Rs. 10 crore earmarked for CMCF, Rs.55.30 crore for sports & youth sector
Chizokho Vero
Kohima | March 15
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today reiterated the commitment of the DAN government to the youth of the state by earmarking Rs. 10 crore for CMCF, Rs. 5 crore for the year tribal festivals cum youth expo and another Rs.55.30 crore for sports & youth sector during 2012-13. In this budget speech today on the floor of the House, Rio who also holds finance portfolio said that in the past nine years, the DAN government has accorded special attention to youth empowerment, adding it have implemented several initiatives specifically targeted at improving the overall status of the youth.
Beginning with the year of youth empowerment, the government had the year of farmer, the year of capacity building and the year of entrepreneur. The current year has been declared as the year of tribal festivals cum youth expo. This has been designed to build up our rich culture and traditions, not only for preserving our identity, but also to capitalize on the tremendous tourism potential of our colourful tribal festivals that occur throughout the year, Rio said.
Tribal festivals are being held under the aegis of the various tribal hohos, Rio said adding these are further being combined with the Youth Expo, since the government have seen in the past few years an air of positivity amongst our youth, with many of them rising above the ordinary and overcoming challenges and hurdles to shine at the highest levels of their respective spheres of activity.
“Our youth have made a mark in sports by reaching the international arena, our fashion designers and models are being recognized in the international fashion capitals of the world, our musicians are being given awards at national level contest and our youth are finding gainful employment in the service and sunrise sectors outside the state and abroad,” Rio said.
The completion of the upcoming Music Academy in Jotsoma and music institutes at Mokokchung, Mon and Dimapur will improve the capacity and calibre of our musicians and artists, enabling them to achieve excellence at the highest levels, he said.
The establishment of 5 new India Reserve Battalions have created employment for 4487 Naga youth and another 4863 Nagas have begun respectable careers in different divisions of the armed forces namely Army, Navy, Air Force, Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF including three new Naga Regiment battalions namely 164 TA (H&H), Rasthriya Rifles and one ECO TA. In the area of entrepreneurship, Rio said several programmes and initiatives have reached out to the youth, thereby generating self employment in many sectors.
He said through the youth expos, the government intends to showcase the achievement of the youth so that it may serve as an inspiration for the younger generation. “For these activities, I am providing Rs. 15 crore of which Rs. 10 crore will be earmarked for the CMFC and Rs. 5 crore of the year of tribal festivals cum youth expo,” Rio said.
In sports, Rio said that the affiliation of Nagaland Olympic Association to India Olympic Association in 2004 has opened the gateway to national participation for the sports fraternity of the state, adding that the effective implementation of Nagaland state sports policy has resulted in our sportsperson participating in the national games, Asian games and world championships, winning medals and bringing laurels to the state and country.
After affiliation of Nagaland Cricket Association to the national body, he said , our cricketers are playing in events under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and in motor sports, Nagaland is home to national and international events with participants coming from as far as the United Kingdom, Japan, Thailand and Lao PDR.
Rio said that as part of its continued initiative to promote sports and youth, the government has taken up major projects aimed at building champions for the future. Important projects in the pipeline include the Dr. T. Ao North East Football Academy, the Regional Motorsports Centre, Regional Archery Academy, Shooting Complex, installation of synthetic track, and a cricket academy.
He also stated that already a state sports academy is in full operation at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima and sports facilities are being constructed in all the districts.
Stating that Nagaland Premier League of football has started for the first season, he said the government is extending support and assistance in every possible way as we believe that this is the best way to introduce professionalism and inculcate a new sports culture and that will definitely be beneficial for our players in the years ahead.
Saying “My government for the youth in whom we place all our hopes and aspirations for the future of Nagaland,” Rio said, to carry forward these programmes, “I propose to allocate Rs. 55.30 crore to the sports and youth sector during 2012-2013.”
He said the department will focus on creation of playfields and multi purpose indoor stadiums in various parts of the state. Funds have also been earmark for construction of new multi indoor halls at Noklak and Zunheboto and other districts. Special fund provisions to Mokokchung and Mon districts has been made from the CMCF during 2011-12 for the setting up of music schools in the districts, he said.
“I am hopeful that our comprehensive policies and long term vision for the youth and younger generations will elevate their status by creating vistas that will help them achieve excellence and success as capable and confident citizens in the competitive environment of the global village,” the chief minister said.
Further, Rio continued that the government have confidence in “our youth, and wherever opportunity arose they have risen above the ordinary, bringing pride to all of us.” The future is theirs and we are laying the foundations for a brighter tomorrow for our upcoming generations, Rio asserted.
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