R. Tohanba: Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs R. Tohanba in his suggestions on the Naga Political issue said that the State Government and the Central Government should come together and try continuing cease fire in the State.
He also called for equal distribution of funds in all the departments and urged Ministers to judiciously use the minimal funds given by the central government.
On the issue of Kohima as a Smart City, he suggested the state government to appeal to the Centre that the funding for this project be on a 90/10 basis instead of 50/50 basis as allotted by the Centre.
Regarding the ropeway project, he said that the project will help in minimizing the traffic congestion and also boost tourism in the state.
He requested the Chief Minister to consider the project despite restraints in the budget.
On Indo-Myanmar border issue, he suggested the legislative members led by the Chief Minister to meet the Prime Minister to stop any such construction of wall on the borders of the two countries.
Neiba Kronu: MLA Neiba Kronu while appreciating the new initiative of the government for taking up projects for “Fostering Climate Smart Highland Agriculture in Rural Areas of Nagaland” under the Externally Aided Project Scheme with funding from International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), said that the State does not have sufficient agricultural land unlike other states of India. In this regard, he suggested that the State should aim for cultivation of crops which are not easily perishable and can be easily marketed. The MLA also called for an urgent need to adopt organic farming in the state citing the example of Sikkim.
On Roads sector, the MLA said that the State has 296 kms of roads under the care of Border Roads Organization. Lamenting that the workmanship of the Border Roads Organization has deteriorated, and their maintenance poor in spite of annual financial grants allotted for maintenance, he appealed to the Chief Minister and the Minister of Roads & Bridges to intervene for effective and proper use of the allocated funds. The MLA also pointed on the need to avail the central funds in this sector so as to improve and fare better.
Yitachu: Minister for School Education & SCERT Yitachu participating in the discussion expressed concern over the excess number of government employees in the state. He said that employing with all the resources available in the state will be detrimental to the survival and progress of the state. He called for an urgent need for departments and elected representatives to seriously look into the matter and address the issue with all seriousness. With the major chunk of the state budget going to the government employees, the Minister said that the government employees need to step forward, produce and contribute their share to the government and the state.
The Minister in the discussion also pointed on the need for the finance department to set up Banks and banking infrastructure in the interior areas to cater to their needs, and encourage and facilitate them to maintain savings.
(DIPR)
