Neiphiu Rio calls for accountability in central fund use at Viksit Nagaland meeting

• DIMAPUR — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday called for collective effort and accountability in the implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), warning that unspent funds would have to be returned to the Centre with interest if departments fail to utilise them on time.
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• He also urged unity among Naga communities, stressing that progress toward a developed Nagaland in alignment with Viksit Bharat @2047 requires teamwork across political, administrative, and social lines.
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• Neiphiu Rio addressing the high-level meeting at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima on Tuesday. (DIPR)

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• Rio was speaking at a high-level meeting convened at the State Banquet Hall, Chief Minister’s Residential Complex in Kohima. The “first of its kind” meeting brought together all 60 legislators, top administrative and police officials, and district heads, including the Chief Secretary, DGP, and deputy commissioners from all 17 districts, according to a DIPR report.
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• The chief minister touched upon Nagaland’s unique governance model, highlighting that the Village Councils Act of 1978 operates in place of the Panchayati Raj system found elsewhere in India, and urged village authorities to promptly submit relevant cases to the administrative officers for decisions in accordance with government rules and regulations.
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• He called on village authorities and administrative officers to exercise vigilance and adhere strictly to existing laws and regulations, particularly regarding the issuance of Indigenous Inhabitant Certificates to avoid “complications or unintended consequences.”

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• Rio reiterated the importance of safeguarding Article 371(A) of the Constitution and proposed the establishment of an apex court for customary law to ensure faster and cos-effective justice. On the issues of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), he advocated a fully digital and online process. Citizens, he said, must act responsibly and report foreign visitors to the nearest police stations.
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• During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home and Border Affairs, Y Patton, said that the Protected Area Permit (PAP), ILP, and Free Movement Regime (FMR) are three critical issues requiring immediate attention. While commending the extension of ILP to Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland, he expressed the government’s openness to constructive suggestions from the public to enhance and strengthen the ILP system further. Patton also emphasised the need to safeguard Article 371(A), asserting that it was crucial to ensure the protection of the rights and freedoms of the Naga people from external interference.
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• Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang highlighted two flagship programmes: the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), aimed at universal health coverage, and the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI), designed to support self-employment and rural entrepreneurship through subsidised credit.
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• Stating that these initiatives reflect the state’s commitment to its people, he appealed to all stakeholders to ensure that these transformative schemes bring about meaningful, long-term development and prosperity.
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• Development vision
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• Sharing insights from the recent NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi, Chief Secretary Dr. J Alam laid out a vision for Viksit Nagaland, identifying both the opportunities and challenges that the state must address to align with the national developmental framework of Viksit Bharat @2047.
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• He said that Nagaland’s core strengths lies in rich oil and mineral reserves, abundant natural resources, youthful demographic advantage, and emerging creative economy. These, he noted, offer the foundational pillars for sustainable, inclusive economic transformation.
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• He said the guiding principles necessary for driving this transformation include the elimination of poverty, improved population management, human resource development, skilling and employment, agri-tech, digital transformation and innovation, and the development of inclusive infrastructure, along with strengthening health and education indicators and tackling issues like water scarcity.
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• He also identified key economic growth drivers for the state: urbanisation and balanced regional development, tourism & creative economy, agriculture innovation & technology, service hub, mines & minerals based industries sustainability and green economy.
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• The meeting also included theme presentations and deliberations on topics such as strengthening grassroots governance, integrating customary laws into governance, and updates on CMHIS and CMMFI, and strategies to enhance Nagaland’s startup ecosystem.
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• In his concluding remarks, the chief minister said the state cannot proceed with oil and natural gas exploration until the court delivers a clear verdict. He also cited potential rare earth mineral findings during a recent Geology and Mining survey.
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• Rio urged for regular consultations at all levels, efficient exercise of authority by administrative and police personnel, and wider participation in awareness campaigns. He thanked all participants for their presence and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aligning with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 through the roadmap of a Viksit Nagaland, the DIPR stated.