Returnees can help rebuild Nagaland economy—Rio

Our Correspondent
Kohima, June 16 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said that Nagaland being a consumerist society and a ‘salary-economy,’ people should start talking about the economy of the state and try to work, instead of solely depending on government for jobs.

“Our state, we are not a producing society, we are consumer society,” Rio said at a press conference in Kohima on June 15.

He added that people solely depend on government and “fight” for government jobs. That is why the ‘state’s economy is salary-economy’.

Recounting his experiences, Rio said that people often asked him about the state’s resources and its economy, and the sources of the state’s income, to which, he had no answers.

The entrepreneurs in the state are also “not properly” registered, except for roadside vendors, according to the chief minister.

He called upon the people to “take over the jobs” of the migrant workers, who had left the state during lockdown period. He said that over 4000 people had left the state but fortunately, over 13000 returnees have arrived in the state. “Now our migrants have left, left (for us) to take over the job,” Rio said.

The chief minister assured that the government is working on a mechanism to address the issue. He informed that the government is having a discussion with the returnees besides motivating them. “We are going to impart training, motivate them, and train them so that we build up our economy. We cannot depend on others,” Rio added.

A ‘special cell’ has been decided to be set up in the Labour and Employment department to register those who wish to work outside the state.

“Whoever wants to work outside the state, they must go and must earn and send money. But they need village council blessings, and certified by the local administration,” he said.

For those who wish to work outside the state, they must provide the type of jobs they are looking for and the name of the city. They can contact government for any support in case of any epidemic, pandemic or trouble, Rio added.

“Good people are there (citizens working outside) with due respect to them. But many bad elements are going on, bringing bad name to the state,” Rio said, adding that the registering of their details at the department concerned is “very important.”

When asked if the state government is making use of its employees’ services during the pandemic, he said that the deputy commissioners of the districts are “fully authorised” under the Disaster Management Act to requisition any government employee, if needed.

Testing capacity increases to 600

The chief minister said that the testing capacity of suspected Covid-19 samples had increased to 600 as of June 15. Once the bio-safety level-2 laboratory at Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research, in Dimapur becomes operational, “we will double the test”, Rio added.

JLF meeting on delimitation

In a recently held Cabinet meeting, it was decided that the Joint Legislators’ Forum (JLF), comprising all the elected legislators, will have meeting and discuss the issue of delimitation. Till the matter is discussed in the meeting, “we are not passing any resolution. We are taking everybody to do this”, Rio said while giving update on the matter. He added that JLF will come up with ‘whatever resolution that is need to be passed’.