Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 5
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has sought the support of all the citizens particularly civil organizations, NGOs and government officers to bring about permanent peace in Nagaland. ‘If we put our heads together we can find a solution towards this end, there will be a quantum jump in terms of development,’ he said.
He recalled resolution number-6 of the Naga consultative meet which says that the “Naga people recognize the sufferings of our fellow eastern Nagas in Burma/Myanmar, and will work towards their recognition with definite territory for all round development – social, political, economic and cultural.” Rio said that with this mandate, and with the consent of the Prime Minister and Home minister of India, he already had discussions with the Ambassador of the Myanmar government in New Delhi in taking up the plight of the “eastern” Nagas in Myanmar.
Also saying that the state has an international border of 231 kms with Myanmar, the chief minister said that to facilitate border trade with Myanmar, the government have identified four trade centers: Longwa, Pangsha, Mimi and Avangkhu in 2001-2002. It is only at Avangkhu where some semblance of activities for setting up of the trade centers had begun from 2004-2005 and that too at a very slow pace. There has however been no tangible progress in the remaining ITCs.
In the meantime, Rio thanked all the officers from the Government of India for sparing their time with a view to bring about positive development to the people of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire and Longleng. “We are glad to know that the Government of India shares our concerns, and look forward to your active support and participation in bringing about positive changes in the lives of the people in these four districts in the days to come,” Rio said.
Minister for School Education Nyeiwang Konyak was appreciative of the seminar, which, he said, was called to share the problems and come up with remedial steps for development of the “backward” region.
Lamenting that the four districts is still lacking behind in development, be it health, road or in employment opportunities, he urged the participants to make positive changes for “eastern Nagaland,” considering the fact that the world is advancing every second with the emergence of information technology.
He also acknowledged the Ministries of Home, DONER and state government for recognizing the plight of the backward regions and extending special package for development in order to meet the pressing requirements for development of the region.
DONER joint secretary Jayashree Mukherjee in her speech said that Vision 2020 of North East has been framed which aims to bring the NE at par with the rest of India. She called for putting collective effort to reap the desired goal. Apart from infrastructure development, she said there is a need to develop the skills, education and agricultural aspects of the backward region and for mass participation to help develop the backward areas.
Terming “agriculture as source of livelihood”, she asserted that attaining self-sufficient should be on priority list besides special focus on marketing avenues and organic product.
She also recalled Rs. 500 crore for NE as announced by Finance Minister in the last years’ budget, where Nagaland has been placed in the scheme for hostels, teachers welfare programme and science blocks. Besides, Tuensang district has been selected for livelihood project.
Stating that BSNL and Postal Department has number of schemes, she suggested to the Government of Nagaland to extend a little bit of assistance to these agencies, so that services could be delivered to the people.
DUDA advisor E.E. Pangteang said the first development seminar was in fact, a significant step towards development, as it was able to lay the ground works for development resulting to the inclusion in the development road map of the state.
“It is worth mentioning that even after five decades of statehood, the backward regions could not be well developed as expected and some of the villages are even yet to be accessible by road,” Panteang said.
Nevertheless, considering the backwardness of the region that needs special care for development, he said, the state government under the leadership of Neiphiu Rio, Chief Minister has created the department of undeveloped areas in 2003 with the objective to take up the developmental programmes which could not be taken care by any other development departments.
“Despite all efforts by the state government as well as the special financial assistance extended by Govt of India, the region is still lacking behind not only in education but also economically. It is to be noted that without economic power, the backward region can not progress and deliver the desired level of quality education of the children,” Pangteang said adding that the main focus in the second development seminar is to emphasize more on the human resources and economic development in letter and spirit to bring tangible results to the region.
Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) president Y. Mangko Phom acknowledged “the sincere efforts” made by the Government of India and Government of Nagaland for the uplift of the people. ENPO also suggested some priority projects based on felt-needs in the areas, which included human resource development, health, surfaced roads and communication, agriculture and allied sectors, power and energy, youth resources, art and culture, eco-tourism, trades, commerce and industry.
The ENPO also submitted a representation and demand that the Government of India must establish and set up an independent central monitoring cell based at Tuensang HQ for constant supervision and monitoring of the proposed works in collaboration with the Government of Nagaland. It also requested and invited central departmental officials to visit the “eastern” parts of the state and to conduct future developmental seminars and interactions as well.
