Our Reporter
Dimapur, Jan. 6 (EMN): Union Home minister Amit Shah inaugurated five projects worth INR 52 crore for Nagaland at Niathu Resort in Chümoukedima, during his visit to the state on Friday.
Speaking on the occasion in the presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Dy. CM Y Patton, the Home minister said the projects would bring revolutionary changes in education, tourism and power sectors in Nagaland.
The projects that were virtually inaugurated on Friday were:
- Virtual Reality (VR) laboratories in 42 government higher and secondary schools
- Atal Tinkering Labs in nine government higher secondary schools
- 12.5 MV sub-station in Chiephobozou
- Trekking and base camp at Mt. Saramati, Thanamir village, Kiphire
- RCC 2-lane bridge at Doyang River near Governor’s Camp, Liphayan
Shah stated that Nagaland has huge potential in tourism as it is known for its diversity and organic products. He also lauded the culture of the people, ethnicity and the way people treat women with uniformity and oneness.
He said that all the eight north-eastern states are experiencing development due to the endearing vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the region, which was once known for insurgency, is today known for peace and progress through connectivity and development..
The Modi government has a vision of three Ps -- peace, progress and prosperity -- for Nagaland, and today, all these have been successfully implemented in the land of Nagaland, he said.
Maintaining that PM’s vision of mainstreaming the NE has bore fruits today, he said one of the initiatives towards this end included visit of all union ministers to the region at regular intervals. He added that Modi had visited NE more than 51 times over the last eight and a half years besides allotting various infrastructural projects for the development of the region.
Drawing a comparison on Centre’s funds allocation to Nagaland during 2004-2014 and NDA ruling period of 2014-2023, Shah claimed that it had increased four times during the regime of BJP-led government.
He mentioned that the 15th Finance Commission had allocated INR 4773 crore for Nagaland, compared to INR 1283 crore allocated in 2009. Whereas in 2021-2022, a special package of INR 219 crore was allocated for the state, he added.
‘Repealing of AFSPA already started’
On the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), Shah said the process of repealing has already started in a gradual manner.
Highlighting law and order situation in the state, he said insurgency has reduced by 74% in 2021, compared to 2014 data, while marketing of arm decreased by 60% and ambush cases by 84%.
He said the government is extremely sensitive to not just big infrastructure but also to basic requirements of the people of the state.
He also cited some of the projects and schemes implemented in Nagaland, including the state’s second railway station after 100 years at Shokhuvi, and INR 4127 crore-worth 15 national highways measuring 266 km in length that were have been inaugurated.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 2.18 lakh families in Nagaland have been benefited; and 3 lakh beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat scheme, where an amount up to INR 5 lakh has been transferred to them, he updated.
Under Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana, he updated that 54636 families have been benefitted, out of which 15,000 houses have been completed till date.
CM on various projects
Expressing gratitude for visiting Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio said the union minister has always stood by the people of Nagaland and has never turned down the requests and requirements of the state.
He added that the state government Nagaland has been able to provide stable, progressive and development-based governance due to the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister.
Sharing about the projects inaugurated on Friday, the CM said the state government is very keen for improving the quality of education. He expressed happiness on the inauguration of INR 7.9 crore-worth VR laboratories in 42 government schools and INR 1.8 crore-worth Atal Tinkering labs in nine government schools across the state.
He said that the foothill road has been an aspiration of the people of the state, and while waiting for the construction of the road, the state constructed an RCC 2-lane bridge at Doyang River at a cost of INR 28.29 crore, through its own resources.
Rio shared that the 12.5MVA Chiephobozou sub-station, which was funded under the State Plan with a total outlay of INR 14.33 crore, will provide reliable and stable power supply to parts of Tseminyu, Zunheboto and northern part of Kohima districts.
He went on to say that the trekking route and construction of base camp at Thanamir has been completed at a cost of INR 7.2 crore with funding from NEC.
Stating that the state is in a financial crunch, he requested the Home minister to ‘release the Security Related Expenditures that are due from deployment of Nagaland Police to New Delhi amounting to INR 174.39 crore and INR. 267.24 crore that is due from West Bengal Government’, while reminding that the state government had also ‘submitted a memorandum to the Home Ministry seeking assistance amounting to INR 568 crore under the NDRF for immediate relief to victims of extreme weather events during the 2022 monsoon.
‘We have requested the prime minster to visit Nagaland to announce the pending projects and also to approve and lay foundation stones, as well as inaugurate some of the projects which are completed,” he added.
Y Patton delivered the welcome address, while Health minister S Pangnyu Phom delivered the vote of thanks.