Nagaland Governor P B Acharya today said that the state government would continue to take active part in facilitating the ongoing peace process between the union government and the Naga underground groups.
"The state government shall continue to take active part in facilitating the peace process," the governor said in his address on the first day of the five-day budget session of the state Assembly here.
The governor also appealed to all sections of the society to be large hearted and supportive of the peace process for the sake of the future generation.
"The consultation process among the various stake holder groups is going on actively after the signing of the Framework Agreement by the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) on August 3, 2015," Acharya said.
However, he regretted that the unilateral abrogation of ceasefire by NSCN(K) in March 2015 had caused much anxiety among the Naga people, because of which the state government and the civil society had been appealing to the Centre and NSCN(K) to resume the ceasefire.
"My government appreciates the joint efforts of the apex tribal organisations -- Naga Hoho and Eastern Naga People's Organisation, who, on the request of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of the Nagaland Legislators Forum, went to Myanmar in the month of February and conveyed to the authorised representatives of NSCN(K) the desire of the state government and the people for resumption of ceasefire," he said.
Acharya also lauded the efforts of PWC in meeting the Central leaders of various political parties in July last year and February this year seeking their support for an early political settlement.
Claiming that while the law and order situation in the State has been largely peaceful during the period, the governor decried the unfortunate murder of an innocent couple near Shamator in Tuensang district on February 6 last, which led to problems in Kiphire, Pungro and Shamtor areas.
"Safety of the minority community in any area should be the prime concern of the majority community of that area," he said, adding that the tendency of exacting revenge must be avoided and the law should be allowed to take its own course.
(REOP CES9)
The governor said the Directorate of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement looked after the welfare of 2,560 registered ex-servicemen in Nagaland, 63 World War-II veterans and 1,800 widows.
Stating that agriculture being the mainstay, he said the strategy of the government was to increase production and productivity with suitable technologies in the farming sector.
During 2015-16, he said the aim was to achieve 6.81 lakh metric tons of foodgrains production with productivity level of 2,270 kg per hectare, which had been surpassed.
A comprehensive plan had been prepared to develop 5,000 hectares of coffee plantation in the next five years under Integrated Watershed Management Programme in collaboration with Coffee Board of India.
He said that the Fisheries Department was implementing an innovative project titled 'Conservation and Promotion of Aquatic species of stream fisheries and enhancement of fish production", initiated under National Fisheries Development Board in all the districts to replenish depletion of indigenous fish species in streams and riverine system due to unethical fishing methods.
The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, with the support of various stakeholders, had successfully promoted the concept of community based wildlife protection, he said.
Under MGNREGS employment of 127.05 lakh man-days had also been generated during 2015-16 till now, he said.
The governor also announced that with a view to safeguard the rights of backward tribes the government would table the Nagaland Backward tribes Commission Bill, 2016 during the current session.
He said that the Department of Public Health Engineering would provide drinking water to 92 habitations and water treatment units to 32 habitations having water quality problems.
In the power sector, Acharya said the Department had completed and commissioned 1 MW Tehok Mini Hydro Electric Project in Chen area under Mon district while construction of 66/11 KV, 20 MVA Sub-Station at Sovima, Dimapur and an additional 25 MVA, 132/33 KV Sub-Station at Kohima would be commissioned during the current year.
The Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation had taken up Zipu to Moke road and Laluri to Mimi road, which would facilitate establishment of Mega Cement Plant at Mimi under Kiphire district, he said.
In the Education sector, the governor said all efforts
were being made to improve the quality of education in government schools. Currently, he said, rationalisation of schools and teachers was in good progress. The process of streamlining of personnel management in the department and budget monitoring in the Directorate had drastically brought down expenditure on salaries which was a good development.
For improvement in quality education, 47 Science and 68 Maths teachers had been selected through open interview and posted in Government Middle Schools, especially in the far flung areas of the State. Another 200 Primary Teachers have been selected through open interview to be posted in the districts of Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire, which will greatly mitigate the issue of deficit teachers in GPS of these districts, he said.
He said that the State Council for Educational Research & Training (SCERT) had developed a textbook on Naga Heritage to be used in lieu of Alternative English. The main trust of SCERT during 2016-17 will be on the setting up of the new DIETs at Peren, Longleng and Kiphire, including the 3 new BITEs at Sechu, Longkhim and Chuchuyimlang, he said. In the field of Higher Education, he said, establishment of new Polytechnics in the remaining district are in good progress.
In the Health sector, he said that laboratories enabling rapid DNA diagnosis of multi-drug resistant TB in Paediatric TB, TB in people living with HIV and extra pulmonary TB will be set up in the State.
The governor maintained that the government was committed to address gender issues and adopted Gender Responsive Budgeting as a key strategy to achieve gender issues mainstreaming.
Highlighting some of the policies and programs, achievements and plans of the state government, Acharya said the past year had seen many positive developments.
