The state government in its aim to take Nagaland towards ‘A State of Excellence,’ has announced programmes for youth to help them ‘excel in their chosen fields’. Among those include its plan to launch a special sports development plan that will include a Nagaland School Games and College Olympics that will culminate in the Nagaland Olympic and Paralympics Games.
The first budget of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly presented by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday has earmarked Rs. 1,025 lakh to the Department of Youth Resources & Sports for various activities like capacity building for youth empowerment, tournaments and sports activities, capacity building for music and arts, and Task Force of Music and Arts (TaFMA) and Hornbill Festival related activities.
CM Rio said, “Nagaland is gearing up to host the next edition of the North East Olympics where we will leave no stone unturned to ensure a memorable and successful games”. While the year for the 3rd edition of the NE Olympic Games is yet to be declared, he said that the state will also bid for hosting the National Games.
“We will launch state-of-the-art modern multi-disciplinary indoor sports facilities in five districts and a centre of Excellence for Music & Art in the current year”, Rio declared. The state government will continue with the Chief Minister’s Scholarship for Music, Arts & Performing Arts, he added.
Rio stated that Department of School Education has been provided Rs. 3,056.11 lakh, the Department of Higher Education has been provided Rs. 1,123.07 lakh, State Council of Educational Research and Training has been allocated Rs. 510 lakh, while the Department of Technical Education has been provided Rs. 172.37 lakh.
The government plans to open training centres and coaching institutes for students aspiring for civil services and common entrance exams and also sponsoring courses in institutions within and outside the state for specialised studies.
He stated that the Department of Social Welfare has been provided Rs. 1,123.40 lakh for construction of offices, handicapped and blind schools and child welfare and destitute homes. Other activities include correctional services, prevention of drug abuse and procurement of Aadhaar kits for children.
Employment and Entrepreneurship
Speaking at the NLA, Rio highlighted on the Chief Ministers’ Micro-Finance Scheme (CMMFI) that makes credit more affordable and available to entrepreneurs engaged in the agriculture and allied sectors and micro enterprises. The scheme was jointly launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Neiphiu Rio on 23 August 2022.
The CM further stated that the State Government hosted the three-day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave in August 2022 to showcase the State’s potential for investment absorption in human resources, tourism and hospitality, forest, and environment, agro-based industries and organic produce and that as on date, the funds actually received, formally committed, and the value of goods stand at about Rs. 82 crore.
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The government also plan to revitalize Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) with a specialized and focused Social Responsibility (SR) Cell & new cells for entrepreneurship hand-holding, incubation, investment promotion and facilitation, and women entrepreneurs.
Collaborating with specialized agencies and resource persons to hold investment meets in metropolitan city, destination Nagaland conclaves and targeted investment summits is also in the pipeline, CM said.
He also announced that the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) has already started the process of recruitments to posts notified to be recruited by the Board, however, he pointed out that all the existing vacancies would not be filled up as the Government intends to gradually scale down the number of Government employees so that more funds can be set aside for developmental activities.
In the budget presented on Monday at Kohima, Department of Employment, Skill Development & Employment has been provided Rs. 319.73 lakh for construction of staff quarters, skill development programs and for the ongoing construction of flat type staff quarters at Mokokchung.
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