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Dimapur, Dec. 3 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday said the state was not doing well in sports because it was lagging behind in infrastructure, adding that it has no resources.
He said funds from Delhi were not sufficient even to pay government salaries, pensions; while pointing out that in sports, it was the corporate and industrialists that sponsored through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The CM made this remark at the inauguration of Nagaland Shooting Sports Association (NSSA) shooting complex at the Multi Disciplinary Sports Complex (MDSC) in Dimapur.
He mentioned that the decade-long incomplete MDSC was started outside of the state budget, thereby the state government approached the Planning Commission for funds.
On this issue, he said the Planning Commission agreed to fund INR 10 crore annually and was to be increased annually, however after the coming of the new government and policy, the Planning Commission was done away and NITI Aayog took charge which led to halting of funds.
'From that time, there was no flow of money for us to complete the MDSC,’ Rio stated.
Further, he asserted that the government had been approaching for release of more funds but was unable to score the desired amount. He maintained that the state government paid liabilities of about INR 20 crore and requested the contractor to complete the work.
He, however, stated that there are plans to set up internal resources.
‘Road sanction is from the Ministry of Roads but after sanctioning or the road is completed, no fund is given for maintenance of roads,’ he asserted, while stating that Naga people were ‘allergic to paying a small amount of tax’.
‘We have to learn that we have to pay to run the government and maintain the road conditions,’ he said.
Rio remarked that Naga society has ‘gun culture’ whether it is for hunting or celebration, and that it was a matter of pride for Nagas to carry a gun.
‘The NSSA shooting complex was created for the young shooters and with many raw talents in the state, they have to be moulded. If we want to win medals and bring laurels to the state, we have to change our attitude’, he said.
He reminded the aspiring shooters that in sports, if one wants to be a good sportsman, one has to be healthy and disciplined.
NSSA president and Nagaland DGP T John Longkumer, in his welcome address, said that the shooting range was of Olympic classification and it will be upgraded with an electronic scoreboard. He assured that for the next North East Olympic Games, where Nagaland will be the host, the shooting range will be created to a world-class range.
The NSSA president highlighted that 11 district associations are affiliated with the NSSA and the remaining five districts are in the process. 23 Rifle shooting clubs in the state are also affiliated with the NSSA.
‘It is only through a strong foundation that dreams can be achieved so NSSA are working on it,’ he assured while recalling that the first NSSA president late Temjen Toy was instrumental in forming the NSSA and that the Nagaland Olympic Association blossomed under the leadership of CM Rio.
The indoor shooting centre has been named after the first president of NSSA Temjen Toy.