Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com
Vol XXXII No. 243
DIMAPUR, MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00
CWG: Boxers Nikhat, Panghal, Nitu grab gold SPORTS, PAGE 12
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NITI meet: PM urges states to focus on 3Ts
NEW DELHI, AUG 7 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a strong case for modernising agriculture, animal husbandry and food processing to help the country become selfsufficient and a global leader in the agriculture sector. Modi also asked the states to focus on promoting 3Ts -- Trade, Tourism, Technology -- with a view to reducing imports and increasing exports, said an official release after the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog. “We should encourage people to use local goods wherever possible,” he said, adding, ‘Vocal for local’ is not the agenda of an individual political party but a common goal. India, he said, needs to “focus on modernized agriculture, animal husbandry, and food processing to become self-sufficient and a global leader in the agri-
NFHRCC reminds PWD (R&B) to release bills D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): As per a resolution taken during its joint meeting held at Kohima on June 22, 2022, Nagaland Foothill Road Co-ordination Committee (NFHRCC) has reminded PWD (R&B) to release running bills based on performance to contractors to complete their work on time as in some sectors 90% of the allocated work had been completed. This was resolved at a committee’s meeting held here on Saturday. Further, the meeting also requested PWD (R&B) for a joint inspection of Baghty division at the earliest in consonance with the June 22, 2022 meeting resolution. NFHRCC further resolved to convene a joint meeting with all primary stakeholders along the Foothills Road stretch from Tizit to Niuland – village councils, local area CSOs, Stone Gravel & Boulder Contractors’ Union, log contractors and Saw Mills Owners’ Union, coal mining contractors, transporter unions and respective tribal hohos – at Dimapur on August 19, 2022. The meeting also decided to have an interactive meeting with PWD (R&B) adviser at the earliest. This was stated in a press release by NFHRCC convener Supu Jamir, general secretary W Lemba Chang, co-convener Hokiye Yepthomi and assistant general secretary Chenithung Humtsoe.
This is it!
“Solution Not Election. The slogan is fine but how to achieve what could not be achieved since 1998?” K Y M C
Prime Minister Modi and other ministers and CMs at the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog. (PTI)
culture sector.” He further said that rapid urbanization can become India’s strength instead of weakness by leveraging technology to ensure ease of living, transparent service delivery, and improvement in the quality of life for every citizen. Modi also appreciated the collective efforts of all the states in the spirit of cooperative federalism in the fight against the Covid pandemic. “Every state played a crucial role according to its strength and contributed to India’s fight against Covid.
This led to India emerging as an example for the developing nations to look up to as a global leader,” he said. “For the first time in India’s 75 years of independence, all of India’s Chief Secretaries met together in one place and deliberated on issues of national importance for three days. This collective process led to the development of the agenda for this meeting.” He underlined the need for collective action to increase the collection of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) saying that though
the realisation has improved, “the potential is much more... and it is crucial for strengthening our economic position and becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.” He said that the seventh meeting was a culmination of months of rigorous brainstorming and consultations between the Centre and States to identify national priorities. In his concluding remarks, Modi said the NITI Aayog will study the states’ concerns, challenges, and best practices and subsequently plan the way forward. The
meeting was attended by 23 chief ministers, 3 Lieutenant Governors and 2 Administrators and Union Ministers and moderated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Telangana chief minister K C Rao boycotted the meeting, while Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar could not attend the meeting as he was recovering from Covid-19. The Governing Council discussed four key agenda items-- crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds and other agri-commodities; implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) in school education; implementation of NEP in higher education; and urban governance. N I T I A ayo g v i c e chairman Suman Bery said that combined efforts of the Centre and States were needed to realize the vision of a resurgent India post the pandemic.
