Chizokho Vero
Kohima | February 27
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today asserted that the UPA government and the Congress party are committed to the development of Nagaland. “We have taken many steps for improving its economic condition. We have made the development of infrastructure the cornerstone of our development policy for Nagaland,” said Prime Minister while addressing public meeting here at the Kohima Local Ground.
Prime Minister expressed his happiness that in the last 3 years, it had been able to connect 16 new habitations with new roads and upgrade many of the existing roads. “A 4-lane National Highway is to be built from Dimapur to Kohima. Improvement of other national highways in the state connecting it to the rest of the North East has also been approved. More than 700 kms of roads will be upgraded. All the 11 districts headquarters are to be connected with national highways with 2-lane roads. All this is part of the UPA government’s development plan for Nagaland,” he said.
Apart from road connectivity, he said that it had also placed emphasis on telecom and air connectivity, adding that over one lakh telephone connections have been provided in the last four years. A new airport will be coming up at Chiethu, he said adding that improved air connectivity will also contribute to tourism and industrial development in Nagaland.
Also stating that the UPA government has formulated a new North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy, Dr Singh said “ This policy will promote investment in the state- in hotels, in nursing homes and old age homes, in adventure and leisure sports, in training institutes and also in new power projects. All this will provide employment to the youth of Nagaland.” Admitting that the people of Nagaland “are highly talented and educated,” he said “I want them to have access to the best available employment opportunities in our country. I want Nagaland to be an active member of India’s growing economy.” The initiatives of the UPA government will generate new employment opportunities for young people in Nagaland, he said adding that to ensure that young friends in the state are properly trained, “we have improved educational facilities in Nagaland.” Also highlighting about the setting up of ITIs in various districts, he informed that a new Institute of Hotel Management is also being set up.
“I find it extremely satisfying when I see Naga boys and girls engaged in jobs in other parts of the country , earning decent incomes. We need to bring these jobs to Nagaland,” he said. This the Congress party will certainly do, he said adding that in the coming years, it will spend far more on education. He also assured that Nagaland will get its due share “ so that you can have top class education facilities here.”
With the funds provided by the UPA government, he said that more than one and half lakh children were getting mid-day meal, adding that under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, new schools are being opened, new school buildings are being built and new teachers are being appointed in schools. Touching on National Rural Health Mission, Prime Minister said that it had appointed over 1200 ASHAs to work in villages and improve health services.
“We will work to see that the women of Nagaland, who are so active socially and economically, get their rightful share in the development process, and can have a bright future,” he said. He also stated that he wanted every resident of Nagaland to enjoy good health and a life free of poverty and disease. “I want every child to have access to the best educational facilities. This can be done only by the Congress party,” he said.
Apart from infrastructure development, he said “we have placed great emphasis on rural development. It is our solemn assurance that if the Congress party comes to office here, we will provide electricity in every village, will provide telephone connectivity to every village and ensure good drinking water supply to all.”
“This we are already doing under Bharat Nirman,” he said. He, however, expressed his regret that the government “here has so far been slow in implementing this programme effectively. The Congress party will see that a new Nagaland is created through liberal funding by the Central Government under Bharat Nirman.” Referring to National Rural Employment Guarantee act, which provides assured employment of 100 days to all rural families, he said that 22,000 households have been provided employment in Nagaland.
“From 1 April, the entire state will be covered under this Act. I foresee this act eliminating chronic poverty from all parts of Nagaland. This was a promise of the Congress party in 2004 and you must remember this fact,” Prime Minister said.
Also expressing his happiness that Kohima will benefit from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission launched by the UPA government, he said “We have provided funds for housing poor people in Kohima and Dimapur. Funds will also be provided for improving urban facilities including drinking water and sanitation in Kohima and Dimapur.”
Also stating that he was aware that Nagaland has a tradition of strong local self-government through Village Development Councils, the Prime Minister said the Congress party will work to strengthen the Village Development Councils so that development at the grass roots “is responsive to the needs of the people.”
