Palam Raju said that the Central Government was concentrating on development of infrastructure in the Northeast region. We want the entire North East to experience the current growth rate of the country, the Union Minister told The Assam Tribune on his arrival at Dimapur Airport from Kohima by an Army chopper before his departure to Delhi after a two-day visit to the State.
Expressing satisfaction that insurgency in the North East including Nagaland has become minimal with active cooperation from the local populace, Raju said that unless there was peace, there cannot be progress or development.
On the security scenario, the Minister said that after the Mumbai incident last year, the government had taken a number of steps including strengthening of Multi Access Centres (MACs), which will function both at the State and national levels, and coastal security.
Raju said the MACs would act as intelligence gathering and information dissemination points between different agencies. Raju urged all sections of the people to foster the spirit of peaceful co-existence as development requires peaceful atmosphere.
Regarding the road condition between Dimapur and Kohima, the Minister said the Border Roads Organization (BRO) had assured him at the meeting held in Kohima that they would provide quality road by March end. Raju also assured he would personally visit the State to oversee theroad condition during his next visit. The Minister also expressed happiness with the progress taking place at the Sainik School, Punglwa in Nagaland. The Minister disclosed the intake of students from the 24 Sainik Schools into the National Defence Academy was increasing and last year the figure was 207.
Raju said that the Centre has also proposed to open a Sainik School in Sikkim besides setting up of special NCC directorate for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Minister, held interactions with Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and Governor Nikhil Kumar at Raj Bhavan during the pre-Christmas celebration.