Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, while making an address during the 76th Independence Day celebration at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, stated that all the elected representatives of the State have come together and that they will make way once the Solution to the Naga political issue is reached. He appealed to all the parties concerned to listen to the voice of the people for an immediate solution.
Highlighting the achievements made by various departments of the State, Rio informed that the government is successfully providing critical marketing link in the agriculture value chain by continuously building ‘Naturally Nagaland’ as a premium and organic brand. The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department has been producing piglets through three ‘Model Piggery Farms in Nagaland’ and is also working on bringing in private initiative. The Department is also focusing on development of other indigenous animals like Thotho Cattle & Mithun under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), he added.
Rio also pointed out that a road map has been developed by the Fisheries Department to meet the demand of fish. In addition, he stated that through the collaborative efforts of the villages and the Forest Department, Community Conservation Areas have been declared which act as conservation areas for forests, biodiversity and water sources and springs.
He informed that the Government is aiming to complete works under ‘Housing for All’ by 2024. Highlighting the health sector in the State, the Chief Minister said that the second Integrated Ayush Hospital (50 Bedded) at Chedema, Kohima under National Ayush Mission (NAM) was inaugurated on 4 March 2022 and that 382 Ayushman Bharat-Health & Wellness Centers which provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), have also been inaugurated which is more than the State’s target. He stated that the construction works at Nagaland Medical College Kohima has shown 75% physical progress and 60 posts of key senior positions have been created. He informed that the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) will be launched from 2 October 2022.
On the education sector, Rio said that in line with the National Education Policy, the Department of School Education has been focusing on providing quality education to all students. A New Age platform has been launched on a pilot basis in 100 selected Government Schools from the academic year 2022 which would facilitate and promote adopting blended teaching – learning processes in Government Schools.
On sports infrastructure in the State, the Chief Minister said modern indoor stadiums at Tuensang, Noklak, Niuland, Tseminyu and Chumoukedima; multipurpose stadiums at Wokha, Longleng and Kohima; and Astro-turf football grounds at Mon, Peren, Mokokchung and for Police Sports Battalion are being set-up. He said sports people of the State will benefit with the coming up of the State’s 1st Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence (RCSE) for Archery, Shooting discipline, Adventure & Motor Sports and Futsal at Sovima. By successfully organising the South Asian Cross Country Championships & the 56th National Cross Country Championships in Kohima and with the upcoming Nagaland Olympic & Paralympic Games 2022, he said the State has indicated its growing strength in organising events.
The Chief Minister said under SANKALP project, the Department of Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship is establishing one Entrepreneurs Development Centre on pilot basis at Govt. ITI Complex, Kohima and one ‘School of Excellence’ in skill development at Govt. Higher Secondary School, Zubza.
Department for Development of Underdeveloped Areas is successfully bringing a transformative change in backward areas through State and Central anchored programmes and interventions. He added that the Mongken brand created by the Department functions as an umbrella brand to market tribal products in the mainstream commercial space.
Rio announced that plots of land have been allotted to Nagaland government near CMC Vellore and near NEIGRIHMS in Shillong free of cost by the Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of Meghalaya respectively to construct ‘Naga Patients House’. He said that infrastructure in the capital city is going to see further improvement with many major projects such as the Multilevel Car parking at Old NST & Medical Directorate, Slum Redevelopment within the ABD Wards and up-gradation of Kohima Local Ground.
Highlighting the power sector, Rio stated the Department of Power is consistently moving towards ensuring stable power supply throughout the State. On tourism, Rio opined that Nagaland with its colorful, vibrant culture and stunning landscape can become a prime tourist destination in the country.
The Chief Minister said that 15 police station areas of the State were de-notified from being disturbed and thus taken out of the purview of the AFSPA. He hoped that more areas will come out of the ambit of AFSPA soon.
Rio stated that to promote transparency, accountability and promote ease of living the Personal Information Management System for the government employees has been further strengthened and ePay Bill based on PIMS data has been introduced for all the employees. Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat became the first in the country to operationalize paperless assembly proceedings under E-Vidhan initiative and soon functioning of Nagaland Assembly will be fully digital and paperless, Rio said.
Highlighting the desire to resolve the long-standing border dispute with neighboring states, Rio said that the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly had constituted ‘Cabinet Select Committee’ to examine the Border Issue and for amicable settlement of inter-state border issues.
He stressed that Nagaland on the economic front needs to grow much faster and broader and create more employment opportunities for its youth, driven more by private enterprise. He further called on all to continuously build capacities to enable their inherent talent to blossom, in order to not only benefit but also contribute towards faster economic growth. Rio urged that there is need to attract investments for harnessing our rich natural resources, especially oil and natural gas, effectively and sustainably.
