Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 28
Various Naga organizations including the business community, Nagaland State Village Development Board Association (NSVDBA), Tribal Hohos, Political Parties, Nagaland State Village Councils, and Urban Local Bodies met with the 15th Finance Commission. Besides submitting formal petitions and memorandums, the representatives of these bodies also impressed upon the FC during the interaction.
Business orgs apprised FC on the challenges faced by the community
The representatives of Trade, Industry and Commerce, represented by Kohima Chambers of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Mokokchung Chambers of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Dimapur Chambers of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Zynorique, YouthNet and Entrepreneurs Associates met with the FC on November 27.
In a memorandum submitted to the FC, the group stated “We are confident that the 15th Finance Commission will sagaciously provide innovative funds, like the seed capital, to enable Nagaland state become an asset to the Nation. Developing entrepreneurship, human capital and key infrastructure will unveil a new Nagaland. We hope the 15th Finance Commission will make this happen.”
The team apprised the Commission about the challenging realities of accessing formal credits from banks to nurture entrepreneurship in Nagaland.
It also requested the Commission for a onetime provision of an Innovative Seed Capital of Rs 500 crores to be customized to support local entrepreneurs with soft loans for job generation and propelling entrepreneurship.
“This seed capital would generate meaningful jobs to at least 25,000 youth in the state within 5 years,” the memorandum stated.
The team also highlighted the need to develop human capital and contextual skills.
It requested the Commission to fund the state with vocational training institutions and establishment of traditional skill resource centre in all districts and fund for Research & Development.
“Such measures will directly mitigate rampant migration for jobs outside Nagaland,” the memorandum stated.
The team also highlighted the importance of developing the air connectivity, Air cargo, rail, warehouses, logistics and land transport subsidies.
NSVDBA appeals for grants
The Nagaland State Village Development Board Association (NSVDBA) requested the 15th FC to provide Matching Cash Grant (MCG) of Rs 100 crores to VDB fixed deposit.
It also sought the help of the Commission for the promotion of Micro Financing activities through VDBs, a total of Rs 714 crores for 1428 VDBs.
It also sought grants for payment of monthly honorarium to village functionaries, grant- in-aid to VDBs household allocation (Rs 189.95 crore for five years), special assistance for women scheme and other infrastructure and basic development (Rs 535.50 crore for five years).
Tribal Hohos request ‘special category status’
Tribal Hohos of Nagaland stated that the 5th FC introduced the concept of Special Category States in 1969 to provide certain disadvantaged states with preferential treatment in the form of Central Assistance and tax-breaks, where the State of Nagaland was included to avail such "special category status.’ Unfortunately, the Special Grants were discontinued from the 9th Finance Commission resulting in huge financial deficits.
The Tribal Hohos in a representation requested the 15th Finance Commission to consider the restoration of “Special Category Status” besides others by giving preferential treatment in the form of central assistance and tax-breaks to enable the state to accelerate the path of economic development of the state.
Political parties request for investment and monitoring agency
The Political parties in its joint memorandum stated “For a state like Nagaland, in order to catch up with the rest of the country, we will need to develop twice or thrice the present speed, since the rest of the country is also continuing to grow. For this, there will be a need for huge special investment,” it stated.
It urged 15th FC to create a Monitoring Agency to supervise such funds provided to the state. Further, it requested the Commission to make the allocation for Nagaland based on “our unique and special status.”
NSVC wants fund at par with PRI
Nagaland State Village Councils in its representation put forward a proposal to 15th FC to grant fund for the village councils in the state of Nagaland at par with the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) of various states in India for the interest and welfare of the rural public and for better local self governance.
Urban Local Bodies
The Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) apprised the Commission on the 33% women reservation issue and the resolution of the same and requested the 15th FC to release grants to the urban local bodies as projected by the government.
