Al Ngullie
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 23
The Government of Nagaland has decided that this time the entire ‘special development package’ of Rs. 300 crore marked for Nagaland’s eastern region – out of the State’s Annual Plan of Rs. 2, 300 crore – will be funneled entirely into the region’s Private Sector.
Earlier, a local organization representing the eastern region – and one that is demanding a separate state to be carved out of Nagaland – had rejected offers for a ‘special development package.’ It is understood that the organization, Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO) perceives the government’s special package to be a pacifier to plug the demand for a separate state.
Also, an associated going-on in the government corridors during the past several weeks has lent even more significance to the decision of Neiphiu Rio’s government – the chief minister has requested the Union Home Minister to “give audience” to the ENPO “and make them understand.”
According to the State’s Development Chief, Alemtemshi Jamir, infrastructural development and expansion of the primary sectors remains integral in the government’s 5-year plan for Kiphire, Longleng, Mon and Tuensang district. However, the top government official said Saturday, June 21, that the thrust of Rs. 300 crore would entirely be on the private tertiary and secondary sectors of the eastern areas.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio met with his top technocrats including Development Commissioner (and Additional Chief Secretary) Alemtemshi Jamir Saturday, The Morung Express was informed. The meeting is understood to have been arranged in Dimapur.
This Reporter queried Jamir on what the government intends to do with the special package of Rs. 300 crore, now that a vehement ENPO has bluntly rejected it – not once, but twice and loudly clear enough too. Mentioning the meeting with the CM, the senior IAS officer responded saying that the State being the very government of Nagaland and her people, it will still go ahead and use the funds for the eastern areas. ‘We are still the government; we are a government and the funds are already given so we have to use it (for the purpose it was given for),’ Jamir said.
Road connectivity, healthcare and education shall be some of the focuses, the Development Commissioner explained. Nonetheless, when told that they are “cliché topics” Jamir disclosed that the State has decided on channeling the fund into the private sector – the private tertiary and secondary sectors.
‘The main thrust will be in the private sector this time; we are trying to upgrade the existing infrastructure sectors; but over and above we are looking for ways to build up the private sector emphasizing on livelihood, providing support services and education (vocations) etc,’ the Additional Chief Secretary disclosed.
The decision apparently implies that the Neiphiu Rio government this time wants to apply the dictum ‘Give a fish to a man, feed him once; teach him how to fish, feed him a lifetime’ when using the special package of Rs. 300 for the eastern region.
SOS to P Chidambaram
Also, associated with the issue, a highly-place government leader disclosed to this Daily that Chief minister Neiphiu Rio has written to the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to “give audience to the ENPO” and “make them understand” that the special package is in the interest of the people’s welfare. No further detail was offered by the source except that the CM wrote the letter to P Chidambaram during June 20-21. The official disclosed the information on condition of anonymity.
For the note of The Morung Express readers, the Union Government had stipulated that special development projects for the five-year period of the 12th plan should be worked out by the State government. In fact, the State had said, the current year’s provision of Rs 300 crores ‘should be treated as the first installment.’
On June 26, the Government of India finalized Nagaland State’s Annual Plan Outlay for 2012-13 at Rs 2, 300 crores, a 27% jump over that of the Plan Outlay for 2011-2012, i.e., Rs 1, 810 crore. Of the Annual Plan Outlay of Rs 2, 300 crore was the surprise Rs. 300 crore ‘special development package’ marked solely as provisions for so-stated “eastern Nagaland.”
