Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUGUST 15
Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang on Saturday shared his hope that the NSCN (IM) as well as the government of India would choose the wise option of taking the consent of the Naga public before arriving at any final agreement to the Indo-Naga political talks.
This remark from the Chief Minister assumes wider significance in the backdrop of the statement from VS Atem, the emissary to the NSCN (IM)’s collective leadership, on August 14 last at Hebron Camp that “humans on earth will never have 100% consensus.”
In his customary address during the 69th Independence Day celebration at Nagaland Secretariat Plaza in Kohima today, Zeliang said, “At present, it appears that only the broad framework of the agreement has been worked out. It is expected that once the details of the agreement and modalities are worked out by the parties concerned, we all will be consulted before finalizing them.”
Conversely, the Chief Minister urged the Naga public to embrace the “framework agreement” signed between the NSCN (IM) and New Delhi without casting any aspersions on both the signatories. He also expressed hope that the signing of the “framework agreement” would help unlock doors to peace and development in Nagaland.
“The Naga political issue has dominated the social and political discourse of the Nagas for the last six decades. And it is heartening to see that our collective efforts are beginning to bear fruits. This is a result of the collective efforts and hard work by all concerned during the last 17 years of the Naga political dialogue,” he said.
To this, the CM congratulated the people of Nagaland, as well as the mass based Naga civil societies, including Church leaders, who have tirelessly worked to bring lasting peace to our land. He also showered praise on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the interlocutor RN Ravi and the government of India and also the collective leadership of NSCN (IM).
“Prime Minister Modi has a healthy attitude and respect towards the Nagas. Therefore, let us hope that he will do what is best for the Nagas,” Zeliang.
With his (Modi) visionary and dynamic leadership, he has brought about a perceptible change in the mood of the nation by injecting new rays of hope and positivity in the psyche and thinking of the people of India, he added.
“India is now widely acknowledged as an emerging world power. It is unquestionably the emerging power in Asia and now poised to be the game changer in the global economy,” he said adding “we, in Nagaland must also seize the opportunity to march ahead along with the rest of the country.”
On the restructuring of planning and development process by the central government under the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, where all states had been taken on board in the spirit of cooperative federalism, the CM shared his expectation of fair dispensation which can fulfill the aspirations of the people of Nagaland in the long run.
On the overall law and order situation in the State, the CM said it has been by and large peaceful, except for the abrogation of the ceasefire by NSCN (K), which has given rise to killings of several security personnel, NSCN (K) cadres as well as innocent civilians.
Though saddened bythe incidents of violence between communities across the state, he expressed hope that good sense will prevail among the people in order to give peace the chance to reign. He referred to incidents of violence between the Changs and the Yimchungrus, the land dispute between Chendang and Yakor village and the dispute over ownership of Dzükou and Kezoltsa between the Southern Angamis and the Mao Council.
On the establishment of Police Commissionerate in Dimapur, Zeliang said there has been a perceptible improvement in the quality of policing in Dimapur after the introduction of the new Police panel, which he said was established to ensure effective tackling of crime in Dimapur.
On the occasion, he also gave away the awards to 32 persons who were selected for their outstanding achievements in their respective fields. 15 persons were each awarded with the Governor’s Commendation Certificate, while 10 were awarded the Governor’s Gold Medal and another 7 persons with the Governor’s Gold Medal & certificate.
Earlier, a total of 22 contingents, including 8 schools, took part in the march past parade. In the cultural program, the 78 Bn CRPF personnel presented a Bhagra dance, while students of Tabitha Enabling Academy and Cherry Blossom presented the national anthem through sign language.
The All Nagaland Shaolin Kungfu Association exhibited a martial arts display and the Nagaland Adolescent Girl’s Club performed a dance, while the 15th Bn NAP (IR) Mahila Battalion also exhibited an armed drill display. The cultural program was followed by presentation of cultural items.
Power department em-powered
A Comprehensive Transmission and Sub-Transmission scheme, to be funded by the government of India and the World Bank, has been approved as a central sector scheme for the state of Nagaland. The scheme would be implemented by the Power Grid Corp Corporation of India, and will be handed over to the state Power department after completion.
Making the announcement today, the Chief Minister expressed delight that the scheme will address bottlenecks in transmission and sub transmission system and thereby gear up the state to meet the long term power demand to the tune of 500 MW by 2020.
The CM also announced that new electrical divisions have been created recently at Kiphire and Peren districts and also a sub-division at Longleng.
Expanding employment avenues
On employment sector, Zeliang informed that the Employment & Craftsmen department has trained 10,459 youth in various sectors, out of which 1,733 youth have been successfully placed at various employment avenues.
It was also infirmed that 1,500 youth are presently undergoing training with various Vocational Training Providers across the country. The CM further informed that as part of skill development project under “Skilled India Programme”, the department concerned, in partnership with Tata Motors, will be starting a new centre to impart training on Tata diesel vehicles at the premises of the ITI, Kohima. The centre is scheduled to be inaugurated on August 25.
It was also informed that the project for setting up of Apparel & Garment Making centre at 6th Mile, Dimapur, sanctioned by the Ministry of Textiles is in good progress, and expected to become operational within a year.
New veterinary college in Jalukie
It comes as good news that the establishment of a veterinary college in Jalukie under central sector has finally been approved by the government of India. This was announced by the Chief Minister today during the 69th Independence Day celebration at Nagaland Secretariat Plaza.
He further informed that the process of land transfer is underway and will be completed soon. The CM also informed that the department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, in collaboration with the international Livestock Research Institute and the Tata Trust will be undertaking a pig genome study in the entire state in order to assess the pig genetic breed and to suggest induction of the best breed that would be suited to our farmers in terms of productivity and economic benefits.
More teachers in eastern Nagaland
The CM informed that 200 new primary teachers have been appointed in the districts of Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire to compensate the shortage of teachers, whereas the non availability of local candidates in Maths and Science subjects is being taken care of by appointing general candidates from outside the state.
He also informed that six new polytechnic institutes would be set up in the state under ‘Coordinated Action for Skill Development’, out of which the new Polytechnics at Dimapur, Phek and Tuensang are expected to start functioning from the next academic session.
6522 houses for BPL families
The Rural Development department during 2014-15, has provided 6,522 houses to the BPL families in the rural areas of the State under Indira Awas Yojana, the CM said while informing that the Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission has plans to provide means of livelihood to thousands of poor households across 9 districts in 9 blocks.
10 new road projects
The CM informed that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways recently sanctioned 10 new road projects worth 61.93 crores, which are under execution. During the current year, Zeliang said widening of the National Highway 61 and repair of bridges on NH-61 and NH-155, including improvement of NH-36 are been taken up.
