The Directorate of Minority Affairs organised a sensitization and awareness programme at the conference hall, Deputy Commissioner, Chumoukedima on July 12, informed a DIPR report.

Director of Minority Affairs, Shashank Pratap Singh, IAS in his address highlighted that the Directorate of Minority Affairs was created by the Nagaland Government right after the State General Election 2023. He stated that the Government of India in 1992, established the National Commission of Minorities, a separate body mandated to protect and promote the rights of the interest of the minorities communities. Nagas are tribals and the identity of the indigenous people have been very strong in socio aspects, but not in political or administrative aspects, hence the State Government acknowledged these issues and created the department dedicated for the minority community for their rights and interest, maintained Singh.

Shashank Pratap Singh mentioned that there is no state wise category of minority, where all the states follow the list provided by the National Commission. “It is the mandate of the department to reach to the last people in Nagaland from the minority community, to appraise their rights and about the schemes,” said Singh.

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He further highlighted various schemes including  PMJVK, where he stated that it is an infrastructure development program, where it identifies minority percentage blocks and those blocks where minority population is more than 25% can take a project to fill the gaps in the various socio economic indicators.

The speaker also pointed out that earlier in Nagaland, Niuland block was the only eligible block for PMJVK but with the state government highlighting the issues with the Ministry, all the blocks in Nagaland are now eligible to take up projects under PMJVK. He also highlighted the PM VIKAS scheme which is for the promotion of handicrafts, artisan but even infrastructure building can be taken up.