NLA budget session: Annual reports tabled; 3 bills introduced

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 7 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tabled the annual administrative report of 2019-20 for Excise and Prohibition, Chief Electoral Office, Science and Technology, and Horticulture, Art and Culture in the House during the budget session of Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Friday.

The deputy chief minister, Yanthungo Patton, tabled the annual administrative report for Home department, while Minister for Agriculture and Corporation G Kaito tabled report for department of Agriculture and Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Justice and Law CM Chang tabled the report of Environment, Forest and Climate Change department.

Other ministers also tabled the report of their respective ministries: Minister for Transport, Civil Aviation and Railways P Paiwang Konyak- report for department of Information and Public Relation; Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHED) Jacob Zhimomi- report for PHED; Minister for Rural Development Metsubo Jamir- department of Rural Development; and Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along-  department of Technical Education.

Meanwhile, the chief minister also tabled the reports/ rules of  the “Nagaland Rights of Person with Disabilities Rules, 2019 department of Social Welfare”, while Minister for Health and family Welfare S Pangyu Phom tabled the report for Nagaland Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (ombudsman and Legal Proceeding) Rule 2019, department of Health and Family Welfare.

Introduction of government bills

• Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio moved the house seeking leave to introduce “Nagaland Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2019” and was introduced.
• The Nagaland Produce and Livestock Marketing (promotion and facilitation) Bill, 2020 was moved by Minister for Agriculture and Corporation G Kaito Aye; it was granted and introduced.
• Minister for Higher and Technical Education, Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along moved the house on North East Christian University (First Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the same was granted and introduced.

The introduced bills will be discussed for consideration before passing on February 10. The bills were opened for insertion and removal of clauses till 3 pm on February 7.

More than 1100 police constables recruited between 2018 and 2020

Responding to an unstarred question from MLA Imtiwapang Aier during the budget session, deputy chief minister Y Patton informed the house that 1135 police constables were recruited between March 2018 and January 2020.

He also informed that 35 sub-inspectors, including UBSI (GD), sub-inspector (Technical) and sub-inspector (Opr) were recruited during the period. Out of them, 14 were from Wokha district, five from Mokokchung, four from Kohima, three each from Phek and Tuensang, two from Mon and one each from Longleng, Kiphire, Peren and Zunheboto districts.

No. of police constables recruited from March 2018 to January 2020

Aye takes on unstarred questions on fund flow

Minister of Agriculture G Kaito Aye on Friday informed that a total amount of INR 46,31,75,000 was received for FOCUS-International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) project since its inception till January 31 2020.

The minster was replying to an unstarred question raised by MLA Chumben Murry during the fifth assembly session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Feb. 7.

Aye stated that a total of INR 9,85,40,000 was received through Endowment Grant from the government of Nagaland (GoN) which is meant to be kept as buffer fund for the project and to be utilised only when regular funds (as budgeted) are not available. The fund is to be returned to GoN on completion of the project after adjusting whatever payment made as part of its counterpart fund, he added.

An amount of INR 13,13,03,000 was received from IFAD as Initial Advance for implementation of various activities as per IFAD approved AWPB, claimed Kaito. He added that INR 3,00,00,000 was received from the Directorate of Agriculture through CSS-GoI for RKVY activities and full amount has been released to all the eight projects for implementation of RKVY activities as per IFAD approved Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB). Another amount of INR INR 33, 32, 000 was received from the Directorate of Agriculture through CSS-GoN as 10% State share for RKVY activities, he added.

The minister said that a total amount of INR 20,00,00,000 was received from GoN as pre-finance to FOCUS-IFAD Project in January 2020. He said that it will be reimbursed by the IFAD on submission of statement of expenditure. The minister maintained that fund is being allocated for implementation of various activities as per IFAD approved Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) 2019-2020.

Meanwhile, Aye also furnished detailed information in reply to Murry’s second unstarred question on how the works/projects were taken up under IFAD village-wise in Wokha district. He said that several activities were taken up in Wokha district including, formation of Farmers Interest Groups (FIG), support to lead farmers, lead farmer honorarium, legume cover crops, supply of quality seeds, improved soil fertility, support for wetland agriculture, irrigation support, and supply of quality plating materials.