Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has emphasised on development of infrastructure in the state, with an urgent need of medical and engineering Colleges in the state.
Addressing a press conference after having a detailed talks with the members of the 14th Finance Commission (FFC) on Saturday Rio said he has requested the FFC members to grant a Special Package for Nagaland so that infrastructural development can take place.
He said he has informed the FFC that road conditions of the state is very bad due to soil conditions in this terrain state and the state government wanted urgently develop the roads, as without road there will be no development without good road communication.
On the funding pattern as agreed under the 16-point agreement under which Nagaland was granted statehood, he informed the FFC that the funding pattern to the state was unilaterally changed and the state was transferred from External Affairs Ministry to Union Home Ministry by the Union Centre in 1989, without consulting with the state Government, which has brought the state to a less developed state due to constraint of funds.
He said his government is ready to talk with the centre on revival of funding pattern and he will write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Ministries concerned.
He said the FFC was also informed that Nagaland is a known insurgency prone state, for which the state Government is trying utmost for employment. The education system also developed as per capacity of funds of the Government with its meager resources.
The State Government has also conducted Capacity Building training in various fields to help the youth in entrepreneurship and business and other self-help jobs for the unemployed youths.
He also mentioned that Nagaland has raised seven Battalion of Indian Reserve Police, which accommodated at least 7,000 jobs.
His government also created three new districts of Peren, Longleng and Kiphire and also 22 Rural Development Blocks to bring the administration to close to the people.
The government also submitted a memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission (FFC), highlighting the state’s needs for special dispensation, assessment of revenue receipts and revenue expenditure, basic approach towards devolution of funds and maintenance of capital assets like roads and bridges and buildings.
The memorandum, copy of which made available to media also gave a historical, socio-economic background to the state along with position of the state in key areas, special category status of the state. The pact, submitted on Saturday to the commission mentioned about the local bodies, calamity relief, subsidy, views of Nagaland on goods and services tax, status of 13th Finance Commission (TFC) and finally up-gradation and specific needs.
The memorandum outlined the maintenance of capital asset, stressing on the severe resources constrains faced by the state and how it adversely affected the buildings, road and bridges, water supply and power infrastructure.
It also elaborated on the views of the State Government on Goods and Service Tax (GST) and suggested that there was a need for creation of GST compensation fund.
On the TFC grants, the state government has urged that the guidelines and criteria for the recommended grants may by simplified to make the grants more accessible by the state. The state government has submitted a note of proposals to the FCC for upgrade and specific needs and a total of 25 projects proposals at an estimated cost of Rs 1394.97 crore has been submitted for consideration of the commission. (UNI)