Kohima, March 24 (EMN): The minister for Health & Family Welfare P Longon has said that the department has purchased 40.251 acres of land for Rs. 17,75,07,809 through the district administration for the proposed medical college at Kohima town.
Replying to a starred question put up by legislator Mmhonlumo Kikon during the ongoing assembly session, Longon disclosed that the total cost of establishing a medical college was Rs.189,00,00,000 on a funding pattern of 90:10 between central and state governments.
Also, the minister said that the central government had released Rs. 46,50,00,000; the department has ‘already invested’ Rs. 21,00,00,000 for construction of an administrative block at the erstwhile district hospital of Kohima.
Further, MLA Dr. Neikiesalie Kire has pointed out that a total 135 acres of land was negotiated for the medical college. He questioned as to ‘what wisdom was applied to bring down the area to a mere 40 acres.’
To this, the chief minister said that in due course of time, the landowners had ‘put up many conditions and basing on the availability of budget,’ the area was decreased.
However, dissatisfied with the reply, Kire pointed out that the landowners had asked for a quota of only two seats in the college and a one-time grade-III / grade-IV appointment.
Further, MLA Tokheho raised a supplementary question whether all the landowners had been compensated; if there was some who were yet to be compensated, whether their land fell under the 40 acre area or outside.
The medical minister admitted that there were four landowners who were yet to accept the government’s compensation. Nonetheless, he said that the district administration was currently negotiating with them and was hopeful that the issue would be resolved soon.
On health issues during 2014-2017, the minister said that Scrub Typhus, H1N1, Japanese Encephalitis, dengue and measles, with a death (Japanese Encephalitis) was recorded.
Payments to HIV-AIDS welfare sector
On the status of payments to be made to nongovernmental organisations working with people living with HIV and AIDS, he said there were 45 NGOs (NGO) working under the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS). The total amount of funds to be released during the 4th quarter of 2017 is Rs. 1,68,00,668, it was informed.
With regard to NGOs agitating and demanding for funds, the politician said NACO was ‘supposed’ to pay 80% while the NGOs were demanding 100%. He informed that the department and its NSACS wing will ‘look into the payment of funds and salaries.’
On the Initiatives taken by the department for mental health Issues in Nagaland during 2014-2017, the minister said that the department has a mental health institute in Kohima town; there are two medical health programmes that were established during 2014-1015 at Dimapur and Mokokchung, it was informed. Further, training is imparted to health professionals while awareness programmes are conducted for teachers and students, it was informed. Also, he furnished the amount of funds received from all the centrally-sponsored scheme projects of the Health & Family Welfare establishment for the year 2014-2017.
They are:
i) FY 14-15 : RS. 11176.27 lakhs
ii) FY 15-16 : Rs. 9829.84 lakhs
iii) FY 16-17 : Rs. 7619.78 lakhs
