RIO INAUGURATES DUDA GUEST HOUSE AT SOVIMA
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday informed that the State government would soon be providing interest-free loans to micro farmers and entrepreneurs in every district.
Informing this at the inaugural of Directorate of Under Developed Area (DUDA) guest house at Sovima on Tuesday, Rio said a State-wide campaign for the purpose will be launched during which interactions would be held with micro farmers and entrepreneurs. He said that this would also encourage youth to take up entrepreneurship and attain self-sustainability.
Thought the government will bear the interest for the loans, Rio, however said that the beneficiaries should get the approval or guarantor from the village authorities to avail the scheme. Rio also remarked that the Eastern people were doing much better than even some advanced tribes and cited the example of six Eastern students who were among the top 20 in the recently-announced HSLC and HSSLC examination results.
With Eastern people advancing and achieving in various fields, Rio appealed to all Eastern people to do away with the mentality of reservation/backwardness as terms like “backward” and “underdeveloped area” were not good. He assured them that the state government would provide every possible assistance for the upliftment of ENPO areas and to bring the people of those districts at par with the rest of the States.
Speaking on the importance of entrepreneurship, Rio stressed that fishery farming, piggery, bakery, breeding farms, etc, had a huge scope in the State.
Rio appealed to the youth, especially the educated unemployed youth, to take up entrepreneurship as there was a huge scope for entrepreneurs in the State. Hence, he encouraged local youth to take up entrepreneurship in poultry, piggery, fish farming, etc, and achieve economic independence.
On bifurcation of Chümoukedima and Niuland from Dimapur, he clarified that the separation was done purely for administrative convenience.
Meanwhile, delivering a short speech, Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) convener Pangnyu Phom said the completion and inauguration of DUDA guest house would provide a huge relief to the people of Eastern Nagaland, especially those who came there for medical treatments.
He mentioned that Eastern people should recognise and appreciate Rio for the things he had done for them, claiming that the chief minister had always shown concern for the region since his chief ministership in 2003.
Speaking on the occasion, Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Dimapur (ENPUD) president L Shahoto Yimkhiung suggested that the responsibility of DUDA guest should be given to Eastern Naga people or student body.
In his speech, Sovima Village Council chairman Sebastian Zumvü said Sovima was open to all Nagas from Nagaland, especially to Eastern Nagas, adding that it was not only for Angamis even though it was an Angami village.
Delivering the keynote address, DUDA secretary KS Anden Konyak said the construction work was awarded to SAAYLZ Construction & Sons and Affluent Enterprises on February 24, 2014 and November 25, 2015 respectively.
He said the guest house had three dormitories, four VIP suites, nine single rooms, one conference hall, kitchen, waiting room and a mess hall.
Short speeches were also delivered by ENPO president Tsapikiu Sangtam and a representative of Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation.
The programme was chaired by DUDA director Lithrongla Tongpi Rutsa and dedicatory prayer offered by Rev Dr Anjo Keikung. Vote of thanks was delivered by DUDA additional director Dr. Anungla Imdong Phom and benediction was pronounced by Sangtam Baptist Church Dimapur pastor Rev. Thridong.
Other highlights of the programme included special song by Phangmei Yanlem Konyak and folk song by Tikhir Women Union Dimapur. Khiamniungan Cultural troupe Dimapur accorded a grand welcome to the dignitaries.