Mokokchung witnessed a rare visit from a Union Minister of State (MoS) as Bandi Sanjay Kumar of the Ministry of Home Affairs interacted with local leaders and stakeholders on November 19, 2024. During the session at the DC Conference Hall, Kumar listened to the people’s challenges, suggestions, and feedback, marking what many considered a “red letter day” for the district.
The moment was significant because, as Ao Senden President Marsanen aptly said, “It is not very often that we are honored by the presence of a Union Minister of State.” This was the second MoS visit to Mokokchung in 2024, following Faggan Singh Kulaste’s visit in February. Before that, the district was last visited by Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Kiren Rijiju in 2019.
While the original agenda was to review centrally sponsored schemes, the Minister’s team noted that reviews were completed in Kohima. Instead, the focus shifted to listening to Mokokchung’s specific issues.
Key Issues Raised by Stakeholders:
Ao Senden
Called for halting the fencing of the Indo-Naga Myanmar border and retaining the Free Movement Regime.
Urged resolution of the Naga Political Issue based on the Framework Agreement and Agreed Position.
Demanded the removal of AFSPA from Mokokchung due to its peaceful environment.
Highlighted Assam’s encroachment on Nagaland’s borders and sought Central intervention.
(Read Ao Senden memorandum submittted to the Union Minister of State here)
Health and Family Welfare Department
Raised concerns over a severe shortage of doctors and ambulances, noting that the last ambulances were supplied in the 1990s.
Education Department
Reported that a girls’ hostel, virtually inaugurated by President Murmu last year, remains uninhabitable due to the site being prone to landslides.
Requested a new 100-bedded girls’ hostel.
Agriculture Department
Called for increasing PM Kisan beneficiary coverage from 15,000 to 20,000 farmers.
State Bank of India (SBI)
Highlighted that frequent power outages and poor network connectivity hinder operations in rural branches.
Water Resources Department
Advocated for separate guidelines to implement central schemes in the Northeast, citing unique geographical challenges in design and construction.
Skill Development Department
Requested a dedicated skill institute in Mokokchung, as the district has only one.
Highlighted service condition challenges, particularly in promotions, since the department was amalgamated with the Employment Department.
PWD (Housing)
Stressed the need for increased funding for the PWD Rest House in Mangkolemba and the District Office Complex in Mokokchung.
Requested additional funds to renovate aging buildings.
PHED
Raised concerns over the district’s drinking water scarcity.
Urged the Centre’s intervention to approve a Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted in 2021.
PWD (R&B)
Proposed creating a special fund for sector road maintenance, noting that only 37% of roads in Mokokchung are blacktopped.
Power Department
Reported a critical manpower shortage following the addition of new power lines.
Noted the lack of linemen in remote villages to maintain these power lines.
Highlighted a pending DPR for a main transformer in Mokokchung and sought Central intervention.
Food and Civil Supply Department
Reported a shortage of godowns and requested their construction to improve storage capacity.
Social Welfare Department
Highlighted poor network connectivity in remote areas, hindering real-time data uploads for schemes like ICS, PMMVY, and Poshan Abhiyan.
Pointed out that the old-age pension scheme, being fixed, has an increasing number of beneficiaries, but funding has not kept pace.
IT Department
Proposed issuing directives to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to collaborate and share towers with the likes of BSNL for rural connectivity.
Recommended prioritizing service-based over profit-oriented models.
Forest Department
Raised the issue of border forest management, noting that while 80% of the forest land belongs to Nagaland, it is managed by Assam Forest Department, causing opposition from Naga villages.
Asserted that the Nagaland Forest Department is capable of managing its own forests.
Horticulture Department
Called for infrastructure upgrades, including processing units and cold storage facilities, to support farmers.
National Oil Palm Plantation Initiative
Acknowledged that the initiative in Mokokchung is still in its initial phase, leading to slow implementation. The Minister and his team suggested organizing more workshops and promotional activities to encourage oil palm farming.
Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC)
Requested the establishment of a music academy and an electric crematorium in the district.
Deputy Commissioner (DC), Mokokchung
Expressed concern over the lack of industries, factories, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding in Mokokchung.
Urged the Minister to engage corporates to initiate CSR programs in the district.
Watsü Mungdang
Highlighted the poor condition of the circular road and inadequate connectivity in rural areas.
Pointed out the absence of a dedicated market for women vendors, forcing them to operate on footpaths and streets, and called for a local market for women vendors.
MoS Bandi Sanjay Kumar assured that all suggestions and feedback would be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Kumar emphasized that “the Prime Minister’s priority is to develop the Northeast,” pointing out that investments amounting to ¹ 2.5 lakh crore have been made across the region, including Nagaland.
MoS visits IMDH hospital
The Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, inspected the Dr Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) in Mokokchung on November 19 during his two-day visit to Nagaland. The hospital is undergoing construction of Block A and Block B under the National Health Mission (NHM) scheme.
Medical Superintendent of IMDH, Dr Marina, informed MTNews that the construction order was issued in January 2018, with a stipulated completion time of three years. However, she noted that nearly 82 months later, even Block A is only about 40% complete.
During the inspection, it was reported that the construction of the mortuary and two units of staff quarters has been completed.
The new hospital construction is expected to include facilities for a nursing college and hostel accommodation.
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