Dimapur, March 18 (MExN): Minister of Planning and Coordination, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Parliamentary Affairs and Evaluation, T.R. Zeliang said that backward quota or backward area development fund is only meant to help alleviate some of the problems by backward people, but not an ultimate means to eradicate backwardness and to keep them at par with the advance tribe, unless the people from the backward areas put maximum efforts to excel and achieve through their sheer hard work.
Addressing the public gathering, during the inauguration of Village Council Hall at Old Jalukie under Peren district, on March 17, the Minister said that people from backward area always have a misconception that back quota or backward funds will put them at par with the advance tribes but not so, unless people from backward district work harder to excel in the field of education, economy and politics. “Economy, education and political status determine the backwardness or advancement of the area and its people. So unless we march forward by excelling in these fields through our sheer hard work and struggle, only putting hope on backward quota will not keep us at par with the advance tribe”, T.R. Zeliang asserted.
He also said that Village Development Board is the only institution that can help uplift the poor economy of the rural populace. But, said that VDBs needs proper planning while implementing various schemes and projects accorded by the government. “I know VDBs are getting large amount of money, but the project implementation is very poor, as such it could not do much to help elevate the economy of the villagers”, T.R. Zeliang rued. He attributes the poor implementation of many VDB’s schemes and projects to improper planning process and various anomalies at the grass root levels.
Cautioning that land is shrinking, and its value are going up day by day due to massive development taking place in almost all sectors, especially agri and allied sector, Minister called upon the villagers to value their land and exploit it judiciously, as land and its resources are the only means to economic and other infrastructural development. “Without land we will perish, therefore, love and value our land and resources in it”, he added.
Minister also called upon the village councils to lay down proper customary laws of their respective villages so that other aliens laws will not infringed upon them. He also said a place like village council hall should be used to make important decision for the welfare of people and maintaining peace and security in the village. When the village is at peace, the whole state is at peace, he added.
The inaugural programme was marked by various cultural items and was chaired by Hainkieng, Chairman Old Jalukie Village.
