Land Resources Department (LRD) bade farewell to its director Mhathung Yanthan who had served the department as director for 4 years and 2 months, in a grand farewell programme organized by LR department in honour of him at directorate of land resources on Wednesday afternoon.
Retiring director in his speech praised God for enabling him to reach happy retirement life in good health which he had dreamt for. He thanked the officers and staff of the department for their trust and respect during his directorship and also termed the last day as the most memorable day in his life. Yanthan said he was leaving to the incoming director and his team many challenges ahead of the department’s activities and urged them to keep up the good name of the department.
He recalled the various achieved activities of the department and expressed his opinion that with the successful implementation of coffee plantation in collaboration with coffee board of India, Nagaland would be “coffee map of the world” as it has lots of prospects to be one of the best in the world. He informed that there was a rubber plantation movement in the state with competition among the farmers in various districts which would boost the economy of the rural areas.
He challenged the LR department officials to take up the responsibility seriously with innovative ideas and make the land productive to attract more farmers. He reminded the department that farmers should not be exploited by the traders while marketing their products.
Parliamentary secretary Land resources BS Nganlang Phom in his address described the retiring director as sincere, committed, straight forward director, fully equipped and well informed of the department’s activities. Phom lauded Yanthan for his commitment and sincerity that had brought lots of positive changes to the department during his tenure. Parliamentary secretary congratulated Yanthan for successful retirement life and wished him all the very best in future enadeavour.
Secretary land resources, Y. Kikheto Sema IAS in his address said Yanthan’s retirement would create a vacuum in the department, however he was of the view that the incoming director Hoto Yetho and his team would carry the legacy of the department. He said during his 4 months association with the director, he found him to be sincere, dedicated and worked hard to improve the rural economic. The incoming director Hoto Yeptho who spoke on behalf of the directorate officers become emotional and broke down in the middle of his speech on recollecting their close association and committed work he did for the department. He described the retiring director as a cool person, calm, firm, confident, courageous and never lost his temper even during tense situations. He said Yanthan knew how to handle the difficult situation in the right way. He informed to the public that department‘s programme, SPEED (special programme for environment and ecological programme ) was the brainchild of the retiring director.
The farewell programme was led by T. Renben Lotha joint director, invocation prayer said by N. Kehie DPO Phek, Temsunaro Nokdir spoke on behalf of ministerial staff, Acato Chishi spoke on behalf of district officers and staff, special song was presented by WDT members, special slide show of the department activities under the leadership of Yanthan was displayed by SLNA staff, while closing prayer was proposed by Neilhoukhoto DPO Peren. The retiring director was felicitated by staff and officials of the department from various districts and also by individuals. The programme was attended by LRD staff and officials of various districts, family and forest colony members, officers from other department and others.