Local agencies pledge greater development push

Dimapur, December 2 (MExN): Village-level implementing agencies and authorities of the state today undertook a significantly wide-ranging number of “resolutions” as a means to furthering developmental services to communities. The “resolutions” pertained to village development, village education, sanitation power and health and were ‘adopted’ at the VDB and communization conference in Dimapur on November 30.
A copy of the resolutions was received here from the Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS. If at all the “resolutions” are put to action, and considering their holistic nature, the prospects of government services in the development process especially for the rural areas points to much growth.  
The first of the “resolutions” pertained to the institution of the VDB and the “communitized committees.” The resolution asserted that the VDB institutions and committees “shall not be used in any political platforms and shall not be involved in any political controversies.” The institutions professed rededication to providing “accurate and transparent information on all statistics” and also to work with greater dedication to work for the people.
However, some of the most significant “resolutions” were taken in regard to furthering the village education set-up. The resolutions stated: We will not allow any proxy teachers in our school; all children will be sent to school; we will identify all children with disabilities; preference should be given to trained persons for appointment; government shall take necessary action to provide adequate teachers and redeployment shall be made from schools with excess teachers; teachers shall stay in place of posting and the community shall arrange accommodation for the teachers.”
For the sanitation sector, the VDBs stated that the water and sanitation committees and the PHE will together campaign for “ending age old practice of ‘open-defecation’” and that every household will construct at least one latrine of its own by end of the XI Plan (2011-2012). Likewise, the water and sanitation committees and PHE will together campaign and make efforts to let every household construct the needed facility for rain water harvesting system with 20% contribution by beneficiary (centre - 60%, state  - 20% and beneficiary  - 20%).
Similarly, in health, the VD institutions pledged to ensure “total immunization of all our children” and reinforce village health and sanitation programmes “for a healthier village.”   In regard to power, the “resolutions” were basically complaints. Many SPM meters are “non functional” and for this the institutions have decided to installing the meter sin all communitized areas.  The existing strength of staff, both regular and work charge, is inadequate, the point said. The institutions have “resolved” to propose to the government additional staff requisition from the department.
Other points of resolution adopted in the plenary session of the conference included villages pledging to maintain community reserve forests or community biodiversity conservation areas. “Every village shall revive and maintain village traditional water springs. The government should extend assistance in this effort,” the resolution stated.
The village communities are to control hunting and fishing activities for the purpose of conserving wildlife and biodiversity. The villages are also to ensure that there is no indiscriminate burning of jungles or forests.