Kesonyu Yhome addressing 47th general conference of NCSA in Kohima on November 19. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 19
Nagaland Commissioner & Secretary to Chief Minister, Works & Housing and Finance Commissioner, Kesonyu Yhome today commended the NCS (Nagaland Civil Service) officers for playing an important role in providing leadership in every aspect and sector in Nagaland.
“We have seen that in the last six decades or so, the NCS has been a very critical element in shaping and taking our State thus far. The role is only going to get bigger,” Yhome said while addressing the 47th General Conference of the Nagaland Civil Service Association (NCSA) at Imagine Nagaland Hall, ATI Kohima.
Touching on Viksit Bharat 2047, a vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, he said “The role of NCS officers are very critical if we have to make it along with the rest of India.”
He stressed on the need to strengthen the state economy to become a developed state and a developed nation.
As of today, the state government is running at a Gross State Domestic Product of Rs. 45,000 crores. By 2047, if we have to become a developed state, we have to increase it at least Rs. 4 lakh crores, he said.
Yhome said that Nagaland registered annual per capita GSDP growth rate at about 6 to 7 percent.
By 2047, we need to increase this to reach 10 percent and keep it consistently at 10 percent, he said.
The NCS officers will have to take the lead, he said and called upon them to give leadership and direction in the economy sector.
He maintained that power sector is one of the key elements of becoming a developed state.
When you have power supply for 24/7, there is an eligibility condition for becoming a developed state, he said.
For Nagaland, the peak demand of power supply is about 180 MW and the internal generation of the state is only about just short of 30 MW, he said.
We are buying the remaining at a very high cost, spending at least Rs. 600 crores every year, he said.
Stressing on the need to reorient “our paradigm and our target,” to a development oriented role, Yhome said, “I think it is important that we pick up certain sectors to ensure that we give a leadership in that particular segment.”
Poor credit flow in Nagaland
Stating that the credit flow in the state “is very poor,” Yhome said that one of the primary reasons is the industry sector, which is still in its incipient stage.
“We have very limited private investment. Our industry is yet to take off. So the secondary sector is in a very incipient stage,” he said.
Over the years, the primary sector has been stagnating since 2011, 2012, he said.
He said the internal state fund revenues stands only about 14 to 15%, which means Nagaland state get about 85% from the central government through various funds, grants and devolution.
Yhome said that the government have been having a number of meetings with the banking sector, financial institutions to ensure that they give a big push to the credit flow.
Chief Minister's Micro Finance Initiative
Yhome urged upon the NCS officers to give a good leadership in the Chief Minister's Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI).
“Now, this has taken off, but it is yet to take shape,” he said.
He said the CMMFI was launched with the conception that it will help small enterprises and small entrepreneurs take up loans and take it forward.
He, however said that there is lack of information among the common people and local entrepreneurs are not aware of this scheme.
The CMMFI is a government scheme in Nagaland, launched by the Department of Finance, to provide accessible and affordable credit to individual farmers, entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for economic activities
We want the NCS officers, wherever you are posted, particularly in the remote areas, to come in and give a big push, he said.
Yhome said the scheme can actually change the landscape in the rural sector and small enterprises and entrepreneurs can actually take such kind of loan and take it forward and make a living for themselves.
Meanwhile, Yhome urged upon the NCS officers to form certain working groups on a particular sector, and make some thorough studies, and give valuable inputs to the government.
“The government is looking for inputs from all sectors,” he said adding that their (NCS officers) inputs will really help the government.
