DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 29 (MExN): The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes in a meeting with Chief Secretary and officials of the state government has pulled up the State Government pointing out that it was not fully utilizing the money granted by the Centre and asked the government to concentrate on education, agriculture, health care and employment since socio-economic development takes place based on these four elements. The Committee on the Welfare of SCs/STs led by E. Ponnuswamy, during the course of the discussion said that they are concerned about the development of the North Eastern states, especially Nagaland and further said that funds should be utilized properly and reach the people. The meeting was held on 27th October 2007 at Hotel Japfü, Kohima.
Ponnuswamy said that the purpose of their visit was to understand the difficulties faced by the state in various fields and help sort out the problems, if any. The meeting also deliberated on school education, health sector in Nagaland, road condition, rural and economic tourism and education conditions of particularly the Dimasa and the Bodo tribes, participation of elected representatives in Communitization and rural development.
The team members said that development should be the most important thing and the Centre and the State governments can jointly take a step to solve the problems faced by the state.
Earlier Chief Secretary, Nagaland, Lalhuma, gave a briefing on various activities taking place in the state. He expounded on Village Development Boards, concept of Communitization of various departments, Nagaland Bamboo Mission, NEPED etc. He said that the state is encouraging the use of bamboo as an economic product, as a resource and as an enterprise. He also mentioned the revival of the Tuli Pulp and Paper Mill.
