Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, OCT 9 (NPN): Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has provided Rs.58.08 lakh under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative for four basic life support (BLS) ambulances in Nagaland, while an apple cider vinegar (ACV) processing unit worth Rs.50 lakh has been established at Thanamir village in Kiphire district under the Chief Minister’s Innovative Programme.
The two initiatives were launched at a programme held at the Integrated Business Hub and Innovation Centre (IBH&IC), Forest Colony, here on Friday by governor Nand Kishore Yadav. The ACV unit was launched virtually. The four ambulances would be provided to Dhansiripar Community Health Centre (CHC), Medziphema CHC, Niuland CHC and Chümoukedima Primary Health Centre (PHC).
The ACV processing unit at Thanamir village under Pungro was established with a sanctioned amount of Rs.50 lakh. Supporting infrastructure includes a five-metric-tonne outdoor grid-connected cold storage facility, separate sanitation facilities, fencing and a gate, intended to integrate production, storage, processing and value addition.
Delivering the keynote address, Yadav said the two initiatives, though different in nature, shared the common objective of improving quality of life and promoting inclusive development.
He said the ambulances would strengthen last-mile healthcare by enabling safer and more timely transportation of patients, particularly those requiring urgent treatment or referral from peripheral health centres. He expressed hope that the initiatives would encourage other public and private sector organisations to complement government efforts through CSR interventions with measurable social impact. On the ACV unit, the governor said Nagaland needed to move beyond selling raw agricultural produce and focus on processing, packaging, branding and market development to help farmers secure greater economic returns.
He said the Thanamir project was significant in harnessing the agricultural and horticultural potential of Eastern Nagaland, where geographical and connectivity challenges had hindered the conversion of local resources into economic opportunities.
Yadav stressed the need for supporting infrastructure, skills, technology, finance and market linkages to ensure farmers benefited from the entire value chain rather than remaining confined to producing raw materials.
Delivering a special address, advisor to the chief minister and IDAN chairman Abu Metha thanked IndianOil for its CSR support in the state. He said the corporation had spent more than Rs.3.5 crore on such activities over the past couple of years and was undertaking further initiatives to address development gaps at the grassroots.
Referring to ACV unit, Metha said the facility would help address difficulties faced by apple farmers in Thanamir, where produce could go to waste because of limited market access. However, he said further efforts were needed to develop storage, processing, value addition and marketing facilities to ensure the initiative’s sustainability. IndianOil executive director and state head Nitin Bhatnagar said the corporation had committed Rs.3.82 crore towards development initiatives in Nagaland over the past 10 financial years, covering infrastructure, education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and livelihood generation. He highlighted other CSR interventions, including Rs.1.59 crore for medical equipment at district hospitals, installation of 11 haemodialysis machines in hospitals in Mon, Peren and Kiphire at a cost of Rs.77.31 lakh, and support exceeding Rs.60 lakh for modern handloom and textile equipment for women weavers.
Bhatnagar said IndianOil had also installed 40 solar streetlights at Padampukhuri village at a cost of around Rs.16 lakh and provided Rs.11.32 lakh for the construction of two classrooms at government primary school, Kevijau, Dimapur.
He said IndianOil would continue supporting community development in partnership with the state government and IDAN, particularly in areas where CSR initiatives could make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.
Earlier, the programme was chaired by IDAN under secretary I Changsang, welcome address and introductory remarks delivered by IDAN additional secretary Vineet Kumar, while vote of thanks was proposed by CM fellow, Avino Niphi.