'Robust policy is required for Foothill Road'

Seminar on Industrial Business & Entrepreneurship via The Foothills Road held in Dimapur

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 6

With the Nagaland foothill road project dragging on for 10 years now, Nagaland Advisor for Department of Industries & Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu  on Friday viewed that renewed efforts is required with proper deliberation and brainstorming of ideas to come up with a robust policy in aiding the government towards its completion. 

“In Nagaland everything is done so random, we don’t plan. Even our cities or programmes are not planned but this seminar could be a preliminary exercise to create a robust policy recommendation for the government on the foothill road project,” she said. 

The Advisor was speaking during the one-day seminar on ‘Industry Business & Entrepreneurship via the Foothill Road’ held at the Four Seasons hotel, Dimapur. This was organised by Educentre in collaboration with various other government departments to foster dialogue and discussion with the help of several industry experts. 

Jakhalu mentioned that the foothill road project has been a long drawn out process beginning initially with the conceptualisation of the idea in 1974; and later receiving renewed efforts from the State government since 2013. The ambitious project was to connect the nether region of Peren starting from Khelma up to Tizit in Mon covering a distance of about 396 Kms. 

“The problem is that it is a huge project and the state government cannot fund it solely on its own due to financial constraints to which Central assistance was needed,” she said.

While the project began with much fanfare and initially funded through the Special Plan Assistance under the Planning Commission, she noted that in between, the funding stopped with the disbandment of the Planning Commission and work came to an abrupt halt. Jakhalu, however, is hopeful that, given sufficient funds, the decade old project can be completed soon. 

Jakhalu also claimed that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio have also been making all out effort to get funds from the Centre.  Even during the last 14th Assembly Session, there was conversation among the legislators that this was one of the most important projects the state need to focus on, the Advisor noted. Significantly, because the project spans over the agricultural rich districts in the state with enormous potential for agriculturalists, businesses and entrepreneurs. 

During the seminar, a session on ‘Governments role to enhance industry via the Foothills Road,’ was held with M Ababe Ezung, OSD for Transport, ic Aviation/Railways/Inland waterways; Sashi Wapang Lanu, Additional Commissioner GST and Kvulo Lorin, Chairman, Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Limited (NIDC). 

Ezung viewed that with right investment and support from the people, every district will be benefitted with tourism prospering across the state. “Foothill road may touch only 7 to 8 districts but we need to put in our head to contribute as these roads will be enough to provide job opportunities,” Ezung asserted.  

Meanwhile, Lorin spoke of the importance for entrepreneurs to prepare proper paper-works and documents if they wished to avail schemes from the government.  

Also he underlined that one cannot hope to start a business with loan or government subsidy. Those will only help to scale a business and not sustain it as schemes are not the basis to start a business, he pointed out.

Additional Commissioner of GST, Lanu felt that government should create atmosphere where private money comes in through laws that can aid both the entrepreneur and the investor. ‘There should be check and balance,’ he said. 

Also discussing on the lackadaisical practice of Naga entrepreneurs, he pointed out that there are no value addition from the Naga entrepreneurs which is the reason there is no market beyond Nagaland. “As an entrepreneur you need to add value to your goods. Focus on value addition to reach out to markets beyond Nagaland,” he urged.

Give the Needy (GTN) app launched
The event also witnessed the launch of a new app called ‘Give the Needy,’ app by Jakhalu. Created by Zeliang Codetech private limited, the app aims to connect contributors and beneficiaries, empowering both donors and recipients to carry out humanitarian acts. 

According to the creators of GTN, the app will provide services that can streamline donation processes for when people are in need of financial help thereby generating positive change in communities that use it.