implemented adding the 2nd phase covering Mon, Tuensang and Mokokchung has been sanctioned.
Under the infrastructure sectors, the Governor stated that during 2016-17 under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme, 42 ‘not covered/partially covered’ habitations are being provided with drinking water supply and 18 habitations having water quality problems are being provided with water treatment units. The PHED is also implementing four major rural water supply schemes funded by DoNER in Chiephobozou Block, Japukong Range, Akuk village and Mon village and four surrounding villages, he said, adding the department of Land Resources has also initiated 11 projects, one each in all the districts under springshed development for sustainable supply of safe and potable drinking water.
Acharya also said the department of Irrigation & Flood Control aims to complete 159 ongoing minor irrigation schemes with an outlay of Rs 109.38 crores under PMKSY besides taking up 270 new minor irrigation schemes with an anticipated outlay of Rs.206.85 crores. He stated that the Ministry of Water Resources has approved project implementation plan of Rs 28 crore under National Hydrological Programme to be implemented from 2016-17 to 2022-23.
In the power sector, he said the department will achieve 100% electrification of all the villages as per 2011 Census, with the electrification of 81 un-electrified villages under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana nearing completion.
On roads, the Governor said the work on 4 laning of Dimapur-Kohima stretch of NH-29 has started while 2 lane road from Purana Bazaar to Patkai Bridge and 2 lane road from Kohima By-Pass Check Post to Lerie have also been sanctioned.
While the government is committed to increase usage of IT in every sector for increasing convenience and quality of delivery work system, he said it was a matter of pride that Nagaland was selected by the Computer Society of India Nihilent e-Governance Award Committee as the best performing state in the northeast for IT and e-governance initiatives.
The Governor also highlighted that a technically sound, economically viable, environmentally non-degrading and sustainable agriculture development is needed in the State using natural resources- land, water and genetic endowments. Towards, this, he said during 2016-17, the department of Agriculture aims to achieve production of 7.11 lakh metric tons of foodgrain with productivity level of 2,138kg/ha.
Besides undertaking various afforestation and conservation programmes, he said the department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is also in the final stages of signing a loan agreement under the Overseas Development Assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency, under which a 10-year project is expected to be taken up to improve forest ecosystem and support rural income generation through rehabilitation of jhum areas covering 79,096 hectares.
He also announced that the implementation of Goods & Services Tax (GST) is on the anvil with the State Assembly ratifying the 122nd Constitutional Amendment Bill 2014.
“Web based online e-services are already being provided to tax payers in the State by the Commissioner of Taxes, Dimapur, simplifying tax administration and compliance. Using these e-services, 12010 dealers have been registered under various acts and an amount of Rs 406.59 crores has been collected through online e-payment,” he informed. In gearing up for the ambitious tax reforms in India in the form of GST, he said the department has been organising various handholding exercises with dealers and imparting training workshops for officers and staff for smooth transition to the new regime.
The Governor had also announced the notification of Nagaland Journalists’ Welfare Scheme for journalists in the State, through which, the State government will be providing ex-gratia relief to journalists and their families in case of death, permanent disability or major ailments.
Further, he highlighted the State government’s ‘Nagaland Vision 2030’ which emphasises generation of employment for the youth which make up a large portion of the State’s population by training, skilling and providing suitable placements for them. He said the vision document also lays down a road map for enhancing every type of connectivity such as road, rail, air and internet to South east Asian countries; envisages rapid development and growth of agriculture and allied sectors in order to achieve self sufficiency in food production; explore the nature endowed mineral deposits and use them for generating resources thereby strengthening the overall economy of our state. He expressed that with all round efforts, the path that is outlined in the vision 2030 document would be achievable.
Stating that the significant achievements made by the people of the State only spoke of their enormous potential and capabilities, the Governor was confident that greater heights can be reached by rising above differences and unitedly working for bringing positive changes in every sphere of life.
Earlier the Governor inspected the parade contingents and took the Rashtriya Salute.
