Dimapur, Dec. 22 (EMN): Commemorating ‘Good Governance Week,’ a workshop on good governance practices/ initiatives was held in the conference hall of the DC's office in Kohima on Thursday.
The deputy commissioner of Kohima, Shanavas C, in his inaugural address, stated that ‘Good Governance’ is celebrated on December 25 every year in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday, a DIPR report stated.
The DC said, ‘Good Governance’ is celebrated for a week with the motto 'Sushasan Saptah - Prashashan Gaon Ki Aur' campaign, which means good governance week and governance towards villages, and added that it has a lot of relevance in the context of Nagaland with around 80% of its rural population.
Emphasising few points for good governance, Shanavas pointed out that adaptability and willingness to change would be the first thing towards good governance, and second would be the coordination and convergence amongst the departments, which needs to be improved and work together for the public.
He said as a government servant, good governance is not to be celebrated only for a week but has to be celebrated throughout the year, to ensure that good governance is delivered to the public.
Presenting on good governance practices/ initiatives taken up by the district, EAC of Kohima, Pichano Kikon, highlighted on women's empowerment through menstrual hygiene management.
The EAC stated that the district administration, in collaboration with Project Baala and other offices, organised an awareness training programme in November 2022 with the main objective to enable the female population to get access to safe, hygienic, and affordable menstrual products.
Senior manager (Planning) of Kohima Smart City and Development Limited, Yhunchilo Khing, spoke on the implementation of developmental activities and projects. Khing stated that Kohima was selected as one of the 100 smart cities in the country on September 20, 2016, adding that since then, it has been striving to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of the people by enabling local area development and harnessing technology, especially technology that leads to Smart outcomes in line with the objectives of Smart City Mission (SCM) and MoHUA.
The executive engineer of PHED Kohima (Urban Division), Subongyanger, in his presentation on Jal Jeevan Mission, highlighted on village action plan (VAP) - plan prepared by Gram Panchayat or its sub-committee, based on baseline survey and resource mapping.
The EE stated that VAP would indicate the fund requirement and timelines for completion of work under the mission and be approved by the gram sabha and that, irrespective of the source of funding, all drinking water-related works in the village are to be taken up based on the VAP and water supply scheme, bulk water transfer and treatment plants, etc., to achieve overall drinking water security in the state.
In a related programme, Longleng district administration also celebrated ‘Good Governance Week’ on December 21 at DPDB hall, Longleng. Speaking on the occasion, EAC (HQ) of Longleng, Dr. Samuel Akho Konyak P, encouraged the officers, staff and DBs of the deputy commissioner’s office in Longleng to rededicate themselves towards good governance.
Konyak stated that Good Governance Week is observed to make people aware about government’s commitment for providing transparent and accountable administration in the country. He added that it is also celebrated to enhance the welfare and betterment of the people.
“It is celebrated to standardise government functioning and make it highly effective and accountable governance for the citizens of the country. It also seeks to implement good and effective policies to complete mission of good governance in India. It also seeks to enhance growth and development in the country through good governance,” he stated.
“It also strives to bring citizens closer to government to make them active participants in good governance process,” the EAC said.
He stated that government officials/ staff must take into account the needs and wishes of the people in the true bottom-up approach and should be implemented through the latest technological tools in a transparent, effective and accountable manner
Konyak further stated that grievance redressal is at the core of good governance. “The citizens' voices must be heard and their grievances redressed at the earliest time frame,” he added.