Led by its chairman Dr Nand Kumar Sai, a team comprising members from National Commission for Schedule Tribes (NCST) is currently in the State to review and monitor all matters relating to safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Addressing a press conference at the chief secretary’s conference hall, civil secretariat, here on Tuesday, the commission members said they had reviewed the entire activity of the tribal people and also held meetings with all secretaries and heads of departments.
Taking note of the poor road condition, especially the Dimapur-Kohima road, Sai said the team sought explanation from National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) regional head on the ongoing four-lane project. After hearing the explanation from the NHIDCL official, the commission insisted that the road should be made two-way motorable, he added.
The members also informed the media that they had visited Khonoma and Kiwegma villages in Kohima district and had lengthy interactions with the villagers, who had expressed their concern over several matters.
During their visit to the villages, he said the members found that the condition of the roads were equally bad. He said the commission tried to enquire about the road condition from PWD and RD. However, both the department secretaries were not in station and the government had promised to furnish the details shortly.
The NCST chairman said, during the interaction with the villagers of Kigwema, the latter raised the issue of limited educational institutions for higher studies in the area and requested the commission to upgrade the existing institutions up to class XII. He said the commission took note of the issue and conveyed the same to the State government, to which government agreed to enhance the standard from class X to XII.
Also, he said the villagers had requested for community hall, anganwadi centre, to which the commission directed the State government for consideration.
Sai said as per a request of the village for construction of water storage as there was a perennial water spring, he said the request to construct water storage for drinking and irrigation purposes was conveyed to the PHED department, to which the department assured to include in the current or next year fiscal.
The chairman remarked that as Nagaland had huge potential in horticulture, agriculture and herbals, NCST had asked the State government to assist farmers/entrepreneurs in processing, storing and providing them marketing linkages.