DIMAPUR: The Kohima District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) meeting was held at the DPDB Hall, Kohima, on April 29, chaired by Deputy Commissioner and vice-chairman DPDB Kohima, B. Henok Buchem, in the presence of chairman DPDB Kevipodi Sophie,MLA.
A DIPR report informed that the major concern raised during the meeting was the non-recognition of traditional Naga naming conventions in national digital systems. District Agriculture Officer, Kohima, Kekhrieletuo Yhome, highlighted challenges faced by Naga communities due to rejection of characters such as ‘ü’ and ‘-o’ in names on portals like the Single Nodal Agency (SNA) system. He stressed that names carry cultural, emotional and spiritual significance, and altering them strips away their essence. Yhome cautioned that increasing automation may eliminate manual corrections, potentially excluding individuals from services and creating administrative and legal complications.
President of Voluntary Blood Donors Association of Nagaland (VBDAN), Burakum, briefed the board on ongoing efforts to promote voluntary blood donation. He informed that Nagaland requires around 20,000 units of blood annually, with Kohima district alone needing over 3,600 units. He emphasized stronger administrative support and financial assistance to expand donation drives, and highlighted a mobile application connecting donors and recipients. Following deliberations, DPDB resolved to organize a blood donation camp on May 13, 2026, with members and additional participants requested to donate.
EAC Dr. Riku announced that the Census of India 2027 will be conducted in fully digital mode, with self-enumeration scheduled from June 15–30, followed by house-to-house surveys from July 1–30. He outlined roles of charge officers, enumerators and supervisors, and urged public cooperation for effective planning and development. Food and Civil Supplies Department also presented an overview of its functioning under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). DCSO Kohima, Metsisieto Zhasa, informed that PHH and AAY cardholders currently receive free food grains under NFSA. He said distribution has been streamlined through digitization, with ePOS devices and Aadhaar-based authentication ensuring transparency. In Kohima district, over 90,000 beneficiaries are covered through fair price shops, with an ongoing e-KYC drive to verify eligibility.
