•Nagaland governor Acharya on Nagaland Vision 2030
•State water policy under active consideration
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 21
Nagaland’s governor P.B. Acharya today said the state government has taken a major step towards charting a clear road map for development by bringing out the Nagaland Vision 2030 last year.
“My government would strive to aligns its various programs accordingly so that we accelerate the development activities in the state with focus on creating employment for the educated unemployed youth and ensure that the fruits of development percolate equitably to all parts of the state,” Acharya told the Floor of the House here today.
He said the Vision 2030 emphasizes growth of the agriculture and allied sector.
Stating that the state is deficit in rice production by 24%, he said the priority of the state government is to increase production and productivity with suitable technologies in farming systems and achieve food security.
“Our bountiful natural resources in the form of land, water and vegetation need sustainable interventions,” he said adding that towards this end, the detailed Jhum Land Survey of the state has been already completed and published and the State Water Policy is under active consideration of the government.
He informed that the department of land resources has taken up springshed development in 11 springs as a pilot project of the watershed program with technical support input from People’s Science Institute, Dehradun targeting one village in each district during 2016-17.
300 hectares have been developed under rubber plantation and 13.40 lakh coffee seedlings have been distributed to farmers, with coffee plantation covering 670 hectares during 2016-17.
He said the department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services is focusing on enhancing meat, milk and eggs production through people’s participation.
“Major thrust is given on piggery development for pork production,” he said adding that for enhancing milk production in the state, over 35,000 number of breedable female cows are being covered with artificial insemination.
Under RKVY, the department is assisting farmers in taking up scientific backyard piggery, poultry and goatery farming in collaboration with the Tata Trust.
Mithun and local cattle rearing is being promoted in 153 villages under the National Bovine Breeding and Gokul Gram programs.
The fisheries sector in Nagaland has witnessed notable growth from a subsistence traditional activity to a diversified economic activity.
“Enhancing local production to about 8,500 metric tons is envisaged during 2016-17,” he said adding that the department of fisheries has established a Chocolate Mahseer Hatchery Unit at Suteplenden (Longkong) in Mokokchung district during 2016-17.
The department of sericulture is implementing Intensive Bivoltine Silk Development project in Dimapur district covering 1000 women beneficiaries under Mulberry cultivation, he said.
Concern over Global warming, climate change
In the era of global warming and climate change, Acharya, said the Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is taking several steps to successfully face the multi-dimensional challenges not only in biodiversity and wildlife conservation, but also the climate change concerns.
He told the Floor of the House that under the National Afforestation Program, the department has brought an area of 2,130 hectares under afforestation in 2016-17.
He said a major loan agreement under the Overseas Development Assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Government of Japan, has been signed by the department which would significantly contribute to the sustainable forest and environmental management and livelihood improvement.
Recently, it has been decided to create two Forest Divisions - one each for Kiphire and Longleng districts.
Govt to provide solar lighting to 253 GHS in Nagaland
Nagaland’s governor P.B. Acharya today said the government proposed to provide 2 KW solar lighting in all the 253 Government High Schools in the state.
Stating that education is a priority area for the government, he said “while the accessibility and availability of the schools has been addressed to a great extent by suitable interventions over the past many years, the emphasis now is on the quality education.
“The department, by putting stress on training of teachers, their redeployment in a more rational manner and by doing school rationalization exercise, is trying to address the quality issue,” he said.
Govt considering skill knowledge in degree courses
Acharya said to make our graduates employable or entrepreneurs in line with the guidelines of MHRD, the government is considering adding courses on skill knowledge in the degree courses. He said the endeavor of Higher & Technical Education is to improve the quality of state’s human resources. He said Kohima Science College Jotsoma is the only government college in Nagaland that offers degree and honour courses in all science disciplines.
“The Government plans to focus on investing in institutions of higher learning with a balanced regional spread so that students of all parts of the state are able to receive quality higher education,” he said. He also said the state government will also try for the tie up and have MoUs with other universities from other parts of the country and have exchange of teachers to strengthen faculties.
“Such initiative and step will not only sustain our endeavor towards better higher education but also reinforce emotional and national integration,” he told the Floor of the House.
Acharya said through his initiative a good beginning has been made by inviting the representatives of educational institutions like NITTE, Dr. M.S Moodithaya, the registrar; Health Science University, Dr. Ramananda Shetty, the vice-Chancellor and Vivek Alva, the managing trustee of Alva’s Educational Foundation, Moodabidri as state guests.
