The Kohima District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) held its meeting at the DPDB Hall, Kohima, on February 15, 2025, in the presence of DPDB Chairman Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso, MLA and Kevipodi Sophie, MLA. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Kumar Ramnikant, IAS.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the minutes of the previous DPDB meeting. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) initiative, a district felicitation was held. Ketsino Jane Frances and Ketsole Mekro, the female toppers of the NBSE 2024 HSLC and HSSLC exams, were felicitated for their achievements. Also, Woman Police Personnel Hili Kath Metsie-o was recognized for her contributions to solving women-related cases.
Two organizations, Leal Group Society Kohima and Science and Technology Advancement and Research Society, gave PowerPoint presentations seeking registration approval. After deliberation, the Board decided to approve their proposals for further action. The Board also welcomed three new members: ARC Cooperation, BDO Kohima, and BDO Botsa.
The Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) gave a PowerPoint presentation on its activities. KMC CEO T. Lanusenla Longkumer spoke about the inception, organizational structure, and revenue sources of KMC. She highlighted that sanitation was decentralized in 2013, and currently, KMC manages commercial waste using 9 vehicles, while the wards operate 39 vehicles for waste collection. She added that 65 sweepers are engaged in cleaning the town once a week.
Lanusenla also spoke about the PM SVANidhi scheme and the KMC website. Addressing the challenges faced by KMC, she mentioned salary shortfalls, making KMC dependent on government grants, lack of a proper office space for KMC operations, aging sanitation vehicles and the difficulty in removing collection points due to traffic congestion and vehicle sizes, non-functional septage management plant, lack of designated spaces for vendors, non-functional Kohima Super Market, development activities lacking coordination, she also outlined the initiatives undertaken by KMC.
Dr. Rhutso suggested that shop owners take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their designated areas. MLA Kevipodi Sophie emphasized the need for designated spaces for farmers to sell their produce, particularly in the morning hours.
The Industries & Commerce Department was assigned to present a PowerPoint presentation in the next DPDB meeting.
After the meeting, a dedicated vehicle was launched for One Stop Centre for rescue and support of women affected by violence, in private and public spaces, within the family, community and at the workplace in the presence of Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso MLA, Kevipodi Sophie MLA, DC Kohima Kumar Ramnikant IAS and other DPDB members.
(DPRO Kohima)
