Dimapur, Feb. 26 (EMN): A colossal chunk of Nagaland’s resources seem to be going into government jobs indeed—expenditure on salary alone is approximately INR 4176.62 crore. The anticipated salary for January and February 2019 is around INR 1216.22 crore; and for the March 2019 salary to be drawn in April 2019 will be around INR 476.72 crore, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, also minister in-charge for Finance, said on Tuesday.
Rio gave the details during proceedings on Tuesday in the third session of the thirteenth Nagaland Legislative Assembly, in Kohima. The government bulletin DIPR listed the assembly events on Tuesday.
Opposition member Yitachu raised a question on the total funds that was spent on salary from March 31 2018 to January 31 2019 and the funds anticipated as salary for the month of January, February and March 2019.
In response to the question, minister in-charge for Finance, Neiphiu Rio replied that expenditure on salary during the period was INR 4176.62 crore; the anticipated salary for January and February 2019 is INR 1216.22 crore; and salary for March 2019 to be drawn in April 2019 will be INR 476.72 crore.
Replying to a question about disparity of payment, the minister replied that payment of ‘TA, MR, leave encashment’ is made in the months of January, February and March “thereby, the amount is higher in these three months,” the DIPR stated.
Health
Opposition member Yitachu raised a starred question about the total number of doctors in the department of Health & Family Welfare. The minister in-charge of Health & Family Welfare, S Pangnyu Phom informed that there were 115 doctors posted in public health centres. He said there were no sanctioned posts of doctors in 23 public health centres. The department has created ‘numerous posts to make 100% posting of doctors in rural areas,’ the DIPR stated.
According to the DIPR, Phom said that the department had formed a roster posting policy in order to ensure posting doctors to all the remote areas, and to fill ‘posting gaps’ the National Health Mission has provided for nine specialists, 77 GDMO’s, 37 Ayush medical officers, and 18 dental surgeons.
Replying to a starred question raised by member CL John about the status of “sanctioned strength” of health units, the minister informed that there were 25 community health centres, 138 primary health centres, one subsidiary health centre; two big dispensary, and 559 sub centres in the rural areas. This is to ensure and ‘provide the best medical care system in Nagaland,’ the updates stated.
“He pointed out the Indian health standard specified the norms of requirement of health units based as per the requirement and added that one sub centres for every 3000 (population), a primary health centre for every 20,000. He said that villages in remote and underserved areas are still not adequately covered as there is still overall shortage of 101 sub centres in the state.”
Further, the minister highlighted that the National Health Mission had expanded the network of health units in order to improve health facilities in remote and underserved areas. He pointed out that since 2012, the number of community health centres was increased from 21 to 25; primary health centres from 126 to 138; and sub centres from 396 to 559.
Replying to a starred question from MLA Amenba Yaden, the minister in charge of Planning & Coordination Neiba Kronu said that the funds sanctioned through the scheme of Article 275 (I) of the Constitution of India during 2018-19 was 8377.84 lakh.
Further, a supplementary question asked by opposition members concerning additional funds that were received and ‘which exceeds the earmarked amount of the target of 28 crore.’ In response, he stated that most of the states could not make use of the fund. Additional fund was issued to state of Nagaland.
Replying to a starred question from MLA Yitachu concerning the total number of voters in the state and what are the steps had been taken to curb proxy entries, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the total number of voters in the state was 12,096,13.
Further, Preparation of the electoral rolls for all elections to the parliament and legislature of every state ‘is done under the superintendence, direction and control of the Election Commission of India by powers vested under Article 324(I) of the Constitution of India.’
The steps being taken to curb proxy and ineligible entries in the electoral rolls are several. Booth level officers conduct house to house visit and collect information eligible for inclusion, multiple entries; examine dead electors, or permanently shifted electors.
During summary revision of electoral rolls, any ineligible entry in the roll can be objected to and appropriate actions are taken following due procedure of law for their removal. Booth level agents appointed by political parties are allowed to file applications for deletions of ineligible entries in the roll.
During continuous updating, applications that have been received for deletion and correction up to the announcement of elections are processed for appropriate necessary actions, it was informed.
Software generated Demographically Similar Entries (DSE’s) and reported multiple entries in the electoral rolls are processed for appropriate action.
Further, registered death entries are collected from the authorities and processed for appropriate actions, the assembly was told.
MLA Kezhienyi Khalo raised a starred question concerning details of the number of graduate and primary teachers who are pending regularisation in the state. Neiphiu Rio replied that 496 graduate teachers and 1464 primary teachers are yet to be regularized.
MLA Muthingnyuba Sangtam also raised a question concerning the total number of teachers who were appointed during 2018-19 and whether they were appointed through open interviews. Another question was about the total number of vacancies left unfilled in backward Linguistic area and the reason for filling up these vacancies.
The minister in-charge replied that there was no ‘notified backward linguistic area in Nagaland’ and there were 162 vacancies in the ‘backward tribe areas.’ He said that the vacancies could not be filled due to unavailability of trained and qualified candidates. About 32 primary teachers were appointed in Adhoc and need-basis, it was informed. 85 mathematics graduate teachers and 52 science graduate teachers were appointed through open interviews. Three graduate teachers and 37 primary teachers were appointed on ‘compassionate scheme,’ the DIPR stated.
To an unstarred question raised by MLA Chotisuh Sazo on amount of additional funds that was released from April 1 2018 till date, Neiphiu Rio furnished the details: 735.84 crore, which includes re-imbursement of 220.09 crore.
MLA Moatoshi Longkumer raised a question concerning the funds that were released during the year 2018-2019 under the mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. To this, the advisor for Horticulture Mhathung Yanthan furnished the details: the total allocation of funds is 3555.56 lakh under MIDH for the year 2018-2019. Out of it, 1111.11 lakh was received as the first instalment, the assembly was told.
Likewise, MLA Y Vikheho Swu raised a question about the details to the total number of “CDPO” in the Social Welfare department, and district-wise with names of all the children, old age persons and handicapped per block.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio furnished the details. He said that there were 60 CDPO’s. At present there are 47 ‘due to retirement and promotion,’ the DIPR stated.
The number of children (0-6) is 3,64,867; old age “pension” is 57,400; widow “pension” is 4464; scholarship to the handicapped is 201; totally blind persons is at 1625; infirmed or invalid persons are 3276, the DIPR stated.
MLA Yitachu raised a question about the numbers of new highways being ‘taken up through open e-tendering’ and roads projected under Bharat Mala. To the query, minister in charge of National Highways Y Patton furnished the details: five consultancy services for preparation of feasibility study and Detail Project Reports were taken up, the DIPR stated.
