Minister of State for Coal and Mines Satish Chandra Dubey on Saturday reviewed the implementation of central government schemes in Nagaland’s Kohima district as part of the fortnightly visits by Union ministers to the Northeast.
Dubey arrived in Kohima in the afternoon and visited Rusoma village, located about 12 kilometres from the state capital, where he inspected ongoing development works. The inspection covered the village council hall, circular road, health facilities, schools, the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, a health and wellness centre, and an orange orchard.
Later, speaking at a programme held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall in Kohima, Dubey said the objective of the visit was to assess the on-ground impact of government schemes and to examine whether public funds were being effectively utilised. The programme was attended by district heads of offices, tribal leaders, and representatives of civil society organisations.
The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been ensuring focused attention on the Northeast, a region that was earlier perceived as neglected. He emphasised that development at the district and state levels is essential for the overall growth of the region.
Dubey noted that district-level visits by Union ministers are intended to identify gaps in implementation, areas where benefits may not have fully reached the people, and aspects that require improvement. He assured that issues and concerns raised during the visit would be conveyed to the concerned central departments and expressed confidence that corrective steps would lead to positive outcomes.
The minister said he was impressed by Nagaland’s culture and its values of honesty and simplicity. He also highlighted the strong sense of social discipline in the state, reflected in the comparatively low requirement for heavy policing.
Dubey further lauded the practice of producing food grains with minimal use of chemicals, describing the region as “truly blessed.” He observed visible progress in infrastructure development, including roads, highways, and expanding railway connectivity, which he said is gradually integrating the Northeast more closely with the rest of the country.
Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, B. Henok Buchem, NCS, in his welcome address, informed that the Minister had earlier visited Rusoma village, where he interacted with villagers and shared valuable inputs, particularly on orange cultivation. He stated that the guidance provided by the Minister would benefit the village as well as the district in the long run.
This was followed by a brief overview of Kohima district, presentations on departmental activities, and interaction with district officers.
The programme also included interaction with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), during which various issues and suggestions were discussed.
On Sunday, the minister is scheduled to visit the Kohima War Cemetery, Kohima Ridge Eco Park, and the Kohima Smart City multi-level parking facility at PR Hill before departing in the afternoon. (With PTI/DIPR inputs)
