Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Social Justice & Empowerment, B L Verma on Wednesday highlighted the Central government’s commitment to inclusive development in Nagaland, stating that the Northeast has emerged as a key driver of India’s growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a press conference at Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Halla, Chumoukedima during his two-day visit to Nagaland, Verma said he visited Chumoukedima district, one of the state’s newest districts, where he inspected several key facilities including the Unity Mall construction site to review the progress of the construction at Chumoukedima, Anganwadi centre cum crèche at Diphupar and the under-construction Centre for Disease Control & Cancer Treatment at Referral Hospital, besides visiting Fair Price Shop at Chumoukedima.
Later, he chaired a review meeting with district officials and heads of departments under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, Chumoukedima where departmental progress and future opportunities were presented through detailed power point presentations.
Verma said secretaries from both his ministries were present at the review meeting, adding that his long association with the Northeast gave him a deep understanding of the region’s needs. He recalled his earlier tenure as Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Ministry of Cooperation, stating that the transformation witnessed in the region since 2014 has been remarkable. He said Prime Minister Modi had renamed the Northeast from the “Seven Sisters” to “Ashta Lakshmi,” recognizing its importance as a gateway to national development.
The Minister said the Modi government’s focus on the poor had resulted in historic achievements, including the opening of more than 55 crore Jan Dhan zero-balance accounts, construction of over 12 crore toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, and distribution of more than 10 crore free Ujjwala gas connections. He added that 15 crore families now have access to tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission and more than 80 crore people across the country are receiving free rations.
Replying to a query on the projects of his Ministry being undertaken in Nagaland, the Minister said that in Nagaland, more than 12 lakh beneficiaries are currently receiving free rations under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, with around 11,000 metric tonnes of rice allotted to the state every month. He stated that every department is making steady progress, particularly in the area of social welfare.
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Referring to the free ration distribution, the Minister said during his visit to a Fair Price Shop, he observed that digital weighing and POS machines were being used to ensure transparent distribution.
Highlighting initiatives for Divyangjan, the Minister informed that Rs 44 crore has been spent across the Northeast to organize 326 camps, benefiting over 50,000 persons with disabilities. In Nagaland alone, 31 camps have been conducted so far, benefiting 935 individuals. Under the ADIP scheme (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances), 10 PM Divyansha Kendras have been established in the Northeast, including one in Dimapur, enabling beneficiaries to access services and assistive devices without waiting for camps. He added that senior citizens are also able to avail services from these centres.
The Minister further said that Rs 5 crore has been provided as scholarships to Divyang students in the Northeast, benefiting 1,383 students, while in Nagaland, Rs 2.60 lakh has been released for 40 students. Skill development initiatives for Divyangjan are also being implemented, and through DDRS (Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme) centres, Nagaland has received a grant of Rs 1.15 crore benefiting 192 individuals.
On the issuance of Unique Disability ID Card (UDID cards), he said that 3,28,874 cards have been issued across the Northeast, of which 3,884 have been issued in Nagaland, with more than Rs 52 lakh spent on the initiative in the state. He added that district authorities have been advised to focus on effective implementation of both Central and State schemes, especially in newly created districts, assuring full support from his end.
Referring to development funding, the Minister said that PM-DevINE projects and North Eastern Council schemes are actively being implemented in Nagaland. He also emphasized that the mandatory 10 per cent budget allocation from 54 central ministries to the Northeast is being ensured, along with the implementation of all other ongoing schemes aimed at accelerating development in the region.
Earlier, Verma said that infrastructure development in the Northeast has accelerated, with more roads, highways, airports and rail connectivity being built in the last decade than in the previous 60 years combined. He also highlighted initiatives such as palm oil cultivation and local product market linkage, stating that discussions were held with district officials on expanding market access for Nagaland’s produce.
Referring to national economic growth, the Minister said India has risen to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, surpassing the United Kingdom, and is on track to reach the top three in the coming years. He reiterated Prime Minister Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, when the country marks 100 years of independence.
Assuring continued support, Verma said he had asked the district administration to ensure effective implementation of both Central and State schemes, especially in newly created districts. He added that he remains available to extend all possible assistance and emphasized that PM-DevINE and North Eastern Council projects will continue to drive development across Nagaland.
