Nagaland launches Space Based Information Kiosk

Kohima, May 2 (DIPR): Nagaland has launched Space Based Information Kiosk with the State Chief Secretary Banuo Z. Jamir gracing the function on April 30 at the Secretariat Conference Hall Kohima. The launching ceremony coincidentally took place just before Jamir addressed the AHODs/HODs for the first time after she took over the office as the Chief Secretary.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said that Nagaland is the first state to have introduced this Space Based Information Kiosk in the North East. She said that any department could come forward by depositing Rs. 50,000 lakhs to have such Kiosk in their office. The Chief Secretary further said that with the introduction and release of the space based information portal in the state, the policy and planning of the state will be easier and there will be effective implementation of the government activities and developmental programme. However, she stressed, updating should be done from time to time.

Earlier, Director of North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Department of Space, GoI, Meghalaya, Dr. S. Sudhakar gave a presentation on the application of Space Based Information Kiosk portal which contains Geo-spatial thematic layers of information such as administrative details, infrastructure related information, Land resources, water resources, disaster information, briefing on the spatial module on the portal and the various GIS tools for easy navigation and data query.

Mention may be made that was conceptualised by NESAC to showcase the strength of existing geo-spatial inputs of NER for natural resources management and other developmental and planning activities in the region. The SBISK Nagaland has been developed by NESAC in collaboration with department of Planning & Coordination Nagaland and Nagaland Science & Technology Council funded by Ministry of Development of NER, GoI through NEC Shillong.

After releasing of the portal ‘AHODs and HODs meeting continued with review of the last meeting minutes. Poor attendance of the officers and staff in the Secretariat was an agenda deliberated seriously in the meeting. The chief secretary said that officers and staff not staying in their places of posting has an impact on the government and also an impact on the local economy as well. Therefore, she called upon the officers to make an effort to deliver their social responsibility and obligation that lies with them. The Chief Secretary advised the Heads of Departments to use their own discretion in order to bring about things into proper focus while also suggesting that the Home department, Law and P & AR department to deliberate on this issue. She also said that not only the officers and staff in the secretariat but the same should apply to the directorates, districts and districts headquarters as the report of absence of the district officers come to the notice of the top level officials. Many senior officers also expressed their concern over the irregular and insincere officers and staff all over the state.

The Chief Secretary further said that capacity building of gender budgeting is mandatory and informed all departments to collect the gender budgeting booklet for their reference. She also informed all the departments to arrange to buy the 50 years commemorative stamps from the Home department and get Coffee table book from the Nazaret branch, Home department.

To maintain the honour and prestige on building the Jubilee gate, the Chief Secretary informed that its cost was about Rs. 70 lakhs and reminded the officers that public toilets and a museum were also proposed to be included but could not be done due to fund constraints. She therefore requested those departments who have not yet contributed for the unfinished project to do so.

The Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner & Secretary, Toshi Aier gave a presentation on statement made by the departments at the Oral evidences of the Public Accounts Committee and while filing affidavits in the court, expeditious disposal of pending Audit paras and timely submission of accounts, furnishing of final expenditure statements which many departments are yet to furnish, reminder to all departments of the instruction issued by Finance department to ensure that all MOUs/MOAs are forwarded to Finance department for examination before being finalised. Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner, H.K. Khulu also addressed the meeting.

The Principal Secretary Home, Temjen Toy in his address said that the Home department had a preview of attendance of the officers and staff in the secretarial. He said that attendance of the officers and staff were extremely poor and that there were even regular absentees while a surprise check was conducted recently in the secretariat. He therefore maintained that there will strict enforcement of attendance in future and that ‘no work no pay’ would be enforced. He further said it is the responsibility of the Head of department to ensure attendance of all officers and staff under them.The meeting also discussed about traffic problem in Kohima on which various suggestions and views were made in order to solve the problem. It also discussed about the self certification of documents such as mark sheet, birth certificate etc.

The meeting concluded with a power point presentation by the Commissioner & Secretary K.D. Vizo on main concerns of e-Governance Implementation: E-Governance Highway (SWAN & eDistrict); Nagaland SWAN connectivity Architecture; NagalandONE Common Service Centre (CSC); State Data Centre (SDC) and Delivery of Public services etc.

Saying eGovernance as citizen friendly he solicited support from all departments and further said though Nagaland is only at the bottom line it can reach to the highest level even in a short period of time to which remark the Chief Secretary added that the state should reach at least up to the middle part.