13 Oct : A district level Training of Trainers (TOTs) under Backward Region Grand Fund (BRGF) of SIRD and NIRD off-campus training of NREGS got underway on 13th October 2008 at SIRD Complex, Kohima. Minister for Planning & Co-ordination and Veterinary & Animal Husbandry, T.R. Zeliang graced the inaugural programme as the chief guest.
In his address, the chief guest T.R. Zeliang, while lauding the Central Government for implementing various schemes for uplift of the people also called on the programme implementing agencies for proper guidelines and the need to differentiate the project and schemes both at the plain and hill sector. The hilly terrain and geographical location of the hill sectors should be taken into account while taking their economic development activities, he said. Pointing to the large-scale immigration of the rural people to the urban areas and towns, he also said that schemes and projects implementation on population wise may not give the real picture of facts and realities. He cautioned both the people and officials at the lower level on giving wrong information, which can easily mislead the state in the long run. He cited the example of PMGSY Scheme where many villages without road connectivity are stated to be connected in paper and record only. Therefore he called on the people and concerned officials to give a correct profile and give reports basing on facts and ground reality
The Minister also called on the Department of Rural Development to work in co-ordination with the Land Records & Survey department that proper document, record, facts and figure profiles can be ascertained to bring more development to the economically disadvantaged areas. Let us be truthful, state facts so that corrective measures can be taken for our economic advancement and development, he stated.
Guest of Honour on the occasion, Parliamentary Secretary for RD and REPA, S. Pangnyu Phom expressed his appreciation to the SIRD institute for conducting a good number of training programmes covering all the districts in Nagaland in spite of having limited manpower. He said that the state of Nagaland comprises of more than 70 % of its population living below poverty line and villages not having access to road connectivity, no drinking water supply, electricity and proper health care facilities. Therefore, he urged the government officers to play an important role to guide the policy making bodies for framing of policy programmes based on ground reality and also work out the strategy of action plan. The training and capacity building is on of the effective measure for any development programme to take place in the right direction as incepted for. While adding that the Backward Regions Grand Fund, which was introduced in 2006-07 covers Tuensang, Mon and Wokha districts, the state government has decided to accommodate two new districts of Kiphiri and Longleng likewise. On the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) starting on 1st April 2008 it has been implemented in all the 11 districts of Nagaland, he said.
Pangnyu Phom called on the officers both in the district and block level to avail the best use of the training so as to impart the basic necessary training to villagers at grass root level and at the same time to ensure transparency and accountability on implementation of schemes and projects for the people’s benefit.
A brief course outline was presented by Dr. W. Phola Konyak, Sr. Lecturer and Dr. Suresh Babu, NIRD, Hyderabad. The progamme was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary, Rural Development, V. Sakhrie while welcome address was delivered by Director, SIRD, Limasenla J. Longchar and vote of thanks was delivered by Jt. Director, SIRD, Velu-o Shijo. MLA and Chairman, NKVI. Nicky Kire, three resource persons led by Dr. Suresh Babu from NIRD, Hyderabad, RD Department officials from all districts and block levels attended the programme.