Rio highlights issues concerning Nagaland at NITI meet
Neiphiu Rio
D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Sunday highlighted several issues concerning Nagaland at the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog at New Delhi, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the meeting, Rio said the State gov-
ernment, with support from the Centre, had been consistently focusing on changing the agriculture practices while retaining their traditional organic nature. This, he claimed had yielded good results in terms of production of food grains that jumped from 62,000 MT in 1963-64 to 7,38,260 MT presently. Rio stated that jhum cultivation was ecologically sustainable, efficiently used available natural resources and adapted diverse cropping patterns based on villagers’ specific needs. With increasing pressure of population, he admitted that the traditional practices were disrupted and became less
ecologically sustainable. As rightly recognised by the Central government, he said focus on crop diversification was essential for India and was a fundamental requirement in hill States like Nagaland for safeguarding its agro-biodiversity/ ecologically sustainable farming as well as doubling farmers’ income. He assured that this continued to be the State government’s focus, adding a number of indigenous varieties such as ginger, kolar and potato had been identified to add to the national production basket. Among other issues highlighted at the meeting, Rio further mentioned that
NDPP has betrayed strong regional spirit of Naga people, says RPP D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Rising People’s Party (RPP) has accused Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) of betraying the strong regional spirit of Naga people, the same people who had elected Neiphiu Rio as the chief minister on four consecutive occasions. In a statement, RPP president Joel Naga and vice-president Vitho Zao said the current chief minister had championed himself since 2003 as a regional strongman who managed to keep Delhi at bay. Keeping aside the allegations of cor-
ruption and personal enrichment, they mentioned that credit should be given to him for keeping the Naga identity flag flying high and for which RPP acknowledged his leadership. But today, they feared that “fortress” Nagaland was in danger, thanks to the merger pact. In this regard, RPP has appealed to the rank and file of NDPP to leave the party following media reports that the latter could merge with BJP post 2023 State Assembly election. Quoting a July 23 Delhi-based report that “In 2023, after election, NDPP
may merge with the BJP”, provided the alliance managed to come to power, RPP pointed out that NDPP had not refuted the news. If this information was correct, they said chief minister Neiphiu Rio, 41 NDPP MLAs and all rank and file of NDPP were now basically karyakartas of BJP. From championing regionalism/Naga identity to embracing a national party was called opportunistic politics, and when the party was none other than NDPP, it was nothing less than plain treachery, they added. (Cont’d on p-8)
the State government’s interventions in the recent past had been instrumental in local farmers diversifying into agro-forestry and plantation crops like rubber, tea and coffee. He said Nagaland Coffee had also found good market abroad. ULBs: Further, Rio said that the state government has taken numerous measures to enhance revenue sources of the Urban Local Bodies. These include rationalising levying of user charges for various services provided, revenue generation through projects such as shopping complexes, multilevel parking, multi-purpose halls, etc.
Israeli airstrike kills 2nd top Jihad commander INTERNATIONAL, PAGE 9
Nagaland Post impact: Authorities repair roads in Dimapur city Staff Reporter
D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Reports on deteriorating roads in Dimapur city highlighted in Nagaland Post made impact as repairs have already begun as witnessed by this Reporter. Roads in Dimapur were not being maintained and potholes became bigger by the month as water logging posed serious threat. The state government took a swift call to respond to the matter where repairs of most of the roads were listed and identified for immediate repair etc. The pathetic road condition in Bata Chariali fly over towards Railway Station has been repaired while the road leading to Hong Kong market area, was also repaired. The pot holes in City Tower area were repaired while the water-logged area along GS Road was also being filled up with sand and gravel. The recently repaired road at old MST that was undergoing rapid deterioration was also being repaired and potholes filled up with gravel. One of the residents around Clock Tower on Sun-
D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has extended solidarity and support to the August 5 public rally in demand for settlement, noting that people had defied money and power. In a press release, NPCC president K Therie assured, “Each step you have travelled and every minute you have stood in the heat to express solidarity to the demand for settlement of the agreements will not be buried alive.” (Cont’d on p-8)
tion was Rs 11,702 lakh as per November 16, 2020 NHM Office Memorandum. NACF asserted that they had the right to know where was the 200-bed hospital at Niuland and why its construction had still not started. They warned that they would protest if the matter was not clarified within a week’s time, adding that should not be held responsible if case of any unwanted situated arising out of the issue. According to the duo, the project was sanctioned under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJKV) in 2020 with a funding ratio
of 90:10 with the Centre funding 90% of the project and State government providing 10% of the fund. Accordingly, the forum claimed that the first instalment had already been released. However, they expressed shock that even though construction work was yet to begin, the bill had been released. They said citizens of Niuland was beginning to suspect and wonder whether the project was being converted to a ghost one, “another suitcase companies managed by shell company created by the department concerned.”
