Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 13
The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio has once again set the tone for further development by bringing in new ideas and initiatives. This was stated in a booklet ‘A record of achievements – 1 year of DAN’s 2nd Ministry’, published by the Directorate of Information & Public Relations and released by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at the just concluded State Road Show in Longleng.
“During the last one year, the government has already initiated many programmes to translate its promises to the people bringing about socially just and inclusive growth,” the booklet reads. The endeavour of the government to bring administration to the doorsteps of the people and improving the delivery of the government’s development programmes and services has been realised to a great extent by opening a number of new administrative centres and upgrading many others during the first tenure of the DAN ministry, the booklet said, adding that this tempo has further been accelerated during the first year of DAN’s second ministry.
The booklet also said that the process of communitisation is continuing with renewed vigour in the power, health, education, water supply and tourism sectors, in keeping with DAN’s abiding commitment to good governance, and delegation of power to the people at the grassroots level. It also stated that the selection of the state’s programme on communitisation for the United Nations Public Service Award during 2008 “is an honour for the people and the state of Nagaland”.
“It is also matter of pride and satisfaction that our social capital and its effective utilization by the state government for improving grassroots level services, has been given due recognition at the international level,” it said. Stating that the government has continued giving top priority to agriculture and allied departments, the booklet said: “the spectacular increase in foodgrain production that was achieved during the first ministry of the DAN, is continuing on its impressive growth path.”
It is expected to touch 5.40 lakh tons during the current year, it said, adding that horticulture has played an equally important key role in the socio-economic development of the people by providing them self-employment and income generation. Floriculture as an industry has continued to blossom, with production of flowers touching 13 lakh stems during the current year: “Our flowers are already being exported to Indian cities and to foreign markets, making floriculture a viable commercial proposition in the state.”
Also stating that the welfare of the youth has always been one of the priority concerns of the DAN government, the booklet stated, “The policy of ‘empowering the youth’ had been one of the most successful initiatives of the DAN’s first ministry, with thousands of our empowered youth, imbued with a new mindset, finding employment in the private sectors outside the state, and even abroad, while many of them find self-employment in private entrepreneurship inside the state.” This policy of ‘Youth Empowerment’ has continued to be the main thrust of the DAN government during the current year also. It also stated that the promotion of sports and music, not only as a means of entertainment, but also as professions, has met with equal success.
It is mentioned that there has been impressive improvement of infrastructure, especially road networks and functional buildings, during the first ministry of DAN, adding that the same pace is continuing during the first year of DAN’s second ministry, with several prestigious directorate buildings and district level offices being inaugurated during the current year.
Also touching on the Hornbill Festival, the booklet stated that the government is moving on the fast track and in the right direction to make Nagaland a unique tourist haven. “As a continuation of the ‘Youth Empowerment’ programme pursued successfully during the DAN’s first ministry, also to enhance the efficiency of the entire machinery and delivery system of the government, the DAN government have launched the ‘Year of Capacity Building’ during the first year of its second ministry,” it declared, adding that the same will be continued during the second year also, so that the youth of the state are turned into skilled and employable assets, opening up new areas of opportunities for them, not only within the state, but elsewhere in India and abroad. The booklet had highlighted the various achievements (department-wise) made during the first one year of DAN’s 2nd Ministry.
