Those working outside should register: CM

Motivational trg on entrepreneurship for inmates at IQC

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio Friday informed that anyone planning to go and work outside Nagaland would henceforth have to register with the State government else, the latter would not take any responsibility.

Stating this during his visit to Ganeshnagar Industrial Estate to take stock of the ongoing renovation works following its conversion into an institutional quarantine centre (IQC) as per a cabinet decision, Rio said the government would discuss and take a decision in this regard very soon.

He also announced that the government would support the inmates at Ganeshnagar by imparting them motivational training on entrepreneurship to those who desired to stay back in Nagaland and earn their living. 

Emphasising focusing on agriculture and allied sectors, entrepreneurship, sports and tourism to build the State’s economy, Rio said a strategy group had been set up in this regard and it was working on all these aspects. 

The infrastructure at the industrial estate was left abandoned for several years as no potential Naga entrepreneurs came forward to stay and work there. And as more stranded Naga people started arriving from other States, accommodation became a huge challenge for Dimapur as out of the 18,000 plus returnees, it would have to house more than 70% of them. 

In view of this, the cabinet in a meeting held at Kohima on May 19 decided to convert the industrial estate into IQC, after which Nagaland Police under the initiative of director general of police (DGP) John Longkumer and deputy inspector general (DIG) training Aotemsu spearheaded a complete renovation programme, which started on May 22.

Rio and his entourage visited all three sectors of the estate, though renovation of only sectors A and B were completed with a capacity to house around 600 persons. The third sector with a total capacity to accommodate 600 more people would be ready by next week.

In a brief programme held on the occasion, Rio and his cabinet colleagues expressed gratitude and appreciation to Nagaland Police for making the estate fit for human habitation in record time. He also donated Rs 5 lakh for a feast to honour the police personnel.

Mentioning that Nagas who had registered have started arriving from different parts of the country, the chief minister said accommodation capacity in Dimapur was currently around 4,500, including at Ganeshnagar. He said all ministers in-charge and legislators were doing good work and admitted that Dimapur was getting the major burden, for which it was decided to use Ganeshnagar. 

Referring to positive cases detected among passengers on the special train from Chennai, he reminded everyone that COVID-19 was a global pandemic and stressed that there should not be any blame game or social stigma attached. 

“As a family we must all welcome them and also to those who are yet to arrive. Let us welcome them with love,” he exhorted.

Rio appreciated frontline workers, including the district administration, police, district taskforces, civil society groups, NGOs, churches and the public in general and thanked them all for their tireless efforts. “We have to fight the virus united,” he stressed.

During the programme, PHE minister Jacob Zhimomi highlighted the issue of shortage of medical staff at Dimapur, to which Health minister S. Pangyu Phom assured to send additional teams by next week.

DGP Longkumer on his part shared the command flow chart, items to be provided to the inmates on their arrival, expenditure incurred in renovating the industrial estate and budget requirement for catering, police mess and sanitation and scavenging duty. He also suggested to the Empowered Committee sending the returnees in large numbers to the industrial estate, instead of sending them in small batches.

Hosts of ministers and advisers, including Neiba Kronu, Imna Along, Zhaleo Rio, Sukhalu, Azheto, DC Dimapur Anoop Kinchi and Commissioner of police Rothihu Tetseo were present on the occasion.