Our Correspondent
Kohima | December 1
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today called the people of Nagaland to come forward and join hands with the Government “so that we can march together towards all-round development.”
Nagaland today celebrated 55th Statehood Day here at the Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima today highlighting the developmental activities and various achievements made during the intervening years. On December 1, 1963, Nagaland was inaugurated as the 16th State of the Indian Union by Dr Sarvapelli Radhakrishnan, the then President of India.
On peace process
Rio said the Government of India also recognized Naga "unique history" and that the unresolved Naga issue was a political issue which needed a settlement.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of peace; and the overarching desire focus on development and a better future for our youth has led to ceasefire and peace Negotiations between the NSCN and later with the other Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and Government of India have been going on for the last 21 (Twenty-One) years,” Rio said.
Rio also placed on record the State Government's appreciation to all the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) who are engaged in peace talks as well as those who are coming forward to ensure that peace prevails in our Society.
“The yearning for lasting peace and an all-inclusive, honourable, acceptable and an early settlement to the vexed Naga political issue is the top priority. All-round development can come when there is lasting peace,” he added,
In this context, he said after assuming office on March 8, the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) have undertaken several measures that include setting up of a Political Affairs Committee (PAC), conducting consultative meets with tribal hohos and civil society organisations and meeting senior Ministers and Officials in Government of India regularly.
On May 2018, the PAC of the PDA and its Legislators during a joint consultative meeting with Naga tribal hohos and civil society organizations resolved to urge all Naga political groups to join the peace talks in order to achieve an inclusive solution, Rio added.
It also unanimously resolved to reconstitute the Joint Legislators Forum (JLF) and a consultative meeting of all 60 Legislators on September 18 consensually decided to re-constitute the Forum “to pursue the Naga Political Issue to its logical conclusion.”
‘Better roads’ a priority
Meanwhile, highlighting the achievement of the present PDA Rio said one of the key decisions that it took was to end the VIP Culture in the State and focus on transparency and accountability.
Today, all government departments have websites to make governance more accessible to the people through the use of technology, he maintained.
The CM Dashboard gives the real-time status of all major schemes and programs and was recently awarded by the Indian Express Group as one of the best use of technological applications.
“I am also happy to announce that State Government has decided to ban all single use plastics below 50 microns with effect from today whilst also taking measures to make Nagaland plastic-free,” Rio said.
He announced that the top priorities of the Government has been to ensure better roads, for which it have taken up repair of all major roads in all Districts.
“We are actively pursuing for sanction of Trans-Nagaland Highway along the foothills and our own airport in the State Capital which has been our dream and an important component for not only promoting tourism but also for providing cargo services for our products,” Rio said.
“We are committed to providing basic amenities to people for a better quality of life" he said highlighting the augmentation of Water supply to Kohima town, Wokha town and 24 villages at Chiephobozou RD Block. He said construction of 220 kV Transmission Line from Dimapur to Zhadima for power supply needs of Kohima, Wokha, Phek and Kiphire districts has started in full swing.
"We have introduced City Buses in Dimapur and Kohima along with Pink Buses for women, senior citizens and the disabled. We have also inaugurated the Science Museum in Dimapur, an Innovation Hub and a 50 seated Planetarium at Nagaland Science Centre. For the welfare of our students, 50% of Post Matric Scholarship has been released from State resources even without getting of funds from Government of India in view of submission of SIT report over diversion of funds in previous years. For SSA & RMSA teachers, scale pay has been approved even though funding for the same has been restricted to fixed amounts by Government of India. We have launched the Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme which provides cashless health insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs to almost 2.70 lakh beneficiary families in the State."
He also expressed happiness that Nagaland completed the Measles Rubella Vaccination campaign with more than 97.5% coverage as per reports received so far.
Under Rural Development, we started the process of releasing the grant in aid to the VDBs who had not received their due grant in aid for 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2017-18. In addition, tractors with implements are being distributed as incentive to all 60 constituencies and selected VDBs since July 30, 2018,” Rio said.
“We are committed to the welfare of farmers and promotion of Horticulture and allied Agriculture activities for doubling the income of farmers. Our State was recently awarded the best Horticulture State at the 110 Global Agriculture Leadership Award, 2018 for using innovative ideas to transform the horticultural activities in the State. We are focusing on organic farming to ensure better returns for our farmers,” he said.
Business and investment
He said one key strength of the state has been the relatively better Law & Order situation, adding that the state have recently been regarded as the Best State for maintenance of Law & Order amongst Small States at the India Today Conclave of State.
Stating that the state government has also set up the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) to boost investment in the state, he said “Our focus is on promotion of Entrepreneurship and enabling investments in the State by simplifying procedures and improving the ease of Doing Business.”
He said the efforts towards Good Governance and better financial management has also been appreciated by the 15th Finance Commission.
He assured that the Government of Nagaland will leave no stone unturned to deliver better services to the people “because we have been elected to power on the theme "Change is Coming."
