DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 (MExN): The federating units of the Eastern Naga Students’ Federation (ENSF) has urged the Chief Minister (CM) of Nagaland and concerned departments to “review and rectify” the selected works/projects funded under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) for Eastern Nagas on the ongoing works. They have requested the State to target only “fresh, feasible and viable” projects/works that promise immediate returns to the people of Eastern Nagaland. The Federating units have also asked the State to allot the implementation of these new projects/works to “bonafide Eastern Naga contractors/suppliers”.
In a representation to the CM, Presidents of all units of the ENSF, the KSU (Konyak), CCSU (Chang), KSU (Khiamniungan), YAA (Yimchungrü), PSC (Phom) & USSC (Sangtam), have drawn attention to “the pattern of funds distributed as sanctioned under the ongoing works/projects of the SPA allocated exclusively for Eastern Nagaland”. According to them, this pattern for the works program 2012-13 has been “haphazard and random”, which will have to be rectified in order for them to have “positive impact and visibility” as well as “immediate gain for the common people” of Eastern Nagaland.
The Federation has alleged that “the present works/projects under SPA for Eastern Nagaland is not invested accurately as per need based and desire of the common Eastern Nagas but rather it had tend to focus only on some firms/company/contractors interest and benefits”.
“The ongoing works/projects too is a necessity for the Eastern Nagas and should be completed as specified in the work order issued to respective contractors/firms/company earlier within the time frame limit, but diverting the funds of the SPA for Eastern Nagas on such ongoing works/projects above the actual estimated cost and enhancing the estimated cost unscrupulously without any verification and merit holds no meaning and justification which is questionable, for it seems as if the Government is trying to pacify or seep the funds meant for Eastern Nagaland to someone maliciously and intentionally.”
The ENSF has strongly opposed this, and said that no one (individual, group, department or official) should be allowed to “take away” the “rights and privileges” of the Eastern Nagas.
Calling for the just distribution and allocation of funds for targeted works/projects within “our jurisdiction”, the Federation has appreciated the “positive gesture” of the Government of Nagaland in “bringing the developmentally neglected districts of the State into the main stream”. But “the Funds under SPA should be distributed proportionately on need based pattern focusing especially on the Roadways as it is one of the main indicator’s of all the Developmental activities”. This, the ENSF has promised, will “go down well” with the common Eastern Naga public.
However, if this is not taken note of by the Government, the Federation has said that it “may be compelled to initiate and obstruct all ongoing developmental works/projects funded under SPA within Eastern Nagaland, on the ground of wrong planning process and appeasement policy of the State Government to some persons/individuals/contractors/firms/agency”.
