Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, has said that only a regional party like the Naga People’s Front (NPF) can bring equitable development to rural Nagaland as the party knows and has concern for the plight and problems of the grass root people. Rio who inaugurated the newly-created rural development block, Chumukedima, at New DC Complex Chumukedima, on Monday in his address said that the concept of “high command” of national political parties with the remote control in Delhi was alien to the Nagas whose social capital is the strong community rooted in tradition.
The Chief Minister said that in a state like Nagaland where 70% of the population lives in villages and rural areas, a regional party like the NPF was the best choice as the party considers the common man as its “high command.” “The regional party gives priority to development of rural areas. The regional party gave the Village Development Board (VDB), Backward Area Fund, Local Area Development Fund (LADF), Communitization, old age pension etc. Our target is the villages”, Rio said. Rio also said that the success stories of the state government’s programmes and policies for villages and rural areas are being emulated by other states.
Commenting on his recent visits to interior Mon and Longleng districts, the Chief Minister expressed happiness that the Rural Development schemes and programmes were changing the face of villages in the form of hundred percent CGI roofing in all houses, black-topped approach roads and community halls in almost all villages.
The Chief Minister further appealed to land owners, villagers and VDBs to ensure “community land” and big roads for speedy development of rural areas.
Parliamentary Secretary for RD & REPA, Pangyuh Phom, who was the guest of honour said that with the coming of the NPF-led DAN government, developmental activities and programmes have accelerated in the rural areas. The Parliamentary Secretary said 22 new RD blocks were approved by the state government on December 14, 2011, and that the Chief Minister had keen interest for creation of Chumukedima RD Block. Pangyuh said that Chumukedima RD block being one of the cosmopolitan blocks should be a model block and set an example to all other blocks. He also said that it was time for RD Blocks to create income generating assets instead of always depending on the government.
Earlier, Commissioner & Secretary (RD), V Sakhrie in his keynote address said that creation of 22 new RD blocks “at one go” was a manifestation of the accelerated pace of development in Nagaland and said that if such development continued, the “face of Nagaland can be changed drastically within a period of 5-10 years.” President, Nagaland VDB, Tali Pongener, also spoke on the occasion. Among others, Minister for Land Resources, P Longon, Parliamentary Secretary for Fishery, S Heno, Advisor, Nagaland Bamboo Development Authority, L Temjen, Toshipokba MLA, Commissioner & Secretary to CM, L Kire and RD Director Metsubo Jamir, attended the programme. DC Dimapur, N Hushili, chaired the inaugural programme and Chief Advisor, Chumukedima town Council, T Shuya, proposed vote of thanks.
