Leader of the House Neiphiu Rio making concluding remarks and adoption on the motion of thanks to the Governors’s address during the State Assembly session on March 25. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, March 25 (MExN): The third day of the Ninth Session of the Eleventh Nagaland Legislative Assembly today saw the laying of Annual Administrative reports of various departments, presentation of Assembly Committee Reports, introduction of the Nagaland Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2011 and discussion and voting on supplementary demands for grants for regularisation of excess expenditure for the year 2003-04.
CM says government is playing role of facilitator to Naga political issue
During debate and adoption on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, the Opposition bench raised queries on various issues and policies. Leader of the House, Neiphiu Rio while expressing gratitude to the opposition for their participation on the debate said that the Naga political issue is more than six decades old and the Government is playing the role of a facilitator for a peaceful solution to the issue. He credited everyone including the opposition bench for peace and cohesiveness in the state and stated that law and order is under control. He further looked forward to the cooperation and participation of the NGOs, civil societies and the church for their cooperation in maintaining peace in the state and to work for a collective goal towards honourable settlement of the Naga political issue. Regarding the inclusion of NGO representatives in the District Planning Board, the Chief Minister said that during the planning process, grassroots level should be involved. This would enable the decision-making bodies to understand the problems faced by the people from the grassroots level. Expressing gratitude to the Government of India for approving the proposal of the State Government to enhance the monthly honorarium of the Village Guards from 500 to 1500 rupees, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is looking into the welfare of the Village Guards like providing uniforms, duty allowances and constructing barracks. He also said that the Government is trying its best to provide weapons to all the Village Guards. Besides replying to starred questions, there were introduction, consideration and passing of the Nagaland Appropriation Bills, 2011 and discussion and voting on the supplementary demands for grants for the year 2010-11.
Home Minister informs on unlicensed arms
Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen today informed the House that a total of 761 unlicensed different types of arms including sophisticated weapons were seized during the year 2003-04 till 2010-2011. Replying to a supplementary to a Starred Question raised by Opposition Leader Tokheho Yepthomi during Question Hour, the Home Minister admitted that quite a high number of country-made or hand-made weapons including that of sophisticated weapons were being manufactured even as the law-enforcing agencies are doing their best to check the use of unlicensed arms.
He disclosed that a total of 81 weapons were seized in 2003; 58 in 2004; 36 in 2005, 48 in 2006; 57 in 2007; 193 in 2008; 111 in 2009; 146 in 2010 and 31 till March this year were seized. On asked what the department does with the seized arms, he said the weapons seized from criminals are normally destroyed after the approval of the government while that of those seized from the underground cadres are kept under custody. The Home Minister further admitted that the number of licensed arms and weapons are also quite high.
Forest Minister dwells on environment importance
Nagaland Minister for Forest and Environment, M.C Konyak today said his department is coordinating the preparation of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) involving numerous departments. Replying to a Starred Question raised by MLA H. Chuba Chang on the floor of the House today, the Forest Minister said whereas no action plan for improvement of the environment has been framed yet, management of the environment in the state is guided by the National Forest Policy 1988 and the National Environment Policy, 2006. He said the efforts of the department to prevent environment degradation are executed through its various schemes such as intensification of forest management, National Afforestation Programme, etc. Besides, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board also undertakes activities to monitor and control environment pollution, he said on being asked about the department’s main action plans for improvement of environment in the state. On whether the department is contemplating any policy to change shifting cultivation system in the state, the Minister said the department, as part of its afforestation programme, is weaning away shifting cultivators by providing them the alternative of tree farming/agro-forestry as one of the objectives. Agriculture and allied departments also have policies to reduce shifting cultivation system by adopting settled and permanent cultivation system wherever feasible and in phases, he said. The Minister further clarified that there has been no specific directive from the Government of India on the subject so far as the Forest Department is concerned.
Rs 15965.33 Lakhs for police modernisation
State Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen said that a total of `15965.33 lakhs has been received so far from the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs under the Police Modernisation Scheme. While replying to a starred question at the 9th Session of the Eleventh Nagaland Legislative Assembly today March 25, 2011, the Minister also gave the details of expenditure involved against the Modernisation fund. The total sanction amount received under the scheme from 2003-04 to 2010-11 are as follows:- 2003-04 (`1937.55 lakhs), 2004-05 (` 899.27 lakhs), 2005-06 (`1256.55 lakhs), 2006-07 (`2018.41 lakhs), 2007-08 (`2792.93 lakhs), 2008-09 (`2204.56 lakhs), 2009-10 (`2549.32 lakhs), 2010-11 (`2306.74 lakhs).
