Khadse first Union minister to visit ‘Frontier District’ Nok
Khadse first Union minister to visit ‘Frontier District’ Noklak
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, became the first Central minister to visit Nagaland’s Noklak, one of the most remote districts in the country along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Says transformation of Thonoknyu block an inspiration for
others
Raksha Nikhil Khadse with officials and villagers during her
visit to Noklak district on Saturday.
DIMAPUR — Union Minister of State for Youth
Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, became the first Central minister to
visit Nagaland’s Noklak, one of the most remote districts in the country, which
lies along the Indo-Myanmar border.
During her visit on Saturday, the MoS reviewed the progress
of the Thonoknyu Aspirational Block Programme, interacted with civil society
representatives, and visited key sites, including Nokyan village, the district
hospital, and multi-discipline sports complex, a PIB press release stated.
Noklak, known as the ‘Frontier District,’ is located in
Nagaland's easternmost region.
Khadse assessed the progress made by Thonoknyu Block in 40
key development indicators on themes such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture,
social development and basic infrastructure.
“The block which was previously ranked among the least
aspirational blocks has improved significantly, rising from 465th place in
March 2023 to 85th place in September 2024 out of 500 blocks in India.
“The Sampoornata Abhiyan, a targeted three-month campaign
that was implemented from July to September 2024 across six key performance
indicators, has played a major role in this change,” the release stated.
It also reported that Thonoknyu Block has attained 100%
saturation in five of the six KPIs, despite being ranked 465th out of 471
aspirational blocks, as of March 2024.
“The remarkable progress we witnessed in Thonoknyu Block is
a shining example that when dedication meets determination and coordination,
every milestone could be achieved,” Khadse said.
During the interaction, the Union Minister also remarked
that for India to thrive as a nation, its most remote and underdeveloped
regions must no longer be left behind and reiterated the government’s commitment
to inclusive development.
She highlighted that the progress made by Noklak district
and Thonoknyu Block reflects the impact of focused governance and community
participation. She reaffirmed the government’s resolve to provide the necessary
resources and opportunities to even the most geographically isolated regions,
ensuring sustainable growth and development.
Earlier, the Union minister was given a briefing on the
district’s development by Deputy Commissioner of Noklak, Arikumba.
The district, which has a total population of 55,434
according to the 2011 Census, is roughly 1,152 square kilometres in size. With
14,630 households, it is mostly rural and home to the Khiamniungan Naga tribe.
Low population density and an agrarian economy based on the
production of millets, perilla seeds, maize, beans, yam, and Job's tears are
characteristics of Noklak. The district's cultural legacy has also been
acknowledged; in 2022, the Sustainable Development Award for Economic
Sustainability went to the Noklak Masterpieces, the release stated.
