The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched in Kohima district on Thursday in a program organised by the Kohima District Administration along with line departments at D. Khel Ground, Siekhazou, Kohima Village. Earlier, Nagaland Governor La Ganesan flagged off the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Van of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.

According to DIPR, flagging off the IEC Van, Governor Ganesan said that the van will benefit people by enhancing awareness about government schemes. He also expressed his happiness to the organizers for organizing the Viksit Sankalp Yatra program which is aimed at reaching out to the citizens and creating awareness about the benefits and application procedures of various schemes which was taken up under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at D-Khel ground, Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, IAS extended his sincere thanks and gratitude to Kohima Village and the participating line departments for making it possible in organizing the event even in a short notice. He said that Viksit Bharat means developed country and Sankalp Yatra means a journey with one resolution. The program is all about the saturation of all the Central Government Schemes in all the villages and in all the households of the country, the DC said.

Further, Ramnikant also informed that the IEC Van, provided by the Central Government, will travel all through the district along with the teams to spread awareness of the available flagship schemes of the Central Government to the people. He requested the gathering to be the brand ambassadors and create awareness on the program and also urged people to avail the services provided at their doorsteps.

DC Kohima also informed that with the launching of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, on the spot services will be provided by various Departments and Agencies during the campaign. Spot services like Hypertension & Diabetic screening, AB-PMJAY card generation, TB screening by CMO Office Kohima; My Bharat Volunteer Registration by NYK Kohima; PM Ujjwala Registration by IOC Ltd and ADS Kohima; PMMVY Registration by DHEW Kohima and PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY by All Banks Kohima will be made available at the venue, he informed.

Kohima Village Council Chairman, Helievio Solo in his short speech thanked the Central and State Government for choosing Kohima Village as the central point for the whole of Kohima district and hoped that it reaches the intended beneficiaries, adding that many a time most of the line departments fail to reach the intended beneficiaries as they have adapted with pick and choose policy. He therefore appealed to the line departments to be in touch with the village functionaries for proper statistics for the successful implementation of the programme and wished the program a success.

Recorded message of the Prime Minister and Sankalp (pledge) video for Viksit Bharat and demonstration of various Governmental Schemes were also screened during the event.

During the launching program, Dzüvichünuo Rutsa and Zelhouneinuo Rame were felicitated with Women Achievers Title. Dzüvichünuo Rutsa is a Teakwondo Black Belt who achieved Gold Medal at Nagaland State Level for the year 2014-17 and represented the State at various National Level while Zelhouneinuo Rame a Tennis player who had won several medals at the Nagaland State and North East States Level and also represented the State in National Level.

Day Nodal Officer, Kohima Block, BDO, Celine Thol chaired the launching program where beneficiaries under various schemes also shared their success stories.

The IEC Vans are branded and customized to enable dissemination of information through audio visuals, brochures, pamphlets, booklets and flagship standees in state languages showcasing the major schemes, highlights and their achievements at national, state and district level.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is one of the largest ever outreach initiative to be undertaken. It aims to touch all districts across the country by 25th January 2024, covering over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats and over 3,600 urban local bodies.