(From right to left) MLA and Advisor for Municipal Affairs, Nicky Kire; Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio; MLA and Advisor for Excise, Zhaleo Rio; Principal Secretary, Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, I Himato Zhimomi during the inauguration of the Working Women’s Hostel at Northern Angami colony, Dimapur on November 12. (Morung Photo)
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Says it is in line with Union Govt’s Disinvestment policy
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 12
Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio defended the State Government’s controversial decision to hand over ownership of a Union Government funded working women’s hostel in Dimapur to a non-governmental entity.
Barely days before the working women’s hostel, located at Northern Angami colony (Walfrod), was set for inauguration, the Rising People’s Party (RPP) had questioned the Municipal Affairs Department (MAD) handing over ownership of the hostel to the Northern Angami Public Organisation (NAPO) via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May 2017. The construction of the said hostel was sanctioned in 2016 by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) at an estimated Rs 9.86 cr outlay, with the State Government bearing 10 percent of the project cost. According to the RPP, the 2017 MoU between the MAD and the NAPO was contrary to guidelines, rendering it “illegal and a total fraud” and demanded that the MoHUPA retake possession of the hostel.
The allegation notwithstanding, the inauguration went ahead as scheduled on November 12 with the CM doing the honour of cutting the ceremonial ribbon. In his address, Rio made no mention of the RPP, only stating that handing over the hostel to the NAPO was in line with the Central Government's disinvestment policy, a strategy which has seen the liquidation of Public Sector Undertakings, including loss-making undertakings, through privatisation.
“We have to live positively. People will criticize but we should not be discouraged,” he said, while maintaining that the government is better off as a facilitator of business than taking over the business itself. While stating that the Nagaland economy is largely salary-based, he said that the challenge is to transform into an entrepreneurial economy by promoting young entrepreneurs.
“Those who think that the govt should own everything, that attitude should not be. Government policy is only to facilitate. Therefore the time has come to change,” he added.
It was further informed at the programme that the land, on which the hostel stands, is owned by the NAPO. It contains 51 housing units (rooms) to be occupied by working urban women. The process to apply/rent was however not specified.
NAPO President, Zeneituo Yano, in his speech said that it was “unfortunate that a section of people” has cast aspersion on the project. “They are commenting without knowing the ground reality,” he said.
