Temjen Imna Along calls on Union Minister for Tribal Affairs & Chairman of AICTE

Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Nagaland called on the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda at his office chamber, New Delhi on August 26. Later, the minister also met with the Chairman of AICTE Dr Anil D Sahasrabudhe. (Photo Courtesy: PRO Nagaland House New Delhi)

New Delhi, August 26 (MExN): Temjen Imna Along, Minister for Higher & Technical Education and Tribal Affairs, Nagaland called on the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda to discuss issues relating to the ministry in New Delhi on August 26. 

Later, he also called upon the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Dr Anil D Sahasrabudhe and highlighted matters pertaining to States technical education.  

The Minister was accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary, Tribal Affairs Lhoubeilatuo Kire and officials of the Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) while visiting Munda at his office chamber, informed a press release issued by Kuolie Mere PRO (IPR) Nagaland House, New Delhi.

During the meeting, Temjen Imna apprised the Union Minister that the State’s Department of Tribal Affairs was long-felt need, and created recently in Nagaland after the approval of the Cabinet on August 2, it said. 

As the Department was created not even a month back, the delegation also briefed Munda that lots of works are needed to to be undertaken, it added. 

The Union Minister, the release informed, assured that the Ministry will provide all assistance to the State, including a review of the current year’s projects or schemes along with consideration of additional project proposals for 2019-20 which will be carried out shortly. 

The issue of various projects such Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain for Minor Forest Produce (MFP), which falls under the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED), were also discussed. 

TRIFED is an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India to develop the socio-economic conditions of tribals in the country.

The Union Minister expressed his happiness over the performance of the DUDA and also assured that the proposals sent by the Department will be taken up, the release said, adding the Ministry has declared DUDA as one of the State Implementing Agencies for these projects from 2018-19. 

Under these projects, the department is actively involved in elevating the livelihood of farmers and MFP gatherers and 13 SHGs have also been set up and more SHGs are being covered in a phase-wise manner, it added.
Two polytechnics likely to be upgraded by year-end 

Later in the afternoon, Temjen Imna also called on the AICTE chairman, Dr Sahasrabudhe accompanied by Kethosituo Sekhose, DRC and department officials of Technical education. 

“Issues regarding upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu and Government Polytechnic, Kohima and schemes available with the AICTE for the State were discussed,” informed the release.

The chairman stated that approval for up gradation of the two polytechnics will be given by the end of this year and requested the State Government to give its commitment for up gradation of infrastructure and post creation at the earliest.

 The AICTE is ready to provide funds for procurement of equipment for these Institutes and all assistance necessary for preparation of DPRs, Dr Sahasrabudhe reportedly told the delegation. 

He also stated that the State Government should avail schemes for ground water harvesting, Internet WAN/LAN/Fiber Optics installations and Solar Power plants from the AICTE for the Technical Institutes in the State, the release said.