Mokokchung, March 16 (MTNews): Although the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) has demanded for a separate Frontier Nagaland state, the Centre is likely to offer Autonomous Council or “direct financial package from Delhi and not through Kohima,” said two RTI activists but they added that “direct funding route to ENPO areas from Centre alone will not be enough.”
Citing RTI replies from Development of Under Developed Area (DUDA), the RTI activists Odi Jamir and ST Yapang Longkumer pointed out that despite the funds being meant for Under Developed Area/ Backward areas, “most implementing Agencies/organizations are not from ENPO/Under Developed Area.”
Therefore, the activists believe that the ENPO needs to resolve “a firm law” that the fund for development of the ENPO Area should be utilized for the benefit of ENPO people and the Implementing agency/organization should be from the ENPO Area.
“ENPO needs to make firm laws that whoever collaborates with others for utilization of funds, other than ENPO people should be excommunicated from ENPO,” the activists even suggested, adding that the ENPO area will not progress and develop unless such a stern law is made.
“In our present undivided Nagaland state, we observe it’s high time that ENPO need to demand and resolve firm laws that funding for ENPO areas under DUDA must be utilized for the welfare of the ENPO people,” the activists added.
On Solar lights installation
The activists also pointed out that the installation of solar lights has more or less benefitted the businessman/shopkeepers at the cost of poor people.
According to the RTI reply from Directorate of Under Developed Area, the department spent a total of Rs. 627.64 lakhs during the financial year 2015-16 to 2018-19 for distribution and installation of solar lights in Backward Area.
However, according to them, “it was more or less like a plan, to benefit the businessman/shopkeepers at the cost of poor people,” because, according to them, “at the same time, the New & Renewable Energy Department provided solar light at a subsidized rate of around Rs.6800 in the 1st phase and Rs.9300 in the second phase which included transportation and installation cost.”
As per the DUDA Department procurement receipt, one solar light cost around Rs 1,011,800 including its transportation and installation cost, they also said.
“These solar lights are procured from a shop at Dimapur,” the activists claimed and concluded that for “matching of development fund for ENPO/Under Developed Area and developmental activities in the area, people need to voice out and resolve a firm wise decision at this juncture.”