CM says government is playing role of facilitator to Naga political issue
During debate and adoption on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, the Opposition bench raised queries on various issues and policies. Leader of the House, Neiphiu Rio while expressing gratitude to the opposition for their participation on the debate said that the Naga political issue is more than six decades old and the Government is playing the role of a facilitator for a peaceful solution to the issue. He credited everyone including the opposition bench for peace and cohesiveness in the state and stated that law and order is under control. He further looked forward to the cooperation and participation of the NGOs, civil societies and the church for their cooperation in maintaining peace in the state and to work for a collective goal towards honourable settlement of the Naga political issue. Regarding the inclusion of NGO representatives in the District Planning Board, the Chief Minister said that during the planning process, grassroots level should be involved. This would enable the decision-making bodies to understand the problems faced by the people from the grassroots level. Expressing gratitude to the Government of India for approving the proposal of the State Government to enhance the monthly honorarium of the Village Guards from 500 to 1500 rupees, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is looking into the welfare of the Village Guards like providing uniforms, duty allowances and constructing barracks. He also said that the Government is trying its best to provide weapons to all the Village Guards. Besides replying to starred questions, there were introduction, consideration and passing of the Nagaland Appropriation Bills, 2011 and discussion and voting on the supplementary demands for grants for the year 2010-11.
Home Minister informs on unlicensed arms
Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen today informed the House that a total of 761 unlicensed different types of arms including sophisticated weapons were seized during the year 2003-04 till 2010-2011. Replying to a supplementary to a Starred Question raised by Opposition Leader Tokheho Yepthomi during Question Hour, the Home Minister admitted that quite a high number of country-made or hand-made weapons including that of sophisticated weapons were being manufactured even as the law-enforcing agencies are doing their best to check the use of unlicensed arms.
He disclosed that a total of 81 weapons were seized in 2003; 58 in 2004; 36 in 2005, 48 in 2006; 57 in 2007; 193 in 2008; 111 in 2009; 146 in 2010 and 31 till March this year were seized. On asked what the department does with the seized arms, he said the weapons seized from criminals are normally destroyed after the approval of the government while that of those seized from the underground cadres are kept under custody. The Home Minister further admitted that the number of licensed arms and weapons are also quite high.
Forest Minister dwells on environment importance
Nagaland Minister for Forest and Environment, M.C Konyak today said his department is coordinating the preparation of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) involving numerous departments. Replying to a Starred Question raised by MLA H. Chuba Chang on the floor of the House today, the Forest Minister said whereas no action plan for improvement of the environment has been framed yet, management of the environment in the state is guided by the National Forest Policy 1988 and the National Environment Policy, 2006. He said the efforts of the department to prevent environment degradation are executed through its various schemes such as intensification of forest management, National Afforestation Programme, etc. Besides, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board also undertakes activities to monitor and control environment pollution, he said on being asked about the department’s main action plans for improvement of environment in the state. On whether the department is contemplating any policy to change shifting cultivation system in the state, the Minister said the department, as part of its afforestation programme, is weaning away shifting cultivators by providing them the alternative of tree farming/agro-forestry as one of the objectives. Agriculture and allied departments also have policies to reduce shifting cultivation system by adopting settled and permanent cultivation system wherever feasible and in phases, he said. The Minister further clarified that there has been no specific directive from the Government of India on the subject so far as the Forest Department is concerned.
Rs 15965.33 Lakhs for police modernisation
State Home Minister, Imkong L. Imchen said that a total of `15965.33 lakhs has been received so far from the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs under the Police Modernisation Scheme. While replying to a starred question at the 9th Session of the Eleventh Nagaland Legislative Assembly today March 25, 2011, the Minister also gave the details of expenditure involved against the Modernisation fund. The total sanction amount received under the scheme from 2003-04 to 2010-11 are as follows:- 2003-04 (`1937.55 lakhs), 2004-05 (` 899.27 lakhs), 2005-06 (`1256.55 lakhs), 2006-07 (`2018.41 lakhs), 2007-08 (`2792.93 lakhs), 2008-09 (`2204.56 lakhs), 2009-10 (`2549.32 lakhs), 2010-11 (`2306.74 lakhs).
(With DIPR Inputs)
