ULB election preparations discussed at Kohima DPDB meet

DIMAPUR — The monthly Kohima District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) meeting was held on Wednesday at the DPDB Hall in Kohima, chaired by Deputy Commissioner and DPDB Vice Chairman, Kumar Ramnikant.

According to a DIPR report, speaking on the occasion, the DC expressed gratitude to all members for their cooperation during the Lok Sabha elections and urged continued support for the upcoming counting day and urban local body (ULB) elections.

He reminded attendees that the model code of conduct (MCC) remains in effect until the completion of ULB elections, emphasising efforts to ensure peaceful, impartial, free, and fair elections.

During the programme, Khushi Gupta was felicitated for achieving the highest marks among government high schools in both Kohima district and the state in the recently declared HSLC results, securing 93%. She received a cash prize and a certificate.

Expressing her gratitude, Khushi thanked her teachers, family, and particularly her mother for their guidance and motivation.

T. Lanusenla Longkumer, Administrator and Returning Officer of Kohima Municipal Council, informed the board about the preparations for the ULB elections, which will involve 107 polling stations across 19 wards and over 50,000 voters.

She highlighted that ballot boxes will be used instead of EVMs and anticipated potentially intensive situations in some areas. Longkumer noted that the state election commission would provide further directives and emphasised the importance of training and awareness on ballot box voting.

Village adoption committees (VACs) were recognised during the programme for their performance, with 10 Northern Angami-I awarded the best-performing VAC and 11 Northern Angami-II securing second place out of six VACs in Kohima.

ADC Kohima, Rhosietho Nguori, suggested increasing the VAC budget and prize money, along with adopting innovative approaches to develop wards and villages.

EAC Kohima, Dr. Riku Khutso, convenor of the winning VAC, credited cooperation and respect among members for their success, highlighting the support from Advisor Kekhrie Yhome, members, and P Khel of Kohima village.

Also, the executive engineer of Public Health Engineering, Rural Division, delivered a PowerPoint presentation on departmental activities, focusing on criteria for the Jal Jeevan Mission programme, geotagging of assets and works, functional household tap connections, and the declaration of Har Ghar Jal in Kohima.