Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAR 20
NAGALAND Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar today appealed to the Government of India and the Naga nationalist groups to expedite the Indo-Naga peace process to arrive at an honourable political settlement.
In his maiden address on the first day of the fourth session of the 12th state Assembly which commenced here this morning, the Governor said that the state government has taken many initiatives to facilitate a peaceful resolution of the Naga political issue, including formation of the Joint Legislators Forum.
He said the efforts of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) to forge unity and common approach amongst the Naga underground groups are laudable.
However, he said, “We are worried that the negotiations has been prolonged for seventeen long years, “wearing thin the patience of the common man, who has to face many problems connected with the Naga political movement”.
“It is the sincere appeal of my Government that both the Government of India and the Naga nationalist groups should expedite the peace process to arrive at an honourable political settlement, so that the state and its people can pursue their destinies in peace,” Dr Kumar maintained.
He said that the law and order situation by and large is peaceful and several tense situations were contained through timely and effective intervention of the Administration and the Police.
The Governor said a very significant development taking place in Nagaland is the emergence of the movement of civil societies against illegal taxation, he said the government is deeply concerned and is committed to ensure that the interest of the common man is secured.
He said a special committee set up by the Government has been actively examining the various concerns of the people, including the performance of government functionaries at the ground level.
A number of check gates along the highways have been removed, and several measures are being envisaged, including community policing and restructuring of the activities of the regulatory and revenue collecting departments, he said.
But, Dr Kumar said, for real changes to take place, the civil society and the government have to work together, so that the Naga youth are provided with appropriate environment to work and grow.
He said the past one year has been very eventful, marked by many exciting activities, including the visits of high profile global personalities, which indicates the coming of age of Nagaland in a fast globalizing world, and the recognition of the Nagas by the rest of the world as important constituents of the world society.
He therefore called upon the august House to be encourages by such interfaces and continue to endeavour to elevate Nagaland to standards of a developed society.
Maintaining that this year Nagaland will commemorate the 70th year of the Battle of Kohima, he called upon all to join hands to make the event memorable.
The Governor while expressing that the government has been effectively and efficiently promoting the state to move forward along with the rest of the world, despite the numerous problems that confronts the state.
He said the challenges are many and the resources scarce, but despite the constraints, determination will lead to achievement. He said that the last fifty years have been difficult years, yet Nagaland have come a long way and the progress and development is there for all to see.
He therefore appealed all to continue to focus on the strengths of the state to usher in a future with promises.
He also maintained that the state government has given high priority to the planning process and therefore in the ongoing 12th plan, clear and new visions have been set out for industrialization and urbanization in the state. He disclosed that the government has decided to move a resolution of the House in this session to embark on a vision statement for the Nagaland Special Development Zone.
It is the endeavour of the government to provide quality education to the students, he said adding that towards this end, the government has decided to rationalize teacher deployment in all government schools and the exercise is expected to be completed shortly.
Maintaining that health of the people is an important index of development, he expressed happiness that Nagaland was adjudged the Best Performing State in health care among smaller category states by the India Today Group last year.
He said that Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has been restructured recently, aiming at addressing health, nutrition and the development needs of young children and pregnant and nursing mothers. Under welfare programme for persons with disabilities, he said the rate of financial assistance has been increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 p.m. covering 3833 beneficiaries.
In the agriculture and allied sectors, he said the efforts of the government to push food-grain productions have shown very good results.
Besides, he said the government has also been focusing on organic production of food crops, which is the inherent strength of the state. He said Horticulture corridors along the National and state highways have been introduced.
He said the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, and Department of irrigation and Flood Control have been contributing substantially towards the economic development of the state by conserving the social and water resources of the state and by creating irrigation potential in Command Areas for increased agriculture production under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme. He said a new program for Repair, Restoration and Renovation of the Water Bodies has been introduced from 2013-14.
Stating that road connectivity is an essential pre-requisite for economic growth of a state like Nagaland, he said the department is continuing to pursue its mandate with new initiatives and enthusiasm.
A prominent initiative has been the construction of the foothills road, and work on it has been initiated, he said adding that an amount of Rs. 40 crore has been kept for the purpose during the current year.
He also said the revival plan of Tuli Paper Mill is important not only in terms of employment and livelihood opportunities for the Naga people, but it will also help pave the way for an industrial culture to emerge in the state. It should therefore be the collective responsibility of all of us to ensure that this mill is revived and made functional as soon as possible.
Pointing that Nagaland is a major meat consuming state, the Governor said efforts are being made to attain self sufficiency in meat production. In this direction, the state has been able to raise internal production of meat to the extent of 63 percent of the total consumption.
Expressing that with most of the Naga population lives in the villages, he said the trust of the government’s development strategy is to improve the rural economy. Towards this end, he said several major development programmes are being undertaken through the participation of the village community.
On the Power sector, he said that Nagaland continues to remain an acutely power deficit state. He said in order to attain self sufficiency in power, the department is actively pursuing implementation of the 186 MW Dikhu and 140 MW Tizu-Zungki power projects. He said Techno Economic Clearances has been already accorded in respect of the Dikhu Project by Central Electricity Authority and negotiations are underway with the landowners to start the project early.
Asserting that the Development of Underdeveloped Areas of the state is a very important policy of the government, he said the state government has decided to go ahead with the implementation of most of the projects included under the special development package for the eastern Nagaland amounting to Rs. 300 crore incorporated by the GoI as part of the state plan during 2012-2013. He said that though the fund has not been received, the projects would be implemented by paying from the own plan resources, as and when works are completed.
Outlining some of the initiatives and achievements of the government during the last one year, he touched upon various other major departments like Forest, Geology and Mining, New and renewable Energy, Urban Development, Information Technology etc.
The Governor however said much has been done for the upliftment of the state and the people, but much more remains to be done.
He expressed the hope that the august House will address the pressing issues and problems that are confronting the state and evolve appropriate policies to redress and resolve them.
THE five-day long budget session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) commenced today with the maiden address of the Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar. The Speaker Chotisuh Sazo made obituary reference to the passing away of late Hentok Konyak, former Deputy Speaker and Member of the state assembly while the house observed two minutes silence in remembrance of the departed soul. Later, Adviser Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency and MLA, Dr Longrineken moved the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address which was seconded by Chairman Nagaland Handloom and Handicraft Development Corporation and MLA Namri Nchang. The session will conclude on March 24. The House was adjourned for the day after Speaker Sazo announced that discussion and adoption on the Governor’s address will take place on Friday and Saturday.