Expressing concern over unemployment problem, he said that establishing institutions which encourage entrepreneurship, employment generation and skill development and in creating an eco-system, which nurtures private enterprise, will be one of the highest priorities of the state government.
Acharya informed that the Regional Employment Exchange Kohima is being upgraded to Model Career Centre.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment has approved for establishment of one vocational rehabilitation centre for persons with disability in Nagaland.
National Food Security Act covers 14.06 lakhs persons in Nagaland
Nagaland’s Governor P.B. Acharya said the department of Food & Civil Supplies has successfully launched the National Food Security Act, covering 14.06 lakh persons in the state as beneficiaries.
The department of social welfare is covering 3.5 lakh children in the age group of 0 to 6 years and 50,000 pregnant and lactating mothers through 3, 455 Anganwadi centres.
Further, 27, 890 adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are being covered under Sabla scheme being implemented on experimental basis in the district of Kohima, Mon and Tuensang.
Acharya said under the National Social Assistance program, old age pension is being provided to 51, 750 persons in the age group of 60 to 79 years @Rs. 200 per month and to 5, 650 persons above 80 years @ Rs. 500 per month.
Further, financial assistance to 4, 464 widows and to 1, 276 disabled persons is being provided @ Rs. 300 per month.
Govt for gender equality and women empowerment
Governor said another focus area of the state government will be gender equality and women empowerment.
“While the principle of gender equity in the workplace is generally accepted, discriminatory practices persist in many places. It is important to create an open and friendly atmosphere with a holistic view involving all sections of the society to eliminate the gender biases, particularly those embedded in our traditions and culture,” he said adding that, this, in turn, will assist in women empowerment.
Ensuring the rightful and dignified status of mothers, sisters and daughters will provide a solid foundation to nurture the inner strength, creativity and self-esteem of women from all walks of life, Acharya stated.
Steps for recovery of outstanding loans initiated
In Cooperation sector, Governor said a crucial factor hindering the progress of cooperative movement in the state is the presence of non-functioning cooperatives.
He said a step has been taken in this direction by cancelling the registration of 342 non-functioning cooperatives.
Stating that poor recovery of loans poses a hurdle for economic progress, he said the department of cooperation has initiated steps for recovery of outstanding loans and is in the process of implementing Integrated Cooperative Development projects in the districts of Kohima, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and Peren for which preliminary activities has been initiated.
Govt paying stress on accelerating roads construction
Governor P.B. Acharya said that one of the key impediment which has hindered economic growth in the state is the absence of robust connectivity.
“This has a direct impact on inflow of private investments as well as movement of tourists. My government hence pays a lot of stress on accelerating the construction of roads throughout the state,” he told the Floor of the House today.
The total length of National Highways in Nagaland is 1, 497 kilometers, out of which 1, 201 kilmeteres is with the Nagaland Public Works department, while the remaining 296 kilometers is with the Border Roads Organizations.
Under PMGSY, out of 56 roads sanctioned, 28 roads have been completed while work is in good progress on the remaining 28 roads, Acharya said.
PHED to provide water supply to 42 not covered habitations
Governor said the department of Public Health Engineering will provide to drinking water supply to 42 not covered/partially covered habitations under National Rural Drinking Water programme.
18 habitations having water quality problems will be provided with water treatment units to ensure safe drinking water under the same schemes, he said.
Under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin) the target is for building 44,000 units of Individual Household Latrines and a target of 300 units each is fixed for Community Sanitary Complex and Solid-Liquid Waste Management.
He said the project for augmentation of water supply to Kohima town is nearing completion. Water supply schemes for Wokha Town and New district headquarter Peren are in active progress.
Acharya said in line with the state industrial policy, the department of industries & commerce has formulated a package of incentives for promoting and setting up of industrial units and revitalization of sick industries in the state.
CM, Deputy Speaker makes obituary references
Chief Minister Dr. Shurhozelie Lezietsu today made obituary reference on the passing away of late Jayalalitha at the Fifteenth session of the Twelfth Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Liezietsu stated that Late Jayalalitha was born on 24th February 1948 and she died on 5th December 2016.
Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) deputy speaker Imtikumzuk made obituary references on the passing away of late Mhonshan Murry, former MLA, late K.V. Pusa former MLA and late Tokheho Sema, former MLA.
Two minutes silent prayer was observed in the House as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
