DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): While appreciating the Central and State Government for acknowledging the Social, Economic, Educational and Developmental backwardness of the Eastern Nagaland Districts viz. Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng and ushering in Developmental funds to the region inhabited by the Six (6) Tribes, the Eastern Naga Students Federation (ENSF) has stated its apprehension that the special allocated funds under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) for Eastern Nagaland might be mis-used if not handled and scrutinized appropriately for whatever projects it is allocated.
“The Government is urged to implement and survey the works/projects minutely so that no misappropriation of funds is detected nor the workmanship is compromised”, stated a press note issued by Hawang T. Wangsha, President and Changsang Soted, General Secretary ENSF.
Significantly, the Federation has also appealed to the State Government to approve only fresh works to be undertaken/carried out through this fund in areas of necessity, especially the Education Sector, Health and Road Transport and Communication. The ENSF stated that it strongly discourages and opposes this fund to be “diverted to the on-going works” pointing out, rather such one-time special funds should be used judiciously in the Sectors which needs utmost attention and development. “The ENSF would look into the matter that only fresh development works are carried out or undertaken in the Eastern Nagaland Districts through this special fund under SPA”.
Meanwhile, the ENSF appealed to the State Government that the Eastern Nagaland Districts should not be deprived from the State Development fund/share or the Central funds in lieu of the Special Development Package. It reaffirmed that the present backwardness of the Eastern Nagaland Districts is because of the Educational and Developmental negligence and deprivation policy of the successive State Government towards Eastern Districts for the past 3-4 decades which has culminated in large hue and cry amongst the social set up of the Eastern Nagas.
The ENSF also requested all the Departments of the State to give due Developmental share or implement appropriate Developmental works in the Eastern Districts from the total budget of the State Government. “The Federation would be comparing the Developmental funds allocated to the Eastern Nagaland Districts vis-a-vis the rest of the State district-wise in the current fiscal year, in both the State as well Central funds i.e CSS, NEC, NLCPR etc allocation to the State Government”, the ENSF cautioned.
The ENSF also informed that it was working on the distribution of all the funds allocated to the State district-wise for the past 3-4 years and assures the State Government that it would present for necessary remedial action this current financial year.
The Federation also reiterated that all the contract/supply works arising within the Eastern Nagaland Districts should be allocated only to the local indigenous inhabitants and Contractors/Suppliers of the four Eastern Nagaland District so as to streamline transparency and accountability of workmanship. The ENSF also assured the State Government that the Federation would assist the State Government and the respective Departments to monitor all the Developmental works being carried out within Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng Districts.
The ENSF has also welcomed the sincere gesture of the State Government led by the dynamic leader Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister Nagaland, in pursuing special Economic Developmental package exclusively for Eastern Nagaland Districts from Government of India with a sole motive to bring the Eastern Nagaland Region at par with the rest of Nagaland. It also thanked the Central Government for allocating fund amounting Rs. 300 Crore under Special Plan Assistance for smooth Development of the Eastern Nagaland Districts.
