Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 30
Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu today stressed on the need to take a closer look into the problem of excess appointments in the state.
“We already have the problem of having the highest ratio of government employees to the population in the country. This has become a big burden to the state exchequer,” he said in his reply after general discussion on the budget for the year 2017-18.
He said because of the huge financial cost involved, “we are unable to provide adequate funds for developmental activities.”
Regarding the implementation of Revision of Pay, the CM said that the implementation of the new RoP being finalized for the state government employees will definitely increase the financial burden of the state.
“To further add to this burden through excess and unauthorized appointments is something that should not be allowed to happen. We will all need to join hands to contribute in our respective departments to reduce unnecessary manpower, so that we can focus on our resources on more substantive issues of development. I intend to see that this is put to an end,” he said.
He added that due to such constraints, the government had appealed to CANSSEA to understand the situation of the government and be reasonable in their demands. He expressed happiness that the Government and CANSSEA have been able to arrive at a mutually acceptable arrangement on this issue, following which CANSSEA have suspended their strike.
Regarding fictitious pensions, Dr. Liezietsu assured that all necessary steps are being taken to bring the guilty to book.
He said the state government has already initiated the process of cleaning up the pension sector, and is presently working to put in place a system that will put to an end all such malpractices.
Meanwhile, since 2015-16 the system of funding of GoI has changed to 90:10 from the earlier 100%, the CM informed, adding that the state government will try its best to allocate more funds as state share for this programme.
On the education sector, Dr. Liezietsu said the salary bill of the school teachers has been increasing every year mainly due to the enhanced dearness allowances as well as normal increments, and not on account of new appointments.
He said the government had appointed teachers, including Math and Science teachers for the districts of Mon, Longleng, Tuensang and Kiphire to fulfill the assurance given to the ENSF and had also filled up posts under RMSA by completing the recruitment process.
He clarified that the department has chosen not to fill up 660 vacant posts of teachers that have been fallen vacant as a result of the freezing of fresh appointments of teachers since 2013.
With regard to the Kohima Smart City project, the CM informed that he has taken up the matter of 50% funding for the project with the Government of India.
On the issue of the ropeway project in the state capital Kohima, he said the state cabinet has already issued directions to the concerned department to get all necessary clearance from the Government of India.
NLA’s 15th session adjourned sine-die , Nagaland Appropriation Bill 2017 passed
After completing all business, Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker, Dr Imtiwapang Aier today adjourned the 15th session of the 12th NLA sine-die.
The House passed the Nagaland Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2017, and the Nagaland Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2017, which provide for withdrawal of Rs 3403, 76, 04,000 and Rs 16375, 42,00,000 from and out of the consolidated fund of the state of Nagaland for the financial years 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
Nagaland State Chief Minister, Dr Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who also holds finance portfolio moved both the Bills in the House.
Further, the House passed Supplementary Demands for Grants for the Year 2016-17 and also the Demand for Grants for the year 2017-1018.
Later, the NLA Speaker announced constitution of the various financial and non-financial committees and panel of chairman for 2017-18.
