‘My govt will bridge rich and poor gap’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 15
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today stated that the DAN government will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, men and women, urban and rural and between the forward and “backward” areas through empowering, training and capacity-building. “Togetherness and inclusive growth of the entire state will be our objective,” Rio said in his address at the 62nd Independence Day celebrations here at the Nagaland Secretariat Plaza. Rio emphasized that democracy and development can mean nothing to those who are not touched by the hand of progress.
Neiphiu Rio assured the people of Nagaland that the government will continue to work with full commitment and sincerity in meeting their expectations. “As we recall our collective achievements in the last 62 years of India’s freedom, there is no denying that we have covered a substantial distance on the path to progress. While much has been done, we still have a long way to go,” he said. He sought the people’s support and cooperation in attaining “our cherished goals, in the months and the years that lie ahead.” “My government shall spare no effort to translate our collective dreams into a reality, and make Nagaland a progressive state,” Rio said. Also, during the last one year, he said, 170 youths from Nagaland were recruited into the defense forces; coaching classes and pre-recruitment trainings are conducted under capacity-building programmes to improve the intake of Naga youth. He urged the youths to avail the opportunities in the defense and central paramilitary forces and use their talent and energy in the service of the nation.
On the development front, Rio said 108 villages and habitations and 542 Rural Government Primary Schools have been covered with water supply facilities during 2008-09, both under state plan and Accelerated Rural Water Supply Project (ARWSP). A related matter, Rio said is the concern in the lack of adequate water supply in some of the major towns. Augmentation of water supply to the state capital is under progress, he said.
In the industry sector, Rio said during 2009-10 the government shall implement the Mega Food Park scheme under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, with the Central Processing Centre located in Dimapur and the primary processing centers set up in different districts. Stating improvement of road network to be a priority, Rio said a number of new road projects and improvements are being taken up in the state under Central Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), North East Council (NEC), Central Road Fund (CRF), Inter-State Connectivity (ISC), Economic Importance (E&I) and National Highway (H) Projects.
On power, he said “to keep pace with the growing demand, the government is taking measures to develop potential hydro projects on joint venture with reputed private project developers.” The Central government is assisting the state to strengthen the power distribution infrastructure through the programme of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) for rural areas and re-structured Accelerated Power Development & Reforms Programme (APDRP) for urban towns. Under RGGVY, 108 villages across the state will be electrified, 69,900 Below Poverty Line (BPL) and 1.42 lakh additional households will have access to electricity by 2012, he said.
Likewise, he said that the recently-instituted department for new and renewable energy will focus on tapping energy and power from new and sustainable sources like solar and wind with special emphasis on environmental protection and greener measures to meet increasing energy needs.
Rio assured that the department is trying to promote backyard farming to achieve self-sufficient in livestock production. Under the Integrated Livestock Development, a project designed to bridge the gap between demand and supply, progressive piggery farmers and poultry farmers are assisted to boost production of pork and chicken, he said. The chief minister also said that the government is determined to protect the Intangki Reserved Forest. To curb the problem of illegal transportation of timber out of the state, he said, the government is also making mobile courts in all districts operational.
He also referred to the problem of global warming, and said the government is making every effort through joint community forest management to preserve the state’s forest and increase forest cover to mitigate global warming.
