Governor of Nagaland K Sankaranarayanan is seen here addressing the 3rd session of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Tuesday, March 10. (DIPR)
Kohima | March 11 : Governor K. Sankaranarayanan today asserted that the state government remains firm in its commitment to facilitate a negotiated settlement of the Naga political problem. “My government will continue to act as an active facilitator in the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and Naga “political” groups, so that a lasting and durable settlement acceptable to the Naga people may be arrived at,” the governor said in his address on the first day of the 3rd session of 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly here.
In pursuance of this policy, the governor informed the assembly that the Political Affairs Committee of the DAN had convened the three-day Naga consultative meet at Kohima, which was attended by a number of overseas Nagas, representatives of political parties, hohos, prominent NGOs, churches and the Naga groups. The event was with the objective to exchanging views and suggestions to take forward the Naga political issue towards a peaceful resolution.
In pursuance of this policy, the governor informed the assembly that the Political Affairs Committee of the DAN had convened the three-day Naga consultative meet at Kohima, which was attended by a number of overseas Nagas, representatives of political parties, hohos, prominent NGOs, churches and the Naga groups. The event was with the objective to exchanging views and suggestions to take forward the Naga political issue towards a peaceful resolution.
“My government also stands by our earlier commitment to pave the way for an alternative arrangement that may be necessary in the event of such a permanent settlement,” he said. The governor also thanked Naga civil society and the church for their efforts and contributions to the cause of reconciliation and unity of the Naga family.
Sankaranarayanan appealed to the underground groups to listen to the voice of the people, to stop fratricidal killings and bloodshed, to sink their differences, and move towards reconciliation and unity.
The governor informed that there has been considerable improvement in the law and order situation of the state during the last one year of the government, especially since July last year. “The incidents of inter-factional clashes amongst the underground groups have also significantly reduced, thanks to the efforts of the churches, the NGOs, the civil societies, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, and also thanks to the restraint shown by the underground groups,” he said.
Sankaranarayanan also appreciated the security forces, the state police, state-level strategy groups and the district coordination groups, that they have also put in commendable efforts to maintain peace in the state.
Stating good governance to be the top agenda of the government, the governor said “a government that is transparent and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people will continue to be topmost on our agenda, and e-governance is being increasing introduced as one of the means to achieve this objective.”
Also stating that the district administration and the police represent the face of the government to the common man, the governor said every effort will be made to make the two organs of the government effective and result oriented.
He informed that the government was vigorously implementing the scheme for modernization of the police, with a view to make it more effective by equipping it with more modern weaponry, communication systems, transport facilities and imparting better training.
“My government is also in the process of raising a few special commando companies to enable our police to deal more effectively with the rising level of terrorist violence in the country,” he said.
Sankaranarayanan said the government had also recently framed and notified the Private Security Agencies (Nagaland) Rules, 2008, under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, to enable the setting up of private security agencies to provide security to banks, private firms, institutions and individuals etc who may need such protection.
Highlighting some of the achievements, the policies and programme of the government, he said “With peaceful conditions gradually returning to the state, and with the cooperation and support of the people who have given us a fresh mandate, I am hopeful and confident that we shall be able to translate our dreams and visions into reality, make our people happier and more prosperous, and our state a better place to live in.”
Highlights of Governor’s address
• High-priority to employment and self-employment generation and human resource development
• Actively pursuing proposals for setting up a medical and nursing college in Nagaland
• State Agriculture plans formulated under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme
• Create proper marketing mechanism, including buy-back facilities.
• Emphasis on bringing large areas under agro-fish culture to utilize terrace paddy fields to rear fish
• Veterinary & Animal Husbandry in process of implementing schemes to facilitate large-scale meat production
• Plantation and marketing bamboo being taken up on a large scale
• Undertaking projects to ensure drinking water supply to Kohima town and Peren, Kiphire Longleng and Tuensang districts
• Exploration of oil and gas in the foothill-regions of the state will also be given greater momentum
• Government is in process of setting up diagnostic centers at Mokokchung, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto, Phek and Mon
• Eco-cultural tourism will also be promoted
• Priority will continue to be, to ensure that remote and less-developed areas are given special attention to bring them at par with the rest of the state.
• Further strengthen the department of Women Development
• Expecting that the four-lane of Kohima-Dimapur road and the works on construction of Chiethu Airport will commence shortly
• Proposal to take up construction of foothill-roads connecting Mon district to Dimapur
• Railway line between Kohima and Dimapur expected to take off soon and
• City Development Plan of all district HQs will also be given due priority.
Kohima, March 10 (MExN): The 3rd session of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly commenced here this morning with the Governor’s Address by Nagaland Governor K. Sankaranarayanan. The motion of thanks on the Governor’s Address was moved by MLA Shetoyi and endorsed by MLA CL. John. NLA Speaker Kiyaneilie Peseyie said the debate and adoption on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address will take place on March 12.
Obituary references were made by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the Leader of Opposition Chingwang Konyak on the demise of R Venkataraman, former President of India and VP Singh, former Prime Minister of India. The House observed a 2-minute silence. March 11 is recess for the session. The session will resume on the 12th.
The provisional assembly business for March 12 shall be a questions’ session, tabling reports, papers; debate and adoption on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address; presentation of supplementary Demand for Grants for regularization of excess expenditure for fiscal 1996-97, supplementary Demand for Grants for fiscal 2008-09 and vote-on-account for fiscal 2009-2010.
Global Climate: State’s drive is well
Kohima, March 10 (MExN): Governor K Sankaranarayanan today said Nagaland’s contribution to the campaign against global warming and climate change “is quite significant, as we are maintaining the existing forest cover at 82.75 per cent of our geographical area.”
In his address at the 3rd session of the 11 NLA here today, the governor said being a part of the global community, “every one of us has responsibilities to contribute something towards this noble effort.” As a symbolic gesture to show solidarity with global campaign for “Vote Earth”, Sankaranarayanan appealed to the people of Nagaland state to participate in observing “Earth Hour 2009” by switching off all lights between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM on March 28.
The governor also said that the revival of the Paper Mill at Tuli is finally taking shape. The original approved cost at Rs. 553 crore is being revised upwards to Rs. 1241 crore to enhance the capacity of the mill to 90,000 MT per year, he informed. Sankaranarayanan said the project is expected to give a huge impetus to the economic activities in Nagaland, in the shape of thousands of direct and indirect employment both in the mill and in downstream and feeder industries, including bamboo cultivation.