MLA and DPDB Kohima chairman Kevipodi Sophie, Deputy Commissioner and vice-chairman B Henok Buchem, NCS, along with others during the Kohima DPDB meeting held in Kohima on January 21. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, January 21 (MExN): The monthly meeting of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB), Kohima, was held on January 21 at the DPDB Conference Hall here under the chairmanship of MLA and DPDB Kohima chairman Kevipodi Sophie, while Deputy Commissioner and vice-chairman B Henok Buchem, NCS, presided.
Addressing the meeting, Sophie urged departments to rededicate themselves to public service, noting achievements made last year and expressing confidence of greater progress through collective efforts in the current year.
The house approved the registration of four societies—Rhodo Realm Academy, Middle PWD Colony, Kohima; Joint Forum Equity, Botsa; Sunrise Shuttles Badminton Club, Khikha, Rüliezou, Kohima; and Nagaland Police CSR and Security Board, P R Hill, Kohima—and recommended the same for further action by the concerned authorities.
The Department of Horticulture presented an overview of its organisational structure and flagship schemes, including activities under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) such as distribution of citrus planting materials, area expansion of citrus, kiwi, banana, pineapple and naga mircha, vegetable seed distribution, site verification, field inspections and promotion of low-cost oyster mushroom cultivation.
Infrastructure created under various schemes, including packhouses, primary processing units, water resources, protected cultivation units, rural markets and cold rooms, was also highlighted, along with training programmes, including specialised kiwi pruning training by a scientist from New Zealand.
Under the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER), the department reported that 500 hectares of certified persimmon cultivation has been taken up in the Western Angami cluster under Sechu-Zubza block covering Zubza, Kiruphema, Sechuma, Mengujuma, Jotsoma, Khonoma, Mezoma and Thekrujuma villages.
As per SFAC guidelines, The Green Caravan, Kohima, has been engaged as the resource institute for formation of farmer producer organisations/companies. Distribution of quality planting materials, machinery, persimmon dehydrators, field inspections and establishment of small processing units were also informed.
The department also briefed the board on activities under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), including ginger cultivation for livelihood enhancement, integrated rural markets and collection centres, besides initiatives such as the strawberry farming model project at Sechu-Zubza and Naga Mircha Festival 2024.
During discussions, the Deputy Commissioner sought clarification on the status of GI certification for tree tomato and king chilli, and organic certification under NPOP. The department informed that the GI process is ongoing on a crop-specific basis and that MOVCD-NER is presently in its fourth phase.
The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) made a presentation on National Road Safety initiatives in view of Road Safety Month, focusing on accident reduction through education, enforcement and training, and highlighting seatbelt use, avoidance of mobile phone use while driving, prevention of reckless driving, and basic safety measures for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders.
The RTO also highlighted the Good Samaritan guidelines notified by the Government of India in 2018, which protect those assisting road accident victims from legal or procedural harassment, and informed the house about hit-and-run accident compensation under the Motor Vehicles Act—Rs 2 lakh in case of death and Rs 50,000 for grievous injury.
Taking note of reports of wild elephants creating havoc in Chiephobozou, the Deputy Commissioner directed the Chiephobozou EAC to monitor the situation and regularly update the district administration to enable timely preventive measures.
