NEPS Kohima, September 28
Nagaland Industries and Commerce Minister G Kaito Aye broke his silence saying states were made to roam as “beggars” and urged the Center to see the states particularly the northeastern ones from the realistic point of view. “Whether big or small, every state should be taken into account according to their needs,” he blurted. Talking to NEPS here on Sunday, the senior DAN Minister, who was recently at a National Conference on Mircro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) at Kolkata, warned that if the Centre treated according to the sizes of the states or not on their needs, it would never send good message across the length and bread of the nation. “States should be accommodated and they should be made felt as integral part of this mighty India,” he said adding that “together, the nation can always grow.” Kaito also said the Center should seriously review the present 90:10 funding pattern of all the centrally-funded schemes granted to all northeastern states. Under this, 90 percent of the funds are provided by the Centre and 10 percent by the state. He explained that northeastern states, on many occasions, could not provide their 10 percent shares to get funds released against various centrally-funded schemes. “That is why I insisted during our Conference that the Center review this 90:10 funding pattern on all their schemes granted to northeastern states,” he said adding that “Mmany northeastern states failed to get funds mainly due to their inability to provide their shares.” The Center should do away this funding pattern and provide 100% funding pattern for all the centrally-funded schemes to northeastern states so that they could at least carry out their developmental activities without hindrances. The Minister also expressed his happiness that many proposals were being sanctioned while many were on the pipeline. He said Textile Park under MSME at Toluvi Village was for early sanction, while putting his best efforts to get clear of all the centrally sponsored schemes of the northeastern states in general and Nagaland in particular. Kaito said he urged the Ministry of the Heavy Industries to expedite the progress of the Tuli Paper Mill revival which was already in progress. He further disclosed that he would be visiting the Tuli Paper Mill soon to study on the ground and the final report would be submitted to the Ministry at the earliest. With regard to the International Trade Centers in Nagaland – Pangsha in Tuensang district, Longwa in Mon district and Avankhu in Phek district, the Minister further disclosed that he was actively pursuing with the Ministries to provide for early necessary standard infrastructures so that the international trading would give benefit to the people on both sides of the border. He also stated that a “Food Park” in department’s land in Chumukedima would come up soon in 1 to 2 years. The Minister also informed that Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) would be invited to organize a grand Chamber of Commerce Meeting in Nagaland where the Union Minister for MSME, Kalraj Mishra would grace as Chief Guest. Once the time, date and venue were finalized, it would be made known to the people, he stated. While appreciating the Ministries for considering sanctioning of various projects and proposals, Kato said hopefully, Nagaland would appear in the industrial map of India in few years’ time.