Nagaland Governor P.B Acharya asserted that with a strong government at the centre which has the will and guts to solve the Naga problem, it was high time that Nagaland came out of the Naga political problem and appealed to all groups, intellectuals, NGOs including the elected government to speak out on what kind of solution they wanted.
Stating this at a press meet in the Raj Bhavan here Saturday, the Governor further pointed out that the constitutionally elected government represented the voice of the people and all elected members, the two MPs regardless of political affiliations including the thinking within those involved in the movement to spell out what they want within the constitution that was a “respectable solution” and not just a solution.
Highlighting his visit to the USA in mid-October, the Governor said he found overseas Nagas doing well in all fields and that they were praying for peace and development in Nagaland.
On the huge budget deficit of the state, Acharya expressed the hope that the prime minister would announce a big package during his visit in December 1.
He lamented that the state assembly had not passed the Lokayukta which was vibrant for democracy in Nagaland and where along with the RTI, would help strengthen constitutional democracy to counter wrong doings. The Governor urged upon the state government to act immediately to form the Lokayukta and also appoint information officers since bodies that were constitutional should not be excluded from the government role. He also insisted on rectification of the constitution 121 Amendment bill.
Appealing to the state government on women reservation, he said though the issue was still under litigation in the Supreme Court, Naga women should also be given the opportunity as women in other states , to be represented in zila parishads and local bodies.
Acharya suggested that there should be a dialogue between industries, trade and education since the current curriculum was limited to the subjects that were not in tune with industries and trade requirement.
He said universities, need to open up their minds and do their research to make them more applicable to society and that continuous dialogue took place for industries and trade. Lamenting that much of research was not applicable to day to day life, Acharya said knowledge-wise university research was wonderful but application-wise the net result was not what society needed.
The Governor also disclosed, that to encourage visitors to see the rich cultural of Nagaland and to rid off misgivings about insurgency,150 of his personal guests and tourists from Karnataka, Mumbai and Maharashtra, will be attending the Hornbill festival. He appealed to people to shower their hospitality and magnanimity to visitors to the state.
He also disclosed that members of the Maharastra Chamber of Commerce (MCC) will be arriving to Kohima for the first time for an executive meeting, where Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Dimapur Chamber of Commerce host the event on December 3 or 4.
He requested the state ministers to attend the event as it would be a great event which, he said would promote “a national integration” . The Governor said that in future, more organizations and universities will come to Nagaland to interact with our people.
The Governor also appealed to the two MPs from Nagaland, who are getting annually Rs.5 cr each under PM’s Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, to spend the money for construction of toilets across the state.
He also urged the state’s MPs to adopt one village in ENPO areas under PM’s Gram Yojana, and give full attention so that it would send a message that “we care for them”.
Acharya said not much changes have taken place in ENPO areas in the field of education, health or road sectors in comparison with other districts and so such demands needed attention.
On the prime minister’s scheduled visit to Nagaland, the Governor said schedules kept changing but that as per the latest update, Modi will fly from Imphal to Dimapur on November 30 evening and halt for the night. He said the PM will then travel to Kohima the next day where he is to inaugurate the Hornbill festival on December 1 and depart on the same day.
Acharya condemned incidents of assault on people from north east in Delhi and Bangalore saying “something has to be done”.
In this regard, the Governor informed that he would be writing to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to take strong action and suggested the idea of floating “fellowship link families” for a single person who required guardians.
Acharya said there were 20,000 to 25,000 north east people in Delhi, out of which 60% were students and rest employed in various sectors. He said those people from north east with families in Delhi will be attached with local people (having national outlook) to act as guardians to those living alone, especially women so as to instil confidence against the sense of insecurity.
He said north easterners are an asset who add to the wealth of the country and therefore, they should not be disturbed and likewise the non-locals residing and serving the Nagas in Nagaland should also not be disturbed.
~NagalandPost
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