Kohima Dec 01 (UNI) Nagaland on Tuesday celebrated its 58th Statehood Day at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, where Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio extended his warmest greetings to the people of the state.
Speaking on the occasion Rio called upon the people to remember with gratitude the leaders, who by their sacrifices, foresightedness and determination ensured the creation of Nagaland with a special Constitutional provision as the 16th State of the Union of India. He said that the state government convened a consultative meeting on October 15, 2020, with all the representatives of all the Tribal Hohos, Civil Society Organizations, political parties, ex parliamentarians and various public leaders on the Naga Political Issue.
A seven-point resolution was adopted unanimously and it acknowledged the sacrifices and contributions of the nationalist workers in the course of the Naga political journey and urged the Naga political groups to honour and respect the Covenant of Reconciliation and maintain the sanctity of non-violence in letter and spirit for a Shared Naga Future as members of One Naga Family.
On preparations for combating the pandemic, Rio said that the State government took every possible step to further develop and improve our entire health infrastructure. He said that the State Government managed to go from a State with Nil testing capacity to 2,600-3,000 testing capacity per day. The number of ventilators in the State has been increased from 14 to 145 and 110 departmental ambulances.
There also has been an increase in the strength of the healthcare workers through recruitment of 109 medical doctors, 5 dental surgeons, 129 nurses, 6 research scientists, 6 laboratory technicians for BSL Laboratories, 10 OT technicians and 13 ECG technicians, and the appointment of 21 AYUSH doctors and 129 nurses is nearing completion.
Further, a new Cath Lab has been installed in CIHSR Dimapur and a new Medical College is also being established on Mon, he added.
On the Agriculture sector, he said that the department has distributed selected Kharif and Rabi seeds on the basis of local needs well ahead of time to ensure that the farmers do not suffer due to Covid restrictions.
Also, the department has initiated an action plan to take up the Naga model of Integrated Settled Farming on a pilot basis during the current year. This model is being initiated to attain self-sufficiency and sustain the traditional system of Jhum cultivation.
To give a further boost to the economy and to create employment opportunities, special programmes under NEC funding are being launched for Agriculture and allied sectors. The Department of Horticulture has initiated two units of nurseries, one for orange in Kohima and another for kiwi and persimmon in Pfutsero. The recent observation made by the Union Agriculture Minister, that Nagaland should be made 'Kiwi State of India' is proof to the fact that the state has been recognised as a Kiwi producing hub, he added.
The event began with the Review of Parade by DGP Nagaland John Longkumer. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio undertook the General Salute and delivered the Statehood day speech.
UNI AS RHK1952