Tuensang, October 29 (MExN): Officers of Land Resources Department (LRD) led by Secretary, Y. Kikheto Sema (IAS) and Director, Hoto Yeptho visited Tuensang area to assess the progress of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) projects being implemented in various villages from October 26-28.
The team visited cardamom farms at Chungliyimti, Longkhiteph and Angangba villages.
According to a press release from Nribemo Patton, District Project Officer, LRD Tuensang, it was observed that Longkhiteph was one of the cleanest villages in the area having achieved total sanitation under PMKSY Batch IV. A Community Utility Centre is also being constructed under convergence with the VDB. The Centre houses a tailoring unit, carpentry, salon, grocery, painting and welding machines.
LRD has also constructed a water reservoir in the village, which has a total of about 60 households out of which 40% are landless. However, with the intervention of LRD, a joint meeting of village council, GB and landowners was earlier held during which the landowners agreed to donate land to the villagers, the release said. From the donated land, sugarcane cultivation was started and the villagers earned Rs 1.25 lakh last year.
In the village, around 3000 Hollock tree is being grown in 3 hectares, while LRD in convergence with VDB has also installed 22 solar lights.
During interaction with the villagers, Secretary Kikheto assured them of providing coffee saplings and the landowners expressed willingness to donate more land for the purpose. He expressed optimism that if other villages follow the policy of convergence like Longkhiteph then the livelihood of rural people would definitely enhance positively.
The LRD team also visited Patso, Patso Nokeng, Ekhao and Yokao villages under Noklak sub-division. The Secretary inaugurated Oil Seed Extraction Machine at Patso village. The machine was ordered from Ludhiana and installed by technicians from Assam. At Patso Nokeng, the LRD in convergence with VDB had constructed a Rest Camp. LRD in convergence with VDB has also achieved 100% sanitation at Patso Nokeng. The team visited watershed area covering about 622 hectares under Batch V PMKSY in the village.
The Secretary expressed positive impression on the progress of watershed project where 400 hectares has already been developed with plantations, sugarcane, citrus, kholar and bench terracing. Cardamom cultivation and coffee farming has also been started in Noklak area under the initiative of LRD.
A combined meeting of village councils, GBs, VDBs, watershed committee members and elders of four villages, namely Patso, Patso Nokeng, Ekhao and Yokao was also held. There, Kikheto stressed on acquiring economic freedom, which according to him, was the only complete freedom.
“You do not have to come to Kohima and Dimapur meeting officers and ministers. We will visit your villages from time to time to assess your needs and progress of various activities which we have started in your villages,” he said. The Secretary further said that very soon Kohima and Dimapur will be shifted to the area meaning that people will come to buy their produces. The technicians who installed the Oil Seed Extraction Machine also said that they will come to the villages to buy oil seeds.
“We want to start all these activities in the interior areas and if the farmers are sincere in their works then definitely, businessmen and authorities like Coffee Board of India will visit your villages,” Kikheto added.
During the interaction, the villagers requested the officers if the LRD could also supply cardamom to their brothers in Myanmar, the press release said. To this, the Secretary encouraged them to first build a strong economy for themselves but added that such assistance to their brethren in Myanmar depended on the decision of the Government of Nagaland and Centre. He also highlighted about the seriousness of the Government of India on the Act East Policy under which massive infrastructures would be built.
The LRD team also visited cardamom plantation at Chengmei village. The LRD Secretary urged Rural Development Department to not shy away from coming forward for convergence, which he said, was the only hope of bringing economic transformation and improve livelihood of the rural people.
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