Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio at the 6th session of 14th Nagaland’s Legislative Assembly on March 4. (DIPR Pghoto)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 7
Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio was optimistic that Nagaland budget 2025-26 with its new initiatives and increased allocations to the departments will lead to economic transformation of the State.
In his concluding remarks on the general discussion on the state budget for the year 2025-26 at the 6th session of 14th Nagaland’s Legislative Assembly here on March 7, Dr Rio urged all members to guide and support the government and the departments to proactively implement schemes for the benefit of the people of the state.
He said that the Accumulated Deficit of the State stood at Rs 1630.67 crore during the Budget 2018-19.
Though there were variations during Covid years with an increase to Rs 2679 crore in Financial Year 2021-22, the state has been consistently bringing down the deficit over the past few years bring down the value to Rs 843.21 crore which is a considerable achievement, Dr Rio stated.
As mentioned in the Financial Year 2024-25, the state has been able to reduce the accumulated deficit by Rs 62.57 crore. The State Total own tax revenue increased from Rs 846.43 crore during financial year 2018-19 to Rs 1790 crore in Financial Year 2024-25.
On the issue of GST raised by the Members, the Chief Minister said that the department is also of the opinion that the GST collection can be improved. And towards this, as mentioned in the Budget, the Government is establishing RFID reading posts to ensure all commercial vehicles transporting goods are complying with the GST regime and the GST is collected, he said.
The Taxes Department is also establishing a Research and Analysis wing to properly analyse tax data, detect evasion pattern and optimize revenue collection.
In the preceding years, Rio said “my government had concentrated on welfare measures such as the CMHIS and CMLIS along with the CMMFI.”
This has really benefitted the citizens during their time of distress and need. In the coming years, these welfare schemes will continue and adequate budgetary provisions have been provided, Rio said.
This year’s budget goes beyond the welfare measures and targets economic growth aimed at employment generation considering that unemployment has become one of the most concerning challenges today, Rio said and felt that the budget should not be just allocation and distribution of funds among the Departments but an instrument to spur economic growth so that the citizens benefit through increased incomes leading to higher standards of living.
In this, Rio said that he has announced a number of new initiatives like, Nagaland Skill Mission, which aims to train 5,000 youth in the FY 2025-26 in self-employment and private-sector employment, with entrepreneurships linked to CMMFI.
Rio also highlighted other new initiatives like Living Morung Initiative, Nagaland State Solar Power Mission, Drone Training Centre, Expanding Banking Access to Unbanked Blocks, Capacity Building of Local Bodies & Public Servants, Chief Minister’s Fellowship Program, modernizing NST, Fast tracking Development in Interstate Border Areas.
On some members, raising the issue of inadequacy of funds for road sector in their constituencies, Dr Rio said “It is acknowledged that the fund provided is insufficient but the allocation is being distributed as far as possible, as per existing length in each division.”
On the Naga political issue, Dr Rio said that as pointed out by Imkong L Imchen, the proliferation of factions is a matter of grave concern and the issue will be brought to the notice of the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said that Imchen suggested the sharing of the Government’s draft comments with this August House with respect to FNTA. The third draft of the memorandum of settlement with respect to FNTA was shared with the State Government for comments.
He said that the State Government has approved and forwarded the State Government’s comment to MHA on 6th November, 2024, he said adding that discussions on the comments of the State Government are being held between the representatives of the ENPO, State Government and MHA.
The House shall be taken into confidence in due course of time, he said.
Regarding our Memorandum to the 16th FC, Dr Rio said “We have made our case and the conditions of the 16 Point Agreement and Article 371 (A) was highlighted to the Commission in our Memorandum. We expect that the award of the Commission will be favourable.”
