Principal Correspondent
Kohima, March 22
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today asserted that the NPF-led DAN government despite the fund constraints has taken up inclusive development throughout the state.
Replying to the allegations and criticisms of the opposition Congress raised during the debate on Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address delivered on the third day of the 4th session of the 12th NLA, the Leader of the House said if justice has not been done to some areas, it would be looked into. He conceded to criticism that lack of supervision, in some instances has affected quality and control should be maintained to prevent a liability to the state.
However he requested opposition members not to pass sweeping comments as if that nothing has been done on the ground. Rio said any misuse of government funds, will be dug out by the CAG.
On the Naga political issue, Rio said that it remains a priority for the NPF-led DAN government and they are sincere and will pave way if any solution is brought to the vexed issue. He also emphasized the need for the 60-member of the Assembly to renew the Joint Legislators Forum on Naga issue and unitedly pursue the matter with the Centre for early solution and to unite the underground groups. He said the governemnet has been facilitating the peace process but added the issue is between the ceasefire and dialogue is between the Government of India and Naga underground groups. Rio mentioned the Consultative Committee on Peace formed during DAN-I, and Political Affairs Committee during DAN-II and the 60-members of the House coming together cutting across all party lines under the leadership of the then Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie to work for an early solution.He apprised the members that the Naga group had submitted its proposal for solution but the GoI could not give any concrete solution or offer on the issue. Therefore, now the ball is in the court of the GoI, he quipped while expressing hope that something would emerge after the Parliamentary election.He also said the Naga political issue is everybody’s issue therefore everybody is needed to be onboard towards finding an amicable solution.
Commending the efforts of ACAUT, Rio said the state government has taken various actions but further effort is needed to tackle the issue.
Rio while recalling the sequence of incidence leading to Mukali incident described the incident as ‘shameful acts’by the underground cadres and condemned it. He attributed the incidents as an manifestations of the unresolved political issue and the incapability of the factions to control their cadres placed in different areas. He reassured the house that the government is trying its best to prevent such situations.
Replying to scathing attacks by the Congress who interpreted his contest to elections for the Lok Sabha as shying away from responsibilities as Chief Minister of Nagaland, Rio stated that on the contrary he was preparing to take on more responsibilities for the Nagas in Delhi by making the entire state as his own constituency.
He said that 17 resolutions adopted by the newly formed North East Regional Front Political Party was to address the problems and issues confronting the region and reverse treatment as second class citizens even to the extent of murder.
He also expressed that despite 50 years of statehood and status as the second oldest state in the Northeast after Assam, Nagaland still lacks a national or regional institution worth its name. Therefore, he asserted to take the common issues of the North East if elected.
Rio equated the coming of the hornbill festival touted as the festival of festivals to the success of the Road Show-cum-Tribal Festival. The festival he stated is an opportunity to promote and showcase the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the people of the state.
In the field of agriculture, he said the traditional jhum cultivation is sustainable but only when regulated properly. In employment sector, he said that the Naga youth were working outside the state are not neglected because of the presence of Youth Net who look after the interests of the youth.
Upholding the resolutions of the state’s Special Development Zones’s Rio said its viability will depend on opening doors to investors, entrepreneurs etc to invest in the state. In this regard in the Nagaland Special Development Zones (NSDZs) creation of employment opportunities will be with consultation with the tribal hohos, land owners.
AGITATIONS:
Meanwhile, reacting on the agitations of the Nagaland SSA Teachers Association due to non-release of their pending salaries, Rio said the pending salaries since November 2013 could not be cleared because of non-release of fund from the Central government. Highlighting that there are states which have also not paid salaries of the teachers under the flagship programme of the central government, he said “the teachers should be reasonable with the children and government”. Politicizing the issue is not healthy, he said while clarifying that once the funds are released by the Centre the salaries would be cleared.
Rio also expressed surprise on yesterday’s agitation by the Work Charged Employees justifying that the government has cleared the salaries till February 2014. “I don’t understand why they are agitating,” he said maintaining the government decided to pay their salaries foregoing even some developmental works.
Revealing that there are 14,744 work charged employees in the state, he said the government has to spend Rs. 63.27 crore annual on their salary. He also regretted that most of the work charged employees do not work and if such huge amount is invested into projects, the government can take several developmental works.
He also said that the government offered a Golden Handshake, but they refused and therefore a committee has been set up to consider regularization and dropping of the work charged employees in the state.
Regretting the work charged employees has increased because senior officers appoint them on the verge of retirement, he also asked the HoDs to avoid such random appointment.
On the downgrading of 129 government schools pointed by Tokheho, Rio said that RMSA Nagaland had proposed upgradation of 147 government middle schools in the state but since the project Approval Board under Union Ministry of HRD had not accepted it, the schools had to be down-graded. He also justified that NBSE had not objected to admissions but asked that the students have to be admitted to the nearest available school instead of the 129 schools.
He also said that the state government has taken up the ‘No detention policy’ under the Right to Education with the Centre to safeguard quality education in the state.
On the issue of women reservation objected to by the tribal Hohos Rio said the matter now lies in the court after women groups without discussing the matter at the local level, directly took it court.
Maintaining that the state has faced many problems since the changing funding pattern in 1989, Rio said despite facing a resource crunch state the financial condition is just about holding out. He said since DAN has held reign in the state it not been put under financial embargo. He corrected Congress allegations and said the GoI has not given any fund for implementation of the 6th ROP in Nagaland.
