Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio takes Rashtriya salute during Independence Day celebration on August 15 at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 16
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday said that Naga people have been waiting patiently and expectantly for a final solution to the Naga political issue. “Naga people want an early inclusive, honourable and acceptable Solution. This has also been stated at various forums. All the elected representatives, representing the people of this state, have also come together and stated in clear terms that they will make way once the solution is reached, Rio said in his address during Independence Day celebration on August 15 at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima.
In fact, he said, all the elected representatives have been actively facilitating and urging the negotiating parties to realize the long-standing dream of our people without any delay. “We know that the negotiating parties have worked hard, and will continue their hard work till all issues are resolved,” he said.
The CM also made a fervent appeal to “my large-hearted people” to continue to be patient and accommodative. Further, he appealed all parties concerned to listen to the voice of the people, rise above all the differences, and heed the cry of “our people for an immediate solution.”
‘Need continue efforts to reach fruits of development to everyone
“As we celebrate the 75 years of India’s Independence and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we need to continue making efforts so that the fruits of development and progress reach everyone, particularly the last man in the line,” Rio said.
He said that the state government in full coordination with the Government of India has been implementing several public welfare schemes for improving the lives of the people of the state. Despite severe resource constraints, we have recently taken a number of measures to further streamline the fund flow and improve the implementation of the schemes, Rio said.
Rio maintained that Nagaland state has also, along with the rest of the country, made good progress.
“Even since the State was inaugurated in 1963, successive governments have contributed towards the development efforts. We have redoubled our efforts on building the talents of our people, and to provide them with a supportive and facilitative environment by way of infrastructure and better services,” Rio said.
Govt target to complete Medical College at Mon by 2024-25
The CM said that that the construction works at Nagaland Medical College Kohima has shown 75% physical progress.
“We have created 60 posts of key senior positions. The department has applied to the National Medical Commission for starting the College from the next academic year i.e. 2023-24,” Rio said adding that the government also targeting to complete the Medical College at Mon by 2024-25. In order to provide inclusive healthcare cover to our entire population, the state government is gearing to launch the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) from 2nd October 2022. The Scheme provides a 5 lakh per annum per family Health Insurance cover for hospitalized care to 1,05,144 families. CMHIS will also provide cashless services for most of the diseases requiring hospitalized care.
‘State has been witnessing an era of peace and normalcy everywhere”
Rio said that the state government has always paid the utmost importance to maintenance of good law and order in the state and the past few years with the sincere and effective efforts put in by district administration, the police, all the security agencies, and our Civil Society Organizations, the entire state has been witnessing an era of peace and normalcy everywhere.
He said the tranquil atmosphere existing in the state got further vindicated when after many decades 15 police station areas of the state in April 2022 were denotified from being disturbed and thus taken out of the purview of the AFSPA. “We are hopeful that more areas will come out of the ambit of AFSPA soon,” he said.
Rio said that modernization and upgradation of its infrastructure in the Police Department is a continuous process. “The Police department is replacing old vehicles and equipping itself with modern security equipment, weaponry, and communication system to increase its mobility and capability, Rio said. He said that the state government has been always desirous of resolving “our long-standing border dispute with our neighbouring states.”
Towards this end, he said, the Nagaland State Legislative Assembly had constituted Cabinet Select Committee to examine the border issue and for amicable settlement of inter-state border issues. “The Select Committee decided to take pocket wise initiatives. Separate Local Committees have been constituted to settle the issue amicably outside the Court for each pocket or settlement for the border districts. We are very hopeful of amicably settling all our disputes when our Nation is celebrating its 75 years of Independence,” Rio said.
‘State’s economic front needs to grow much faster and broader’
Maintaining that the Nagaland state have achieved a lot in the last 75 years, he said “However, we are aware of many areas where we are yet to accomplish the desired levels. From today onwards as we enter the Amrit Kaal, the next 25 years that will take us towards 100 years of our Independence, we need to take a pledge to get for our state and our people all that we still haven’t been able to achieve.”
Rio felt that Nagaland’s state on the economic front needs to grow much faster and broader, and create more employment opportunities for its youth, driven more by private enterprise. “We need to continuously build our capacities, especially the capacities and skills of our youth, to enable their inherent talent to blossom, in order to not only benefit but also contribute towards faster economic growth. We need to attract investments for harnessing our rich natural resources, especially oil and natural gas, effectively and sustainably. We also need to make our tourism sector more vibrant,” Rio said.
In order to achieve all this, our institutions have to provide the enabling environment and society has to be progressive and forward thinking to embrace the change needed and move forward cohesively taking full advantage of our democratic traditions and strengths, he said.
