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Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and other dignitaries after the inauguration of the new Duda directorate office building situated near NPSC office in Kohima on March 1.[/caption]
Dimapur, March 1 (EMN): The new department of Under Developed Areas (Duda) directorate office building in Kohima, near NPSC office was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on March 1.
The CM congratulated and appreciated the department, contractor, consultant and everyone involved in the successful completion of the project. He informed during the inaugural function that the building was constructed at a cost of INR 10.96 crore, said an update from DIPR.
He said the new directorate building would be the epicentre of various programmes and policies for the people of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) and serve as a collective voice to convey the needs and aspirations of the four districts of ENPO. He also appealed to the officers and staff of the department to ensure the building is maintained well and also set up a work culture that is best in the state.
Recalling the purpose behind the creation of the department in June 2003, he said it was “to strengthen and improve the infrastructure development of Eastern Nagaland and to capacitate the people through the life skill programmes and livelihood solutions.” He added that the department was created “with an objective to promote growth of the ENPO districts with special focus on infrastructure, development, healthcare facilities, improvement in education, human resource development and building capacity in institutions.”
While acknowledging the tangible progress the Duda department has made through its programmes like Under Developed Areas Programmes (UDAP) and Border Area Development Programme (BADP), Rio informed that the department, which is currently “manned by a total of 76 personnel - 44 from Duda cadre and 32 from the Engineering Wing and Treasuries, is in the process of building up its own cadre of personnel.
The CM said at the event that the department has implemented several beneficial programmes like empowerment of underprivileged youth of Eastern Nagaland in collaboration with NIELIT, wherein about 1280 youths of Eastern Nagaland received computer training; special coaching classes in math and science for HSLC students; development of Anghya Brand and Anghya Marketing Network, a retail network initiative to provide livelihood solution to farmers, entrepreneurs and unemployed youth; and minimum support price for minor forest produce (MSP for MFP) under Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED).
MLA and advisor Duda, N. Bongkhao Konyak thanked the chief minister for ensuring the completion of the new directorate office building by providing fund. He said the department was created under his (CM) leadership in 2003 to strengthen the infrastructure development and to improve the quality of life in the region and that his concern for the people of ENPO area inspired him to walk extra mile for them.
Konyak also thanked the Eastern Nagaland Legislators’ Union (ENLU) for its constant advice and encouragement to the department. He said the department can achieve new milestones only with the support of the ENLU and the people of ENPO Area, who are the stakeholders. He urged the leaders to continue supporting Duda so that the backward areas of the state grow at par with the rest of the districts.