11th session of the 12th NLA begins
Affirming that the state government would continue to take active part in facilitating the peace process, the Nagaland governor P.B. Acharya on Tuesday appealed to all sections of Naga society to be large-hearted and supportive of the peace process for the sake of the future generation.
Addressing the first day of the 11th session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here, the governor stated that consultation process amongst various stakeholder groups were going on actively after the signing of the Framework Agreement by the Government of India and NSCN (I-M) on August 3, 2015.
Lamenting that abrogation of the ceasefire by NSCN (K) in March 2015 has caused much anxiety among the people, Acharya said the state government along with civil society organisations have been appealing to the government of India and NSCN (K) to resume the ceasefire.
He lauded the joint efforts of the Naga Hoho and Eastern Naga People’s Organization (ENPO) representatives, who, on the request of the PWC of the Nagaland Legislators Forum, had gone to Myanmar and conveyed the desire of the Government of Nagaland and the people for resumption of the ceasefire to the authorized representatives of NSCN (K).
Further, the governor also appreciated the efforts of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) that had gone to New Delhi in July 2015 and February 2016 to meet central leaders of the various political parties and sought support for an early political settlement.
Maintaining that law and order situation in the state has been largely peaceful, the governor however described as unfortunate the February 6, 2016 incident in which a couple was murdered near Shamator and led to an issue in Kiphiri, Pungro and Shamator areas.
Informing that SIT headed by DIG of police has been constituted to probe the incident and the subsequent act of arson and destruction of properties at Kiphiri, Pungro and Shamator, the governor appealed to the people to cooperate with the SIT in apprehending the perpetrators.
Acharya asserted that safety of the minority community in any area should be the prime concern of the majority community in that area. He said tendency for extracting revenge must be avoided and allow the law to take its own course of action.
Leader of the house, chief minister T.R Zeliang made obituary references to former governor of Nagaland late Gen. (Retd) Krishna Rao and former Lok Sabha Speaker and sitting MP from Meghalaya late P.A Sangma while NLA speaker Chotisuh Sazo made obituary reference of former NLA members Late L. Nokzenketba, late Lalkholam Kuki and Late Er. T. Sakuangba Aier.
A two-minute silence was observed by the house as mark of respect to the departed souls. NLA speaker said the obituary note would be conveyed to the respective family members through the commissioner secretary NLA. MLA Vikho-o Yhoshu moved motion of thanks to the governor’s address. NLA speaker informed the house that discussion on the governor’s address would be held on March 17 and 18.
NBTC bill 2016 to be tabled: Gov
Governor P.B. Acharya, delivering his address on the first day of the 12 NLA, announced that the Nagaland Backward Tribes Commission (NBTC) Bill, 2016, which seeks to establish a commission for backward tribes in the state to safeguard the rights of the backward tribes, would be tabled in the house during this current session.
Acharya also highlighted various developmental activities and achievements of the state government. He noted that besides Naga Mircha, the Geographical Indication Registry which had also accorded GI tag to Naga tree tomato was a matter of pride for the Nagaland
Highlighting the policies, programmes, achievements and plans of the government, the governor informed that Department of Underdeveloped Areas (DUDA) focused on accelerating the developmental process and to improve the socio-economic condition of the people living in the under-developed areas of the state.
Pointing out that the commissionerate of sales tax has computerized almost all areas of its functioning to reduce the interface between the department and the tax payers, Acharya said using those e-service, 10723 dealers have been registered under various acts and Rs. 297.35 crores has been collected through online-e-payments ever since the e-payment module went live from January 2012 onwards.
He said during the current financial year, dealers made payment of Rs. 90 crore through e-payment module till January 2016 while during the first three quarters of the current financial year, the collection of sales tax records a healthy growth of 17.5 %.
Acharya said Nagaland Public Works Department (R&B) were pursuing various schemes for the improvement and development in the road sector. He said under PMGSY, out of 56 roads sanctioned, 28 roads have been completed and works on the remaining 28 roads were in good progress.
He pointed out that total length of the National Highways in Nagaland was 1,497 kilometers out of which NPWD (NH) looks after 1201 Kms while 296 kms were under Border Roads Organization (BRO).
