Be residents, not visitors: CM to officials

EMN PEREN, MARCH 7 Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang today asked Government officials to reside in their places of posting instead of being mere visitors so as to provide quality and meaningful governance to the people of the State. Addressing the monthly District Planning & Development Board meeting of Peren district at New Peren district headquarters, the Chief Minister exhorted Government officials to reside in their places of posting rather than paying flying visits once in a blue moon. “Do not make a habit of compelling people to visit you in Kohima or Dimapur to get their works done,” the Chief Minister said. “You should stay in your places of posting so that the people do not face the inconvenience of visiting you in the state capital or Dimapur. I have been receiving numerous complaints from all over the State that Government officials attend the district headquarters only to attend the monthly DPDB meetings and after which they are never found in their offices. This is very discouraging if it is true. How can the Government provide good governance to the people if Government officials and employees do not attend offices? Does your conscience allow you to do such a thing? Is it justified to draw your salaries when you do not perform your duties by attending to your offices? Why should the common man suffer because of negligence on the part of Government officials? How can we administer the people when administrators do not attend to their offices or duties? How can we bring development to the people when Government officials do not attend offices and look after the needs of the people in their jurisdiction? “Government officials are posted in various places, and they should leave behind a legacy of dedicated effort to perform their duties so that fond memories are left behind for future generations to remember them even after the officials are posted out,” the Chief Minister said. “I remember Mr TP Imchen who was posted in Peren as AC-II in the 1960s and who came and settled in Peren when there are hardly 3-4 houses in the middle of very thick forest! Such was his dedication and commitment to serve the people and perform his duty that he is fondly remembered by the citizens of Peren area even today. I wish to appeal to all Government officers to emulate Mr Imchen, come and settle down here in available quarters in this new District Headquarters before plots are allotted to individuals and people start constructing their houses. And those of you who do not have quarters may consult with the Deputy Commissioner and work out alternative arrangements. “I also wish to place on record my deep appreciation for the Deputy Commissioner, Peren, who could shift the District Headquarters to the new site and having settled here all through his tenure. Few other DCs before him could not shift the HQs due to stiff opposition from a section of the public, but Peter Lichama, the DC, through his sheer dedication, tenacity and determination could shift the HQs,” the Chief Minister said. Several departmental heads of the district complained of not having Office buildings and quarters for the staff, to which the Chief Minister asked them to work out DPRs to be included in the works programme in the current financial year if possible. He assured the Officers of all help and assistance from his side. The Chief Minister also said that unlike other years when actual budgets were delayed and only Votes on Account were taken up during Budget sessions, the Budget Session scheduled for March 15 would be a “full budget which could go for 4 -5 days.” The Chief Minister asked the departments of PHE and Power to hasten provision of adequate water and power to the district Headquarter saying that without power and water, no habitation can flourish. Reminding officials of the BSNL that in this age of Internet and also the Government of India’s programme to make India into Digital India, the requested the Public Sector Undertaking to provide OFC connection to the District HQ as early as possible. When pointed out that this would require additional sanction from the Chief General Manager’s Office, Dimapur, for which the District Administration had written several times, the Chief Minister assured that he would personally take up the matter with the CGM. The board meeting today approved upgradation of Government Middle School at DC Colony, which has a total number of 397 students, and which caters to several other feeder schools in Peren town, to Government High school. The Chief Minister later in the afternoon visited the construction site of the Sedimentation tank of the PHE for water supply to the District HQ for which pipelines are being laid and expected to be connected to the Tank from the two water sources this month.