EMN
Dimapur, December 5
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) was officially launched in the State on Thursday. Minister for Planning & Coordination, Evaluation, Geology and Mining, T.R. Zeliang today asserted that Nagas mindset need to be changed if we are to elevate unemployment and poverty in the society.
He stated Nagas have a mentality that whatever grant they receive from the government is for their pocket money. Speaking at the official launch of National Rural Health Mission (NRLM) in Nagaland today, the minister termed this as the main reason why many of the government grants do not bear any fruits.
Besides, sanction of schemes and projects are often delayed on many occasions due to red tapism and other hurdles which become a burden for the poor people, especially the unemployed youth who have no means to run around chasing the project.
He also felt it important that the guidelines of central projects be compatible with the respective state conditions or society while maintaining that most of the time the guidelines issued by the Centre becomes a hurdle in implementing various projects and schemes in a state like Nagaland.
“Pro-poor schemes or projects should be easily accessible; sanctions should be made within a short span of time so that less expenditure is involved from the beneficiaries and the process should be made simple for the poor people to go about”, he opined.
Observing that there are so many Self Help Groups (SHGs) thriving in the State now, Zeliang however regretted that many of these SHGs are non-performing and are in paper only and said that SHGs should not be formed just to get loans from banks or other monetary benefits from government but should perform and bring profits to itself by taking up various activities. The minister further expressed hope that this mission will serve as a landmark in the history of Nagaland State’s quest for eradication of rural poverty while also terming pro-poor mission like NRLM as the need of the hour when the gap between the urban rich and the rural poor are alarmingly widening.
Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, REPA&SIRD, C.L. John informed that NRLM was launched as restructured SGSY program after studying the success of the wonder self help group particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Kerela.
State Self Help Group Training Manual and website of Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) were also released during the launching program.
The program was chaired by Commissioner and Secretary, RD, Viketol Sakhrie while welcome address was delivered by Director, RD, MetsuboJamir and vote of thanks pronounced by CEO, NSRLM, VisasolieLhoungu.Chief Manager, Rural SBI Regional Office, Vikas Das also delivered a short speech and a brief overview of NRLM was shared by the Mission Director, NSRLM, M. Lotha.
NRLM Mission envisions reduction of poverty by enabling the poor households to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.The basic idea behind this program is to organise the rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and make them capable for self-employment and sustenance.
Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) which is the implementing agency for NRLM in the State aims to reach out to the Poorest of the Poor (PoP) households across 11 districts, 74 blocks, 1151 villages and stay engaged with them till the time they cross the poverty line.
During the financial year 2013-2014, 9 blocks across 9 districts of Nagaland will be covered as Intensive Resource Clusters viz. Jakhama (Kohima), Pfutsero (Phek), Mon (Mon), Longleng (Longleng), Chukitong (Wokha), Changtongya (Mokokchung), Chumukedima (Dimapur), Kiphire (Kiphire) and Satakha (Zunheboto).It may be mentioned that Tuensang and Peren districts are covered under NERLP at present.
The program was initially commissioned for only 3 blocks, however owing to linguistic, geographical and other problems, government of India had agreed to expand the project to 9 blocks across 9 districts in the State, informed Mission Director, NRSLM, MotsuthungLotha.
The NRSLM expressed gratitude to the Ministry of RD, Government of India, Joint Secretary and Mission Director,NRLM, New Delhi for continually supporting and extending all possible help to the State in sanctioning monetary grants on time and in enhancing the said blocks.It further conveyed its appreciation to State Anchor, NSRLM, Smita Jacobs for her contribution in the success of the mission.
