• Dr. Shürhozelie starts first day in office with prayer meeting
• Portfolio for new Ministers, PS will be decided in a day or two; status quo will be maintained for old ones
• Yet to discuss on who will hold the post of NLA Speaker
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 23
Dr Shürhozelie Liesietsu who assumed the chair of the Chief Minister on February 22 started his first day in office with a prayer meeting at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat here in Kohima this morning.
Thereafter, along with the council of ministers, he interacted with AHoDs and HoDs to be acquainted with the working system of the bureaucrats and to seek their views.
During the interaction, Dr Shürhozelie pointed out that legislatures come and go whereas the executives are the main body that continues. In a lighter vein, he remarked that government service is like terrace cultivation but politics is like a shifting cultivation.
He said bureaucrats are part of the government along with the legislators and the successful implementation of government policies depend on the executives. He stated that the executive is the most important organ of the government, adding that the success of any government depends on the effectiveness of the executives.
Recalling the recent turmoil in the state, the Chief Minister rued the state had wasted so many days wherein business came to standstill and normal life was paralyzed. He expressed hoped that the situation will come to normal at the earliest. He said without peaceful environment, none would be able to work freely to develop the state.
Later in the afternoon, Dr Shürhozelie interacted with the media during a press conference at his official residence. On the question of allocation of portfolios to cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries inducted on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said status quo would be maintained for the old ones while portfolio for the new faces of the cabinet and parliamentary secretaries will be decided within a day or two.
He also mentioned that more portfolios would be created if it is deemed necessary. On the question of who will replace Chotisuh Sazo as the new Speaker of the NLA, Dr Shürhozelie declined to spell out names but commented that there are 2/3 names on the card but they were yet to discuss about it.
The Chief Minister also expressed his sadness over the loss of the lives of the Naga youths during the unrest. He said Nagas have suffered a great loss in many aspects including the state’s economy. The CM asserted that his priority is to bring back normalcy to the state since without normalcy and complete understanding among the people, the state cannot progress.
On the stand of the NPF for the forthcoming Manipur polls, Dr Shürhozelie said the party had already issued 14 tickets to those who wanted to contest. NPF had already kicked-off the election campaign in hill areas, which has 20 seats and will continue to send NPF leaders batch wise for campaigning.
On the allegation made by ACAUT that more than Rs. 5000 crore is parked in the state coffer, he said the state government will inquire into it.
After the press conference, the CM headed to the Old MLA Hostel Compound (Phoolbari) along with all his cabinet colleagues to pay their respects to the two victims of the January 31 shooting in Dimapur, Khriesavizo Metha and Bendangnungsang Longkumer. A prayer service was conducted by Rev K Luruo, after which the CM laid two wreaths at the grave site.
Cabinet ministers seek cooperation from bureaucrats
Cabinet Minister Y Patton said it was the responsibility of the bureaucracy to help the political executive in formulating policy and also to carry out and implement the policies of the government.
Speaking during the interaction with AHoDs and HoDs, Patton pointed out that civil servants are expected to actively assist the political executives in the exercise for formulating the policies of the government and its implementation.
He opined that the officers should distribute proper assignments to the staffs and maintain strict vigil over the employees to ensure that every employee works diligently for the welfare of the people.
Further, Patton sought the cooperation of the civil servants and bureaucrats to the Chief Minister “so that together we can deliver justice to the people of the state in all fronts.”
Cabinet Minister Yitachu also appealed to all the bureaucrats and the elected members to take moral responsibility in order to develop the society.
He stressed that random appointment of government servants needs to be checked. “We won’t have a single penny left for development if we continue spending on salaries,” Yitachu said.
He also stressed on the need to streamline all the confronting issues to build the state economy.
With the appointment of new Chief Minister, he expressed hope that a lot of corrective measures would take place. Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar meanwhile assured fullest cooperation to the government to achieve together high level of governance.
