Staff Reporter
Dimapur, SEP 5 (NPN): To strengthen healthcare and emergency services, three ambulances were handed over to Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Pochury Hoho and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) at a programme held at Neo Motors (Tata), opposite SBI Bank, 5th Mile, Model Village, Diphupar, on Saturday.
The ambulances were donated under the initiative of Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir as part of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
Handing over the keys, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y. Kikheto Sema, urged the Naga people to adopt a collective approach in addressing developmental deficiencies, stressing that the focus should be on “We” rather than “I.” “We, as Nagas, should live together. We must think in terms of ‘We’, not ‘I’. ‘I’ brings illness, while ‘We’ brings wellness,” he said.
Referring to the developments concerning the Frontier Naga Territory (FNT) in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 4, Kikheto congratulated ENPO and appreciated Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their contributions towards progress on the issue.
Kikheto also expressed concern over Nagaland’s ranking in the NITI Aayog India Index 2023-24, where the state was placed 25th among 28 states. He clarified that the low ranking was largely due to inadequate reporting and updating of data on government portals. Since assuming charge three months ago, he said 23 review meetings had been conducted to improve reporting systems.
He pointed out that districts such as Mokokchung, Kohima and Dimapur were performing well in the Northeast, but poor data entry had adversely affected the state’s overall standing. He urged officers to ensure that schemes and programmes, even in the smallest villages, were properly updated in digital dashboards.
Kikheto further appealed to community leaders to encourage birth and death registrations, noting that the absence of such data hindered policy planning. He acknowledged deficiencies in health, education and road infrastructure, adding that the Planning and Development Department was reviewing these issues with the Chief Minister to achieve “Viksit Nagaland 2047.”
Highlighting the need to move beyond traditional jhum cultivation, he advocated sustainable plantation activities such as coffee, rubber and tea for better economic and ecological prospects. On environmental concerns, he warned that Article 371A could not shield Nagaland from climate change, urging protection of biodiversity and natural resources.
Recalling the severe shortage of oxygen, ICUs and ambulances during the COVID 19 pandemic, Kikheto described it as the most challenging period of his career. He noted that health infrastructure had since improved significantly. He also appreciated Lok Sabha MP Supongmeren Jamir for contributing 13 community ambulances across the state in three years, and encouraged continued cooperation and compassion in society.
The programme was chaired by the DPO Mokokchung, while representatives of Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur, Pochury Hoho and ENPO delivered speeches. A dedicatory prayer was offered by Joikap Phom, Associate Pastor (Women), Phom Baptist Church, Diphupar, following which ambulances were handed over to the beneficiaries.