Nagaland Chief Minister, T.R Zeliang, has said that if the Naga Political Groups could come forward and support the negotiations between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M) then it would be a befitting tribute to late Isak Chishi Swu, the chairman of NSCN (I-M), whose “unfortunate passing away” was condoled by one and all.
Speaking at the 70th Independence Day celebrations at Secretariat Plaza here on Monday, the chief minister said, “Time waits for no one. An early political settlement is in the interest of one and all.”
On the occasion, Zeliang also reiterated his appeal to the NSCN (K) to “eschew the path of violence and return to the ceasefire agreement.”
On the law and order situation in the state, Zeliang said overall situation in the state continued to remain peaceful. He, however, said there were some concerns along the Assam-Nagaland border areas, particularly in the areas adjoining Doldoli Reserved forest, which was effectively dealt by the administration and police.
The chief minister said that to maintain peace and tranquillity in the disputed border areas of Assam and Nagaland, a Border Peace Co-ordination Committee (BPCC) has been formed in all the districts bordering Assam, comprising of representatives from both Assam and Nagaland, which was purely voluntary.
In the educational sector, Zeliang said that to deal effectively with the problems of bogus or proxy teachers, the department was insisting on entering Aadhar card numbers in the appointment orders of all the newly recruited teachers while the remaining teachers and other employees will be asked to submit their Aadhar card numbers within 2016.
“Efforts are also on to enable issue of Aadhar cards for all the children enrolled in the Government schools,” he added. Zeliang also informed that the department of education was taking various initiatives to train 12,000 teachers or about 65% of government school teachers, who were not professionally trained. He said acquisition of professional qualification by untrained teachers were now a condition to be eligible for promotion. Further, the chief minister said that the increment of pay of those who did not acquire the professional qualification would be stopped after five years.
He said out of 63 colleges in Nagaland, 14 colleges were NAAC accredited while many colleges have initiated the process of accreditation to progress towards quality and excellence in higher education. Zeliang said that by 2021, the department of higher and technical education was expecting all the colleges in the state to be accredited by NAAC.
On agriculture and allied sector, the chief minister said if Nagas wanted to change in the journey towards progress and development, a clear vision was needed. Thus, Zeliang said the state government has decided to bring out a vision document and appealed to the citizens to take it forward as people’s movement to bring changes in the society and the economy.
On state economy, Zeliang said that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at constant prices were estimated to have increased to Rs. 15,920 crore during 2015-16, registering an annual growth rate of 8.68 percent, which was above the national growth rate of 7.6%.
While the economy of the state was growing faster than the national average, he said people should not forget that the overwhelming part of this growth rate was financed by the Government of India.
On health, social welfare and other sectors, the state chief minister, T.R. Zeliang, said for setting up medical college in Kohima an amount of Rs. 17.54 crore has been released for land compensation for 40 acres.
He also said the health and family welfare (H&FW) department was taking up various district hospital infrastructures up-gradation in a phased manner.
Further, Zeliang said the H&FW department was in the process of rolling out Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RBSY) through which all BPL families and senior citizens would be provided cashless treatment from the empanelled hospitals in the state.
Under rural development, he said the department has so far issued 4.25 lakh job cards under MGNREGA and a total of 218.88 lakh man days of employment was generated during 2015-2016.
Under prime minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), 1,695 houses were constructed during 2015-16 and under national Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), 1715 women SHGs have been formed with a total saving of Rs. 1.8 crores. He said 1573 SHGs was provided with Rs. 2.36 crores as revolving fund during 2015-16 and an amount of Rs. 24 crores was released to the VDBs grant-in-aid during 2015-16.
The chief minister congratulated the citizens of the state for steadfastly supporting the path of development. He further appealed to all responsible to renew the pledge to set aside all the differences and prejudices and work with a single mind towards making Nagaland a peaceful, developed and Prosperous state of this great country.
Rajya Sabha MP, legislators, senior government officials, NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie, civil society organisations and others attended the celebration programme.
The celebration also witnessed cultural presentations by Yachumaro cultural group, Harmonic voices, Nagaland adolescent girls club and Angami Students Union choir.
Altogether, 15 parade contingents including one contingent from 4th IR Bn, Arunachal Pradesh and six contingents from various schools took part in the march-past.