Minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir inaugurated the state MIS cell at MGNREGA building, Directorate of Rural Development, Kohima on May 15.
A press release from joint director Rural Development Nagaland, K. Neibou Sekhose stated that congratulating the department on achieving the same, the minister said that the setting up of the state MIS cell is necessary to equip themselves with information on their roles and activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid gatherings.
“We cannot afford to call many people for meetings and trainings during this pandemic and even in the coming years, the video conferencing facilities will play a crucial role in providing online trainings and meetings and go a long way in helping us with all our activities”, Jamir stated. Encouraging the officers to be digitally equipped, he asked them to regularly visit the RD website and check the notifications.
Meanwhile, performance review meeting of Project Directors was also held on May 15 at RD Directorate Conference Hall, Kohima under the chairmanship of Commissioner & Secretary RD, Neposo Theluo, who highlighted the achievements and drawbacks and action needed on various programmes implemented by the department.
During the meeting, several issues were discussed including the performances of the RD programmes with main focus on COVID-19 related matters.
Briefing the officers on COVID- related matters, the Commissioner & Secretary stated that following the consolidated guidelines for containment of COVID-19 issue by Ministry of Home Affairs on April 15, 2020, the state government also issued similar guidelines which was circulated to all districts. Under MGNREGS, he stated the priority should be given to irrigation, water conservation and water harvesting works. Theluo also emphasized on giving importance to individual beneficiary-oriented works for livelihood issues. On setting up of quarantine centres, he stated that 50% of GIA have been sanctioned. He also shared that under the initiative of the RD Minister, N-95 masks and PPE kits are being arranged for frontline workers of every village to take care of possible COVID-19 patients.
The Commissioner & Secretary also congratulated the NSRLM and SHG members for doing commendable job on distributing masks and selling it at a very affordable price and at the same time encouraged them to scale it up.
Concerned over the adverse affects of the pandemic on the state’s economy, minister for Rural Development, Metsubo Jamir requested all the officers to work together in doing their part in aiding their ailing economy. He stated that due to the two months lockdown, the pressure on the economy has been drastically hit. He also congratulated the state NSRLM team on the commendable efforts done by its VLOs especially during this pandemic.
Slide show presentations on the progress of the various programmes were given by Mission Director on NSRLM, Imtimenla, joint director on Grant in Aid, 15th Finance Commission and Rashtryiya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, K. Neibou Sekhose, Jacob Zeliang, RDO on PMAY-G and joint director on MGNREGS G. Thong.