KOHIMA, AUG 21 (MExN): There is good news for elected representatives from Nagaland. MLAs entitlement of rooms in Nagaland Houses in various cities across the country, is expected to be taken up with due care following the intervention of the Committee on Estimates. Not surprisingly members of the Committee are MLAs themselves. The Committee in its 78th report on Nagaland House, Guwahati, Shillong, Kolkota and New Delhi, lamented that the MLAs were placed next below the government officials in allotment of rooms despite deserving a status next to the State’s Ministers.
The report urged the Home Department to ensure that room allotments were made according to protocol and entitlement. The Committee felt that MLAs as an elected representative and public leader deserved better treatment when they go outside the State.
It was also recommended that MLAs be allowed to have direct contact with the Nagaland Houses for reservation of rooms through any means at their convenience. “Except the rooms which are meant for Governor, Chief Minister and Speaker, the Hon’ble members should be allowed to occupy any category of VIP suites” the report stated.
“If and when all the VIP suites are being occupied by Ministers/Chief Secretary/ Additional Chief Secretary and Lady Wives of Ministers, on the basis of protocol the government officials of any rank should be given alternative rooms and the VIP suites should be made available to the MLAs”, the committee added. Meanwhile, the Committee viewed that the vast size of the Home Department meant that the department was over-burdened and as such it was not in a position to take up proper care of the Nagaland Houses located in various cities. The committee suggested that its maintenance and its establishment be handed over to the Nagaland Development Authority. “The Committee desires the department to make appropriate modalities/examinations for taking steps to hand over the maintenance and administration of the Nagaland Houses”, the report stated.
