Nagaland MPs gear up for Modi visit
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Dimapur, November 28 2014 :
Lok Sabha MP Neiphiu Rio and Rajya Sabha MP Khekiho Zhimomi have put up proposals to the Prime Minister on various fronts.
The two Parliamentarians from Nagaland also expressed their confidence that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the State will be historic and will begin a new era for peace and development in the State.
The two MPs then conveyed greetings and wishes to the Prime Minister that the people of the State are keenly awaiting for his visit to their State.
Neiphiu Rio and Khekiho Zhimomi in their joint message have said, "You are aware that Nagaland is the 16th State of the Indian Union and had celebrated its 50th year of Statehood in 2013.Despite five decades of statehood, Nagaland is a backward state with poor infrastructure and lack of facilities on several fronts and the State does not have any national or regional project worth the name.
It is in this background that the people are looking forward to announcement of a Prime Minister's package during your visit." The Parliamentarians then put up some proposals for the inclusion in the Prime Minister's package in support of the State Government's requests.
The first proposal has been to set up a medical college in Kohima.
Both the MPs in the representation to the Prime Minister said that till date, Nagaland does not have a medical college and therefore the health facilities in the State have been poor.
"We propose that the Centre take up this project as a fully funded national project," the missive added.
The MPs also proposed the Prime Minister to have a Hindi Language Institute in Nagaland.
"The State needs quality Hindi language teachers as the population, especially in the hilly belts are still not comfortable with Hindi.
In this regard, the Government of India may consider establishment of a high quality Hindi Language Institute in Nagaland," they stated.
Rio and Zhimomi then proposed to have a Youth Employment Package.
In the missive both the MPs said, "You are aware that during the visit of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then PM had announced a youth employment package which made the State Government launch the Year of Youth Empowerment.
You may kindly consider a youth employment package in order to overcome the unemployment challenges of the State and also to tap into the talents and capabilities of the youth of Nagaland" .
Regarding the connectivity Rio and Zhimomi said Nagaland is struggling with connectivity facilities especially in broadband services.
"As you will understand, this has hampered all sections of society, especially good governance, entrepreneurship and enterprise, press and media, education, creativity and the services section particularly tourism.
The Centre must take steps to improve internet connectivity, make broadband services available to the grass roots," the MPs added.
Another proposal of the MPs to the Prime Minister is to set up a university/institute of skill development & capacity building in the state.
Rio and Zhimomi pointed out that Nagaland still does not have a single national or regional educational or capacity building centre.
A university of skill development and capacity building along with a section for the services sector, where the youth have been performing well will go a long way in creating opportunities and new vistas for the youth, both the MPs stated.
On the foothill road Neiphiu Rio and Khekiho reminded that there is a proposal of the State Government that plans to connect Nagaland with a four lane road that runs from the south of the State to the northern corner.