Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 18
The Nagaland Backward Tribes Commission Bill 2016 was passed by Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today. Chief Minister T. R. Zeliang, who is also minister in-charge of Personnel & Administrative Reforms moved for consideration of the Bill today.
Earlier, seeking clarification on the Bill, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher & Technical Education Deo Nukhu said that there are ‘backward tribes’ in other pockets of the State and that it would be fair that all the ‘backward tribes’ be covered under the commission. He suggested that all ‘backward tribes’ should come under the purview of the Commission. MLA CM Chang suggested correction of some words in the content of the Bill. He also sought clarification in the term of appointment and tenure of the Commission chairperson and members.
Replying to queries made by them, Chief Minister TR Zeliang informed that the formation of a Commission was based on memorandum submitted by ENSF, with a special request made to the Government mainly for reservation of job in line with employment reservation policy.
Zeliang told the House that the Commission will also cover other ‘backward tribes’ of the state. The Commission aims to safeguard the rights of ‘backward tribes’ of the state, with special focus on the six ‘backward tribes’ (Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam and Yimchungru) belonging to the Longleng, Kiphire, Mon and Tuensang districts, and study and make recommendations on educational, employment and health aspects pertaining to them.
The functions and responsibilities of the Commission shall be: to collect data related to implementation of the reservation policy of the backward tribes of Nagaland in the state services, to assess if there is any shortfall in filling up the vacancies reserved for the ‘backward tribes’ and make suitable recommendations to the state government, to collect data, study and make recommendations to the state government pertaining to education, employment and health for the backward tribes of Nagaland.
The Commission will also inquire into specific complaints of deprivation of benefits under the reservation quota as prescribed and safeguards provided for the ‘backward tribes’ of Nagaland under the Act or under any other law for the time being in force, or under any order of the state government and make recommendations to the state government, to review existing policies, programs, instructions and laws having bearing on education, employment and health of backward tribes and make recommendations for their effective implementation.
Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015
The NLA also passed the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015.
This Bill was moved by the CM. It seeks to prohibit gambling, and to promote and regulate games of skill in line with the various judgments rendered by the High Courts and Supreme Court, describing games that require a preponderance of skill as not amounting to gambling.
It may be recalled that Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Bill, 2015 was introduced on July 23, 2015 during the ninth session of the 12th NLA. In course of discussion, the members of the House felt that there was need for a more detailed examination of the proposed Bill, since it was found to be brief in nature and not containing sufficient details.
The House accordingly decided to refer the matter to a Select Committee to be headed by Khriehu Liezietsu, parliamentary secretary for youth resources & sports and lotteries.
The first meeting of the Committee was held on October 5, 2015 and the second meeting on March 2, 2016. The report of the Select Committee was presented on the Floor of the House on Thursday.
The recommendation of the Committee stated that it has thoroughly examined the Bill and deliberated on its social and legal implications and it is satisfied with the legalities and the revenue that would be generated. Accordingly, the Committee unanimously recommended that the said Bill be passed. Nagaland Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2016 passed The Nagaland Appropriation (No.1) Bill 2016 was also passed by voice vote on the floor of the House. The Bill authorizes payment and appropriation of Rs. 850,64,74,000 (Rupees eight hundred fifty crore sixty four lakh seventy four thousand) from the Consolidated Fund of the State of Nagaland to the services of the year ending on March 31, 2016. Earlier, the Supplementary Demand for grants for the year 2015-16 was also passed on the floor of the House.
GoI keen to make Kohima a smart city
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 18
Nagaland Chief Minister, TR Zeliang announced today that the Government of India is keen to fast track Kohima as a smart city. This news comes after the state capital failed to make it into the first list of smart cities which was released recently. The CM assured that the state government is trying its best to include Kohima as a smart city in the second list, which will comprise of 23 cities. “Government of India is willing to consider our case,” he said.
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