School upgrade, health campaign discussed at Wokha DPDB meeting

DIMAPUR — The District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting for Wokha district was held at the DC conference hall on June 21 under the chairmanship of Wokha DPDB Chairman and Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton.

According to a DIPR report, the meeting was attended by Advisor for Agriculture Mhathung Yanthan, MLA Mhonbemo Humtsoe, Vice Chairman and Deputy Commissioner Vineet Kumar, and heads of various departments.

The first agenda item discussed was the proposal to upgrade Cherry Hill Kindergarten School in Wokha. School representatives presented a detailed overview, stating that the institution was established in 2018 with just nine students and currently has 32 students.

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The school was granted registration in 2010 and now occupies a land area of one acre. The Education department had verified the proposal and observed that all the criteria had been fulfilled, after which the House recommended further necessary action.

The second agenda featured a presentation by the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), led by the district programme officer. The presentation provided an overview of the types of drug users and HIV and AIDS data collected from district and block levels.

DAPCU proposed an Integrated Health Campaign (IHC) across selected colonies and villages in Wokha district. The objective is to identify individuals reactive for HIV and AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C and refer them for confirmatory testing. Identified cases will be linked with treatment services at appropriate health facilities.

The campaign will also integrate the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) to reach underserved populations, National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) screenings, and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings.

Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers will be engaged for community mobilisation, antenatal care outreach, and general awareness. The presentation also highlighted various operational challenges faced by DAPCU in implementing these interventions.

A presentation on Viksit Nagaland for Viksit Bharat @2047 was delivered by the DC. He outlined the state's vision and priorities under national development schemes such as JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) Trinity, Digital India, Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, GST, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Startup India, and Stand Up India.

Kumar presented timelines and rankings of Nagaland in various national indices, emphasising the state’s potential through resources such as oil and gas, fertile soil, rich natural biodiversity, a tech-savvy and skilled youth population, and its strategic geographic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia.

He also detailed Nagaland’s economic trajectory, indicating a structural shift from the primary sector to an increasing contribution from the tertiary sector to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

However, he noted challenges such as high expenditure on salaries, pensions, and interest payments; unique land ownership systems; power deficits; weak law and order in certain areas; poor digital and physical connectivity; limited revenue from excise due to prohibition; and low credit flow.

He identified key economic drivers for the state’s growth, including urbanisation, tourism, creative industries, agriculture, technology adoption, services, mineral-based industries, and the green economy.

Kumar called on all line departments to submit their targets, visions, and achievement plans towards building a shared roadmap for Viksit Wokha. Advisor Yanthan also urged departments to align their programmes and vision plans to support this development trajectory.

A brief presentation was also delivered by the senior scientist and head of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, highlighting the successful completion of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan across Wokha district.

In closing, the DC encouraged all departments and local associations to extend their support to the Wokha football team for the upcoming Dr. T Ao Trophy, scheduled to be held in Kohima in August 2025.