Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 2
Minister for Higher Education & Urban Development, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu has termed industry as “a system of economic development of the state” and expressed his view that the industrial revolution which reached India only during the mid-20th century has yet to make its impact felt in Nagaland. Speaking at the inaugural function of the new office building of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce here this morning, Shürhozelie observed that Nagaland had been blessed with natural resources but remains unexplored for industrial gain. He called for proper planning and close coordination among the different government departments.
Shürhozelie pointed out that the invention of new machines like spinning Jenny and power loom had benefited the scale of production. Dr. Liezietsu also suggested on the need to find out the number of people, particularly in the rural areas, who have changed their agrarian method of tilling the soil and shifted to the use of machines. “How many weavers have changed their traditional weaving method with wooden tools to the use of spinning Jenny and power loom? Have we reached a situation where we can call it industrial revolution,” he asked adding, “I stand to correction but I personally feel that we are yet to identify the priorities to industrialise our state.”
Also stating that the department has been extending financial and material help to the people in many ways, he said some people have been doing very well but on the whole the progress of development seems not very satisfactory particularly in the field of setting up industries.
In this, Dr. Liezietsu said that capacity building must be given topmost priority to create awareness in the mind of the beneficiaries of how to utilise the help extended by the department. Maintaining that industry will play more and more important role in the years to come with the explosion of population and also the mushroom growth of urban areas, the Minister said the time has come for government to give more importance to the department’s programme for the upliftment of the economy of the people and of the state.
Parliamentary Secretary for Industries & Commerce, Dr. K C Nihoshe, called upon the people to work in tandem with the government to do away with land, security and power problems so that people from outside can come and invest in the state. G Keppen Rengma, Director, Industries & Commerce, said the construction of the building was started during 2004-05 and completed at an estimated rate of Rs.22.05 crores.
The building has 78 rooms, including 19 rooms with attached toilets and 12 common toilets, and a conference hall with a sitting capacity of 250-300 persons. He said that an annexe of the building will house the Regional Chairman of NE-II Food Processing Industries. Chief Secretary Lalthara, IAS, chaired the function while Imkonglemba, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary for industries & commerce, delivered the welcome address. The new office building of the Directorate of Industries & Commerce is located above Kohima Bible College.
(With inputs from DPRO Kohima)
