KG Kenye lauds MSME discussion in Nagaland Assembly and thanks Neiphiu Rio for enhancing LADF.
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KOHIMA — Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs, KG Kenye on Thursday lauded the quality of discussions held on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Assembly and expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for announcing an enhancement in the Local Area Development Fund (LADF).
Making a statement under Rule 54 on the last day of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima, the minister referred to the discussion on MSMEs held under Rule 50 on March 10.
Kenye described the deliberations by the legislators as one of the most focused and meaningful discussions in the Assembly, stating that the young legislators clearly articulated their constituencies' concerns and reflected the challenges faced by the people and the state.
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He said the government highly appreciated the issues raised during the discussion, adding that many pertinent concerns highlighted by the members would require attention and action.
Responding to the discussion, the chief minister, who is also the leader of the house, had made “very generous announcements,” Kenye said. He placed on record the Assembly’s gratitude to Rio for announcing to increase the amount of the Local Area Development Fund.
According to him, the fund, which currently stands at INR 2 crore per constituency, will now see an additional allocation exclusively for the Nano/ MSME sector.
He expressed confidence that the enhancement would contribute to further development and activities in the sector.
The minister also recalled that the concept of local area development was pioneered by visionary leaders in Nagaland through the Comparative Area Development Scheme, a grassroots planning mechanism aimed at addressing the immediate needs of people at the local level.
He noted that the policy framework for such grassroots planning was laid down under the Area Council and Village Council Act of 1978, though funding mechanisms were introduced later through allocations made to District Planning Boards in the late 1980s.
The minister said the initiative eventually influenced similar mechanisms at the national level, including the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme.
In addition, he highlighted the chief minister’s announcement of an extra allocation of INR 50 lakh for underdeveloped and backward areas across all tribes and districts.
With the enhanced allocations, Kenye said more initiatives could be undertaken to train youth and interested individuals in various skill-based professions such as carpentry, blacksmithing, barbering, cobbling and welding.
“These hands-on skills will benefit many of our people and help generate employment opportunities,” he said, expressing optimism that the initiatives would help the state make significant progress.
On behalf of the Assembly, Kenye once again congratulated and thanked the chief minister for the initiatives and support towards grassroots development and the MSME sector.