EMN
Dimapur, August 31
Government of Nagaland has today come out with detailed clarifications on all aspects related to the central project for construction of Rani Gaidinliu’s Library-cum-Memorial-Museum which is being implemented by the State Department of Arts & Culture at Kohima.
Official statement issued by ACS &Development Commissioner R B Thong today intended to clarify the wrong impressions which have been created in the minds of many people in Nagaland regarding the history and the idea behind the project to construct Rani Gaidinliu’s Library-cum-Memorial-Museum.
The statement said, the project for construction of Rani Gaidinliu’s Museum at Kohima was proposed by Arts & Culture Department and it was included in the State’s priority list of projects in 2010-11, which was then submitted to the Ministry of DoNER on May 25, 2010. (The project was listed at sl. no. 3 of the State’s Priority List under Arts and Culture Department.)
The concept note submitted by the department of Art & Culture clearly stated that “Naga tribes have lived for ages in isolation from outsiders and to an extent, even from each other due to a combination of historical and geographical factors. Each tribe has its own traditions and languages which is distinctly different from others. Equally distinctive are their colourful costumes and ornaments, dance forms, music, handicrafts and architectural, resulting in a rich tapestry of art, craft and tradition, similar, but in which each tribe has its distinctive features, flavour or/ and talent… The unique Naga cultural traditions and heritage has also flourished with a policy of village republic that rival ancient Athenian city states which produced great patriots and heroes who sacrificed their lives for freedom and liberty of motherland.
Among the people of the Northeast, Rani Gaidinliu, a daring woman freedom fighter from Nagaland had been honoured as one of the most renowned freedom fighters.” Kohima was selected as the site of the proposed museum because, according to the concept note prepared by the department, Rani Gaidinliu breathed her last at Kohima.
The Ministry of DoNER had communicated the retention of the project along with five others on July 23, 2010.
DPRs were submitted to the Ministry of DoNER on September 15, 2010.
Ministry of DoNER conveyed Administrative and Financial Approval for the project on September 19, 2011.
Ministry of DoNER released the first installment of Rs 353.12 lakhs on December 19, 2011.
The Department of Arts & Culture awarded the work to M/s Hexad Syndicate Contractors, Kohima for construction of the Museum on March 14, 2012.
The second installment was sanctioned by the Ministry on January 3, 2014 amounting to Rs 34.54 lakhs.
Accordingly, the Government of Nagaland has been submitting Utilisation certificates, Quarterly Progress Reports, Work Plan, Photographs, Inspection Reports of the project to the Ministry of DoNER.
The construction of the museum is on the verge of completion. The state government hoped the clarification would clear away misgivings or misinformation in the minds of the general public.
