16th annual conference of Village Development Board Association (VDBA), Pughoboto, RD block Ghathashi was held on January 30 at Town Hall Pughoboto.
According to DIPR report, chief guest, Y. Vikheho, MLA 13 AC Pughoboto, credited the success of VDB model to AM Gokhale who was secretary in the Department of Rural Development during the governance of the regional party UDF under the leadership of Vizol Angami in the 1970s.
Swu said that the elected VDB secretaries from 24 villages under Pughoboto sub-division had important roles to play for the development of the rural masses in the region and asked them to set mid-term as well as long-term targets to uplift the economic condition of their respective village.
He urged VDBs to start vegetable farming as short term goals, animal husbandry as mid-term goals and to take up various trees and other plantation as long-term goals as Pughoboto sub-division had close proximity to the state capital and shared border with four different districts.
He further reminded that the role of VDB secretary was not only to disburse funds to the beneficiary but also to assist, supervise and assure that funds are utilised judiciously for the development of the sub-division.
Guest of honour, project director & DPCDRDA Zunheboto, Inavi Chishi spoke about various programmes that the department was implementing and therefore asked VDB secretaries of 24 villages to avail the facilities and to utilise them judiciously.
Presidential address and report of the association was presented by president VDB association, Pughoboto RD block Ghathashi, Vikato M. Swu, who highlighted the major development achieved during his tenure of construction of VDB conference hall which was one of the best assets among the eight blocks under DRDA.
Earlier, welcome speech was delivered by VP of VDBAP, Bosukha Swu and vote of thanks by GS VDBAP, Viyito Wotsa.