The governor also announced that the ministry of labour and employment has approved establishment of a vocational rehabilitation centre for differently abled persons in Nagaland while two new ITIs at Peren and Dimapur would be established.
Power: In the power sector, it was informed that the department has completed and commissioned the 1 megawatt Tehok Mini Hydro Electric project on January 29, at Chen area under Mon district while the construction of 66/11 KV, 20 MVA sub-station at Sovima and an additional 25 MVA, 132/33 KV sub-station at Kohima would be commissioned during this current year.
Education: Asserting that all efforts have been made to improve the quality of education in government schools, Acharya said the current rationalizing of schools and teachers were in good progress while the process of streamlining of personnel management in the department and budget monitoring in the directorate has drastically brought down expenditure on salaries.
He said 47 science and 68 maths teachers have been selected through open interview and posted in GMS especially in far flung areas while 200 primary teachers have been selected through open interview to be posted in Mon, Tuensang and Kiphiri districts.
He also said that under RMSA, 533 graduate teachers were appointed to man the 111 GMS upgraded to high schools and those would be functional from this academic session.
On the State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT), he informed that SCERT has framed curriculum and syllabus for both pre-service as well in-service diploma in education, ECE and ELTI.
He said the main thrust of the SCERT during 2016-2017 would be on the setting up of the new DIETs at Peren, Longleng and Kiphiri including the three new DIETs at Sechu, Longkhim and Chuchuyimlang. Governor added that the establishment of new Polytechnics in the six remaining districts were in good progress.
IT: The governor also informed that under the science and technology department, construction of the innovation hub, along with a planetarium was expected to be completed by March 2016. He said the state GIS & Remote sensing centre continues its pioneering efforts in scientific research and development in geo-spatial related applications.
YR&S: Under youth resource and sports department, the governor informed that three young Naga footballers have been selected for special coaching at the All India Football Federation Football Academy in Goa to participate in the FIFA 2017 under 17 World Cup to be held in India.
RD: Governor stated that the Rural Development (RD) department was implementing the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), a poverty reduction programme. that focused on women Self Help Groups (SHGs) through household intervention. He said under MGNREGS, employment of 127.05 lakh man days has been generated during 2015-2016 till date.
H&FW: Under health and family welfare (H&FW) department, Acharya informed that more laboratories enabling rapid DNA diagnosis of multi drug resistant TB in Pediatric TB, TB in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and extra pulmonary TB would be set up in the state.
F&CS: He also informed that the food and civil supplies (F&CS) department was distributing subsidized food grains under APL, BPL, AAY and Annapurna schemes. He said that under the National food security Act, highly subsidized food grains shall be provided to the identified priority households in the state. Acharya said the department has take up end to end computerization of PDS as a preparatory step while the legal metrology and consumer protection department has prosecuted 62 cases under the provisions of the legal metrology act and rules and 48 cases were disposed off by the consumer courts in the state.
NST: Under Nagaland State transport, governor expressed joy that the construction of Inter State Truck Terminus (ISTT) at Kohima has been completed and that the construction of the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kohima and Inter State Bus- Truck Terminus (ISBTT) at New district headquarters Peren were nearing completion.
Home: With the launch of Sate Disaster Response Force (SDRF) comprising of 240 personnel from civil defence and home guards on January 26, he said the dedicated SDRF personnel shall be deployed at eight strategic district headquarters with the objective to respond quickly to natural calamities across the state.He also took note of the inaugural of the new 14th NAP (IR) battalion Hq at Okhezong, Kiphire on January 25, construction of 12th NAP (IR) battalion HQ at Chingtok, Longleng and construction of 13th NAP (IR) battalion HQ at Yachang, Mokokchung nearing completion.
Furthermore, the governor informed that the directorate of Sainik Welfare and resettlement looks after 2560 registered ex-servicemen in Nagaland, 63 WW-II veterans and 1800 widows. He said the financial assistance to the living WW-II veterans of Nagaland has been enhanced from Rs. 3000 per month to Rs. 6000 per month with effect from 2015-16.
