Kohima, November 3 (MExN): Nagaland Congress leaders today called on the United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi this afternoon at New Delhi and submitted the assessment reports for drought relief, for Nagaland.
NPCC leaders and Congress legislators called on Gandhi and apprised her about the drought situation and of the needed relief aid. NPPC president KV Pusa said the UPA chairperson congratulated the Congress leaders in Nagaland for submitting the assessment reports in time to her. He said Gandhi has assured to look into the matter so that the drought affected people receive the relief. The NPCC president said the response from the UPA chairperson was ‘very positive’ as she expressed “deep concern” for the people of Nagaland. She also told the Nagaland Congress leaders that the assessment reports would be examined.
Congress sources said Gandhi had taken personal initiative for drought relief to Nagaland as past records revealed how calamity relief schemes were grossly misused by the Nagaland government. The Union government and the UPA chairperson would like to see that this time funds reach the targeted people and not go into the pockets of the handful few who are in power, it was said.
Congress leaders were also skeptical and apprehensive about the drought relief scheme seeing the recent past records of the state government. The Congress has assured that they would discuss the matter with the central leaders and work out mechanisms against fund-misuse this time
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had recently met Congress leaders in Nagaland and assured them that funds would not be misused ‘this time’ and that all drought-affected people, irrespective of political affiliations would be given equal share. However, state Congress leaders are still not fully convinced by the assurance of the state government as there was no positive response from the government for proper assessment of the affected areas.
The Congress leaders had also met the state’s Agriculture minister to work out a proper assessment but there was no response, according to Congress sources. The state government has worked out about Rs. 74 crore for the drought-hit people, while the Congress has estimated about Rs. 100 crore. The Congress has submitted separate reports of all the 60 assembly constituencies in the state. They would also call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other central leaders in the coming days.

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