KOHIMA, APRIL 6 (DIPR): A study team of the Ministry of Finance, GOI, had a meeting with the Nagaland government officials at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat in the Chief Secretary’s conference hall today.
Addressing the State’s Government officials, Mishra said that the main objective of the team’s visit was to study the ground realities and problems of the state especially that of financial aspects. Stating that the fund coming was very scarce, he advised the officials of the state to really get improvement in addressing the issues and problems. He added the entire scenario of the state’s planning has to be improved. Speaking about changes of the Planning Commission from the present system of NITI Aayog, Mishra asked about the expectations of the state and how it has affected the state’s planning process.
Addressing the occasion, the Chief Secretary of Nagaland Pankaj Kumar highlighted the State financial pattern and position since inception of the state till date. He stated that Nagaland state came into being in 1963 through 16-point agreement and under this agreement, the State’s Non-Plan was to be borne by the Central Government. He also stated that the funding pattern which was changed in 1989 has impacted the state. He also said that the transition from 13th Finance Commission to 14th Finance Commission has improved the State financial position in some ways. However, transition from the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog has not helped the state as expected.
Secretary Finance Kikheto Sema gave a PowerPoint presentation on the financial aspect of the state. The funding patterns and positions of various departments such as Home department on disaster management related issues, Medical department, Horticulture, ICDS, Power department, Forest, local governing bodies, urban local bodies were also deliberated.
The team comprised of JK Mishra, Joint CGA; Sanjay Kumar, Director NITI Aayog; Mohan Deep, Sr. Accounts Officer; Gopal Prasad, Director, FCD; N.S. Negi, Sr. Accounts Officer; and Bhaskar Verma, Deputy CGA
