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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 1 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday held a meeting with the Public Health Engineering and School Education departments and Jotsoma village representatives regarding the grievances of Jotsoma village related to non-fulfilment of the 1976 agreement and the understanding reached at several previous occasions.
The Jotsoma Youth Organisation (JYO) in a recent press statement had threatened to cut off the water supply from Dzüna and Kelorü to Kohima town for the failure of state government to fulfil its long pending commitment.
During the meeting, the representatives from Jotsoma raised the issue to the government that 18 people should be given employment as per the agreement and 13 persons currently employed from the village should not be counted against the agreement.
According to the meeting minutes issued by J Alam, the villagers had asked that the school should be renovated /expanded by providing infrastructure while a full sized play ground should be constructed with supply of treated water.
After detailed deliberations, it was decided that government would move for “post creation of 12 grade-4 posts and provide 12 regular jobs to the village. Also, a revenue sharing arrangement with the department would be worked out, with respect to water tax. Or if desired by the village, as per the old agreement, 18 posts of work-charged employees would be provided.”
It stated that since the two schools, GHS and GHSS, had already been upgraded and the W/O for GHS Jotsoma had already been issued, the hostel would be constructed in the works programme of 2020-21.
Regarding the construction of a playground in the village, the chief minister informed the village authorities to earmark a suitable location and execute the project by the villagers themselves.
“He further added that government would provide an amount of one crore for the project, even before formalities are finalised, out of which INR 25 lakh would be provided immediately, so that work could begin at the earliest,” read the meeting minutes.
Accordingly, the PHE department was directed to provide treated water supply to the village and ensure quality control in the construction of works.
Meanwhile, the chief minister suggested that a fresh agreement could be formulated reflecting the “changed contemporary, environment” as it has been over 45 years since the agreement was signed while the “offer of the government” maybe deliberated at the village level and the government informed as and when a decision is arrived at.