Calls on department officers for teamwork and interaction
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 13
The first meeting between the newly appointed Minister of Industries & Commerce S. Pangyu Phom and the departmental officers of the Directorate of Industries and Commerce from all districts was convened at the Conference Hall of the Directorate today.
In his inaugural speech to the officers, S. Pangnyu Phom related on how he himself served as a government servant for 22 years. He said, there were rumors of how the department was dogged with scandals and problems, when he first joined office. However, he took this as a challenge believing that everything was possible through teamwork and interaction. He encouraged the officers to join hands with him to steer the department to work for the benefit of the State.
The minister assured that his priority would be to revamp and revive the department with co-operation from every individual. Available funds and proposals entitled for the department would be fully utilized, he said. The minister while inviting free and open interaction with the officers pledged full support to the department, officers and all employees, to work and bring about changes and to open avenues to the educated unemployed youths. The minister also stressed a need to identify the real entrepreneurs and advised the officers to be sincere, honest and unbiased in their duty.
Chairing the meeting LH Thangi Mannen, Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce expressed gratitude to the minister who himself had desired to meet all district officers of the Directorate in person. Apprising him of the issues that were yet to be tackled by the Directorate, the commissioner expressed her confidence that the minister would be able to revamp the whole system. The commissioner welcoming the officers encouraged them to interact with the minister about projects for their respective districts, stressing on the need to work as a team, in order to take the department forward.
The Director of Industries and Commerce, Thekruneituo Kire presented an overview of the department. Kire explained the objective of the department was to promote industrial activities in the State, with a view to promote local entrepreneurship. The director highlighted an outlay of the organization of the department, its schemes and programmes, projects undertaken like the Urban Haat Dimapur, SAZ Ganeshnagar, IIDC Kiruphema, Border Trade Centre Reguri, budget outlay of the department 2012-2013 and projects under implementation like the construction of common facility centre at Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire, Longleng and dismantling and reconstruction of the State Emporium at Kohima. An accomplishment of the department in National Trade Fair Events around the country was also made known to the Minister.
In an interaction with the minister, representatives from NIRMC, NIDC and NHHDC stated the visions of the various corporations in promoting, developing, establishing industries with the latest machineries through diversification of productions instead of the usual products available in the market. They also highlighted the plight of the various corporations and requested the Minister to look into the disbursing of salaries to the employees at the right time, and materializing the MoUs that had been previously signed.
The meeting concluded with Addl. Director of Industries & Commerce, Keneilel Angami giving the vote of thanks. Addressing the meeting, Keneilel expressed his happiness because the department had found one of the most efficient ministers to oversee the system, in addition to getting a full-fledged cabinet minister for the department. He stressed that meetings was important because teamwork starts with constant interaction and the meeting had seen one of the largest gathering of district officers of the department. He further added that the department will take a giant leap under the minister’s leadership.