L&J: He highlighted that the Justice and Law department had completed the construction of the residential complexes for its officials and staff in Mokokchung, Longleng and Zunheboto.
He said video conferencing facility in all district courts and district jails were installed and the Kohima bench of the Guahati High court where wi-fi and local area network (LAN) connectivity were setup.
Agri: Speaking on the agriculture sector, Acharya said during 2015-16, food grains productivity surpassed its target with productivity level of 2,270 kg per hectare.
Sericulture: He said that the department was implementing integrated sericulture development project funded by Ministry of Textiles, in all the districts covering a total area of 800 acres under Mulberry, Eri and Muga varieties.
LRD: Land Resources Development department, he said a comprehensive plan has been prepared to develop 5,000 hectares of coffee plantation in Nagaland in the next five years under IWMP in collaboration with the Coffee Board of India. He said under the national hydrological programme (NHP), Rs. 28 crores was allocated for Nagaland to be implemented from 2016-17 to 2022-23.
V&AH: Acharya stated that the Veterinary department was upgrading the state pig breeding farms at Lerie Kohima and at Suthazu, Chozuba as well as the rabbit farm at Jharnapani, Medziphema.
The fisheries department is implementing an innovative project “conservation and promotion of aquatic species of stream fisheries and enhancement of fish production” initiated under national fisheries development board (NFDB) in all districts to replenish depletion of indigenous fish species in various streams and riverine systems due to unethical fishing methods, he said.
PHE: Governor said the PHE department would be providing drinking water to 92 habitations and water treatment units to 32 habitations having water quality problems, roof top rain water harvesting structures in 15 habitations, rejuvenation of traditional wells in 75 habitations, solar powered water supply in 2 habitations and surface water supply have been taken up under national rural Drinking water program (NRDWP).
Geology and mining department: Governor informed that the Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC) has taken up the 9km Zipu to Moke road and the 20km Laluri to Mimi road, which would facilitate establishment of Mega cement plant at Mimi. He said bridges across Tizu river and Chizuti bridge on the Mimi-Laluri road were completed and opened for vehicular movement in May-June 2015.
I&TC: With regard to Information Technology and Communication sector, Governor disclosed that Nagaland became the first State in the country to successfully take over the State Portal and State Service Delivery Gateway (SP & SSDG) Mission Mode Project. Nagaland also became the first State in North-Eastern Region to start the pilot project for National Information Infrastructure (NII) at Peren district. Under the digital India programme, IT &C department has launched mobile seva, online public grievance redressal system and online post matric scholarship application for higher education, applications for NPSC examination have been made fully online with online payment facility for the 2nd consecutive year, he said.
In the Cooperation sector, the marketing complexes at Signal Basti, Dimapur; Medziphema and Mon have been complete, he said.
Municipal Affairs: he said that the department had notified Town Councils for Aboi, Shamator, Noklak and Meluri Town on July 10. 2015. The Department had also completed preparation of Smart City Plan for Kohima Smart City which was submitted to the Government of India for the Stage-II City Challenge competition under the Smart City Mission, he said.
The department has completed survey on Housing Demand in all the 23 ULBs of the State under Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana (Housing for All by 2022).
Urban Development: Governor stated that the Solid Waste Management Facility at Lerie, Kohima having a 50 tonnes per day compost plant, including Sanitary Landfill to accommodate 42,000 cubic meters of waste and Leachate Treatment Plant of 75,000 litres per capacity was inaugurated and commissioned on February 11, 2016.
Meanwhile, the governor informed that the social welfare department was implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) in the state for the welfare of the mothers, children and aged people.
Stating that Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) was a method of planning, programming and budgeting that helps advance gender equality and women empowerment, Acharya said the state government was committed to address gender issue and has adopted GRB as a key strategy to achieve gender mainstreaming.
He said the state government was in the process of formulating a concrete strategy for strengthening the states ongoing efforts in GRB.
The governor asserted that the past years has seen many positive developments and expressed confidence that the house would deliberate on various issues concerning good governance, development of the state on all fronts and the welfare of the people so collective efforts would take the state of Nagaland forward in every aspect.