Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 9
Parliamentary Secretary for Municipal Affairs, Economics & Statistics, R Tohanba today said the department is targeting upto 1 lakh beneficiary coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Housing for All (Urban) Mission.
The housing for all mission is being implemented in all the 23 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Nagaland at present. With the declaration of more towns being notified as statutory towns, Tohanba hoped that the Ministry will agree to include those new towns too.
Informing that a plan of action is under preparation and recently 7 more town councils have been recognized and notified, he said there are now 27 town councils and three municipal councils in Nagaland.
The scheme will continue till the year 2022 covering all the recognized urban areas/towns. He said this during a state level consultative meeting with urban local bodies for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Housing for All (Urban) under Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Tohanba added that in recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in the trend of urbanization in Nagaland state, with the urban population growth rising, and rural population declining.
He said that a decade ago the 12th Year Plan used to emphasize upon rural development, however with the increasing demand and growth trend in the urban sector, even the central government has started focusing on the urban sector, thereby coming up with many flagship programmes like the JnNURM and National Urban Livelihood Mission, besides the normal infrastructure development projects.
He stated that the Housing for All scheme is an initiative to curb urban homeless by providing subsidy to the beneficiaries who are without a house or who have a small house for enhancement of rooms. He expressed hope for successful implementation of this mission in the state.
Meanwhile, Tohanba also informed that election to the ULBs has been approved by the state cabinet with 33% women reservation in ULBs governance and that this would very shortly be notified by the state election commission. He said that the 33% reservation would enable women to take an active part in decision making at local bodies, namely municipalities and town councils.
Acknowledging concerns from certain quarters that women’s reservation will undermine the special constitutional guarantee accorded to the Nagas under Article 371-A, protecting the unique social practices and Naga customary laws, land ownership etc, the Parliamentary Secretary however said: “We should feel that with women reservation, the Naga women are empowered to actively participate in the important decision making bodies which will enhance quality of governance and will not in any way dilute nor infringe the privileges guaranteed under the constitution given to the Nagas.”
He said the ULBs are concerned for making the urban areas/towns a clean and eco-friendly area with proper sanitation, electricity, water supply, safety of the people and good governance.
“The ULBs are not involved in rural areas or in village councils matter nor take part in Naga customary laws, so women when involved in ULBs in decision making process will give boost in good governance,” Tohanba said. He continued that women’s involvement as equal partners with men would be a great asset to Naga society.
Commissioner & Secretary for Municipal Affairs, Menukhol John meanwhile stressed on the need to provide better housing facility to the people of the state. He said the department will formulate an action plan and submit it to the centre.
Later, Municipal Affairs Assistant Director, Kevilenuo Solo gave a power point presentation on PMAY-HFA(U) while Municipal Affairs Secretary, Kevekha Kevin Zehol wrapped up the programme.
