Nagaland: Rio opens new police mess; launches welfare initiatives

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday inaugurated the newly constructed Police Officers’ Mess at Phesama, describing it as a moment of pride and a major milestone for the Nagaland Police.
Speaking at the programme, which also included handing over Pension Payment Orders (PPOs), group term life insurance benefits under the Police Salary Package (PSP), and the launch of the Nagaland Police Mess Reservation App- Rio said the earlier mess, built in the 1980s, had served for over four decades.
He expressed satisfaction that the new facility, constructed under SASCI Part-I funding, was completed on time, noting that SASCI schemes required strict utilisation of funds within the financial year to avoid penalties.
Calling the new mess a “symbol of progress, vision and commitment,” he acknowledged the DGP, Police department and contractors for ensuring quality execution. Rio recalled the government’s longstanding association with the police, including the raising of seven Indian Reserve battalions, which he said contributed to employment generation and strengthening infrastructure. Encouraging officers to use the facility meaningfully, he said the upgraded mess should also serve as a space to host guests. On pension reforms and digitised payments, he said routing salaries and welfare benefits through banks had strengthened financial systems and improved accessibility for families, pensioners and students.
Rio urged officers to uphold discipline and strive for excellence, noting that Nagaland continued to record one of the lowest crime rates in the country due to proactive policing and preventive systems.
He called for unity and collective effort to further strengthen service delivery.
In his remarks, Accountant General Varun Ahluwalia said the new mess reflected the government’s commitment to police welfare. Handing over of PPOs, he said, symbolised recognition of years of service. He highlighted reforms in entitlement workflows—now paperless, data-driven and interoperable—along with the introduction of AIPARAS, an AI-enabled system for error detection and standardised decision-making. Pension settlements, he added, had increased to over 400 cases per month.
Earlier, DGP Rupin Sharma said the new facility was part of three mess projects approved by the chief minister. The Phesama mess, once a dilapidated structure, now houses 21 rooms including 11 suites and will eventually expand to nearly 30 rooms. He also recounted long-standing pension issues, including a Rs. 160-crore scam he investigated between 2004-06, and said recent system overhauls- undertaken with the AG’s office- had enabled settlement of 91% of nearly 500 pending cases.
Sharma highlighted unresolved issues related to leave encashment and annual increments for retirees, urging the Finance department to streamline procedures. He added that 23,000 police accounts had been migrated to SBI’s Corporate Salary Package, enabling Rs. 10-lakh insurance benefits for personnel who die in harness. Nearly 50 such cases had occurred, with most already processed.
A technical report presented by Chief Engineer Er. K. Imnajungba Jamir said the mess is a three-storied RCC structure with a total floor area of 17,375 sq ft, constructed at a cost of Rs. 7,02,87,000 under SASCI 2023-24 and 2024-25. The building comprises 34 rooms, 26 toilets, conference and dining halls, kitchen, and DGP suites.
The inaugural programme was chaired by DIG (Plg & Mod) Teisovise Metha. Rev. Vesotsu Rakho offered the dedicatory prayer, while vote of thanks was delivered by ADGP (Admin) Renchamo P. Kikon.