On the first day of the eighth session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), ministers in-charge of various departments replied to several starred question raised by members.
In a reply to a starred question raised by NPF legislator Kuzholuzo Nienu on the status of Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN), deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of Home, Y Patton said that the government which had constituted committees at the state level and district level were holding deliberations with tribal hohos and organisations on the recommendations of the Banuo Jamir commission and other issues pertaining to RIIN.
He said that the government had decided to prepare the register with an aim to prevent issuance of fake indigenous inhabitant certificates.
However, due to different opinions expressed by various sections of civil society and tribal bodies, he said the government constituted a commission with Banuo Z Jamir as chairperson, along with two other members, to study, examine and recommend and advise on the issue.
The commission had submitted its report and a consultative meeting with all tribal hohos and organisations to discuss the modalities and process to achieve the objectives of RIIN was held on April 16, 2021, where it was decided to constitute a State-level joint consultative committee with home commissioner as convener and representatives of CNTC, ENPO, TPO and of non-Naga Scheduled Tribes of the State as members. In the districts, district-level sub-committees with DCs as conveners and respective tribal hohos as members will be constituted for holding further deliberations with various stakeholders from the State on RIIN.
As Azo supplemented the question asking the fate of Garos and Kukis of Nagaland, leader of house and chief minister Neiphiu Rio intervened and said there were different categories of people in the State and their rights should not be trampled upon. He assured that once the consultation process was over, the report would be tabled on the floor of the house.
He said those who resided before the Indian independence would get permanent resident certificates, while different certificates or permits would be issued to those who had come for business purposes. Rio further said that if documents are found to be fake, then the issuing authority would be held accountable.
Asked by leader of the opposition TR Zeliang whether the Banuo Commission report was a secret document since its contents were not laid in public domain, Rio replied that there was nothing confidential and the report was shared with tribal leaders to study. He sought time to complete the consultation process, after which the report would be tabled in NLA for approval.
Border issue: NPF legislator Dr Chumben Murry asked whether it was a fact that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma planned to set up police battalion camps at strategic location along the Assam-Nagaland border and, if so, what was the stand of the Nagaland government on this issue and how it planned to counter the move.
Acknowledging that it was learnt from media reports that Assam government had plans to set up battalion camps at strategic locations along the inter-State border, deputy chief minister Y Patton, who is also in-charge of home department, however, replied that no official communication had been received in this regard.
He claimed that the State government had recently strengthened its manpower at Vikuto, Aosenden and Tsutapela gates in order to counter fresh attempts by Assam to establish new border outposts (BoPs), assuring that the State machineries were alert and prepared to offset any move made by Assam.
Chozuba CHC: NPF legislator Dr Chotisuh Sazo wanted to know the total number of posts sanctioned against Chozuba community health centre (CHC), whether all the sanctioned posts had been filled up ect. Health & family welfare (H&FW) minister S Pangnyu Phom replied that there were 37 posts sanctioned against Chozuba CHC, including medical officer (2), staff nurse (4), ANM/HFW (5), LHV (1), LDA/CA (1), lab technician (1), sanitary inspector (1), vaccinator (2), compounder (1), driver (1), lab attendant (1), ayah (1), medical attendant (13), dresser (1), sweeper (1) and peon (1). He said all posts, except one post each of staff nurse and sweeper, were filled up, adding that vacant posts were due to recent retirements/ earlier ban on appointment against grade IV posts. Details of names and designations of employees at Chozuba CHC were furnished.
Pangnyu mentioned that officer/staffs were not appointed/posted for trauma centre since no separate posts were approved for appointment. As the facility was under Chozuba CHC, it was manned by existing staffs. Details of life saving equipment/materials/medicines provided to the CHC and PHCs under Chozuba sub-division for fighting against Covid-19 were also furnished.
Wokha town roads: On the issue of upgrading roads of Wokha town in 2020-21 raised by NPF legislator Dr Chumben Murry, Rio, who is also in-charge of urban development department, said 75% of upgrading of roads at Wokha town was complete. He also shared a list with names of the roads that were being upgraded.
He said tendering process was adopted for allocation of works and that three firms had applied for the works, out of which M/s Humtsoe Construction was allocated the works.
Chumben, however, retorted that he was not satisfied with the reply and insisted that the department should depute its officials to monitor the quality and execution of the works.
Foothill road status: Replying to another starred question of Nienu on the status of Foothill road, Patton, who is also in-charge of R&B department, said road construction work had stopped since funding under SPA was discontinued though construction of two-lane RCC bridge over Doyang river near Governor’s Camp was in progress.
Since funding under SPA had stopped, he said the State government had proposed to the Union ministry of road transport & highways to take up the project under national highways. The decision by MoRTH was still pending, he added.
Covid vaccination: Asked about Covid-19 vaccination drive by Chumben, the H&FW minister replied that 6,02,985 individuals had received the first dose of vaccine as of July 26, while 1,42,269 had received the second dose.
He said following the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench directive, the State government had intensified the vaccination drive by way of inter alia mobilisation of beneficiaries through outreach activities carried out by district task forces (DTFs) with the participation of officials from H&FW department, local administration, civil society and faith-based organizations. He mentioned that village councils/wards and committees were also being sensitised before mobilisation in the respective villages for voluntary vaccination. Covid vaccination centres were also being set up in non-health facilities like workplaces to facilitate beneficiaries, he added.
Appointments: In response to another starred question by Nienu on the number of persons appointed to the ranks of cabinet/state minister, adviser, commissioner & secretary, excluding MLAs, their pay and allowances, etc, Rio replied that 19 persons were appointed.
He said their pay and allowances varied from the status of cabinet ministers to pay level-17 and all their allowances, including TA/DA, were as per entitlement of class-I officers in the State. Five government vehicles (Innova, Scorpio and Bolero) were allotted to four of them from the transport special pool.
UDAP, BADP: Replying to another starred question raised by NPF legislator YM Yollow on UDAP & BADP funds, Rio replied that there was no deduction from UDAP, as exemption from 15% pro-rata cut was given for the scheme. He also shared a list of allocation of fund under BADP.
He informed the House that allotment of funds for BADP schemes were given as per the following criteria of Union ministry of home affairs: length of international boundary – 33% weightage; area of the border belt covering: census villages/semi-urban/urban areas situated within 0 to 10 km within border block – 33% weightage; population of the census villages/semi-urban/urban areas situated within 0 to 10 km of international boundary – 33% weightage. He said allocation of these blocks were increased or decreased depending upon the overall fund allocation.
Status of Phek DC office: In a reply to another starred question on the status of DC’s office in Phek district by Nienu, the chief minister, who is also in-charge of CAWD, replied that 93% of the work had been completed and it had been occupied since September 2016 due to the Assembly election in 2018.
Its contractor was M/s Keduo Zumu and total project cost (revised) was Rs 972.46 lakh, while the amount allocated for the work up to date was Rs 555.65 lakh, whose balance amount of Rs 316.81 lakh was yet to be paid, Rio added.