They pointed out that Niuland district that was created recently had a huge populace and required many facilities for development, most importantly a good hospital with a proper facilities, stating that this was the top priority for the people at this juncture. NACF regretted that the project was nowhere to be found, which was a matter of serious concern for the citizens of Niuland and surrounding areas. Keeping in mind some of the major schemes and projects that were supposed to be implemented in Niuland back then and di-
the state government, most of those who this Reporter talked with however felt that years of neglect by the department concerned was unmistakable. (Cont’d on p-8)
kumer, said it had received numerous reports about various elements, both underground and overground, trying to extort money from the business community in various forms taking advantage of the peaceful environment in Mokokchung. Cautioning such elements to cease and desist from such activities, MCCI has asked the business com-
munity not to entertain any such unwanted elements and to report to the MCCI office of movements of any suspected elements in the market immediately. Any member of the business community entertaining such unwanted elements by ignoring the call of MCCI office shall be doing so at their own risk, it stated.
PTPF dismayed at lackadaisical attitude of govt D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Phek Town Public Forum (PTPF) has expressed dismay at the growing lackadaisical attitude of the State government departments/machineries to the plight of people who were left with no option but to resort to submission of ultimatums and agitations for fulfilment of their basic needs. In a statement, forum’s president Khosapa Venuh termed this as a worrisome trend that was becoming more like an SOP of the government, which he feared could degenerate the society and invite anarchy. He clarified that the
NACF demands clarification on status of 200-bedded hospital D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Niuland Area Citizens Forum (NACF) has set a one-week deadline seeking clarification from the Minority Affairs cell under Planning & Co-ordination department as to why work had not started on the 200-bed health centre/ sub-district hospital project at Niuland funded by Union Minority Affairs and Finance ministries in 2020. NACF president Kakishe Shikhu and press secretary Saul Sema in a statement claimed that the total project cost as per the Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department recommenda-
day noon, expressed appreciation to Nagaland Post for highlighting the deteriorating road on public domain. Though appreciative of the reports in Nagaland Post and the response from
MCCI reaffirms against taxation, collection
D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) has once again reaffirmed its stand against entertaining any kind of “collection of donations, taxation or any form of transaction” that is not permissible by law, where the members are victimized. In a press note, MCCI (Cont’d on p-8) president Tsukti Long-
NPAC rally: NPCC extends solidarity to demand for solution
(From top) GS road area filled up with sand and gravel and Bata Chariali fly over road towards Railway Station repaired. (NP)
verted to other districts, the forum however expressed faith in the State government, hoping that it would bring something good for the people of the district. NACF said that the forum would not remain silent again to denial of the basic needs as had happened in the recent past. They said they would continue to pursue the matter until the 200-bed hospital project was implemented. The forum also warned of protest if the matter was not clarified within one week, adding that it would not be held responsible for any unwanted situation.
forum did not advocate use of force or violence in any form as a means to resolve any situation. He however lamented that repeated appeals and letters submitted by Phek Town Youth Society and Phek Town Chakhesang Students’ Union to the Department of School Education (DoSE) to improve and redress the pathetic condition of the department and teaching staff at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Phek went unheard by the competent authorities. Venuh claimed that this had led Phek Town Youth Society to serving an ultimatum to DoSE with a list
of demands and threatening to shut down the school as a last resort of agitation. He also announced PTPF and frontal organisations’ full support to the two student and youth bodies in the effort to ensure quality education to students and the future generation. He also referred to an article published in a local daily on October 16, 2020 where the School Education adviser KT Sukhalu had stated that there was an excess of 11,000 teachers in the State and then on November 25, 2021 where the chief minister had stated that there was an excess of (Cont’d on p-8)
Gov, CM, DyCM extend greetings D I M A P U R , AU G 7 (NPN): Nagaland Governor, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, chief minister Neiphiu Rio and deputy CM Y. Patton have extended greetings on the occasion of Metemneo and Biam festivals. Prof. Mukhi greeted the Khiamniungan community and the people of the State on the occasion of Biam festival. On the occasion, he said Khiamniungans emphasize on the importance of food grain storage and consider empty granary a taboo. Traditional rituals performed during the festival reflects the harmonious coexistence of the commu-
nity with the environment, he added and urged all, especially the youths to imbibe and carry forward the cultural values of the festival. Further, governor also extended Metemneo festival greetings to the people of Nagaland, particularly Yimkhiung community. Besides, seek blessings for a bountiful crop- millet in particular, Prof Mukhi said people pray for the deceased souls and also for a good harvest. Traditional rituals of this festival reveals the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene, he added. (Cont’d on p-8) K Y M C