The monthly meeting of the District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) Kohima was held on 15th September, 2025 at the DPDB Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Kevipodi Sophie, MLA and Chairman of DPDB Kohima, with Deputy Commissioner and Vice Chairman of DPDB Kohima, B. Henok Buchem (NCS), presiding over the proceedings.
The Deputy Commissioner welcomed the members and facilitated Peleno Petenilhu, a teacher from John Government Higher Secondary School, Viswema, who was recently conferred the prestigious National Teachers’ Award 2025. Expressing her gratitude after being felicitated, Petenilhu described the recognition as both a tremendous honour and a deeply humbling experience. She spoke of teaching as a noble calling that demands constant innovation and commitment, adding that “every new batch of students brings new challenges, but also new opportunities for ideas, ensuring no child is left behind.”
The house then took up the registration of new societies, recommending the Lechale Khamo Society and Koinonia Society, for approval.
A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Village Adoption Award by Ruopfukuotuo Noudi, Additional Deputy Commissioner (HQ). Committees were evaluated based on their reports, activities undertaken, participation of members, community involvement, and effectiveness of their work. For the year 2024–25, the 14th Southern Angami I Committee was adjudged the best-performing committee, while the Northern Angami I Committee secured second place.
The Southern Angami I Committee shared a wide range of initiatives carried out under the Village Adoption programme. These included livestock vaccination drives, food processing and skill development training, forest fire prevention campaigns, cleanliness drives in schools, disaster management workshops, youth and sports activities, and road safety awareness programmes. The committee also observed World Soil Day and contributed tangible support such as distributing five 16,000-litre water storage tanks to villages, donating furniture and learning materials to libraries, and providing a computer set and printer to a Government Middle School.
The Northern Angami I Committee also presented an impressive line of activities. Among them were skill development programmes such as soft toy making, pickle and basket weaving training, installation of red warning traffic lights at key junctions, provision of convex mirrors, and organisation of road safety awareness programmes. For sanitation and environment, the committee distributed compost bins to schools, supplied 14 iron garbage stands, and planted over 500 avocado saplings and other varieties provided by the Agriculture and Forest Departments. On infrastructure, they constructed footpaths, improved drainage systems, carried out road repairs, and installed 50 streetlights. To support digital learning, the committee also donated a smart TV and interactive kits to RGHSS, Kohima.
The board further approved the constitution of new Village Adoption Committees (VACs) and LADP Verification Committees, and recommended the upgradation of Don Bosco School, Peducha, to Class VIII.
A departmental presentation was given by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department. Dr. Asalie, Deputy Director, highlighted that during 2024–25, more than 14,000 animals and 3,000 poultry were treated, over 9,500 animals were vaccinated, and 2,600 sterilisations were conducted. He also informed the house about outbreaks of African Swine Fever in Viswema, Zubza, Kohima, Botsa, Kigwema, and Mitelephe, adding that containment measures such as disinfection, post-mortems, and awareness drives were undertaken. Various schemes under ASCAD, NADCP, and NLM were also implemented, with capacity-building workshops, mobile veterinary services, and vaccination drives carried out across the district.
The State Hub for Empowerment of Women, Mission Shakti, presented on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, more commonly known as the POSH Act. Members were sensitised on the definition of workplace sexual harassment, the role of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) and Local Complaints Committees (LCC), timelines for complaint redressal, and the SHe-Box online complaint portal. It was informed that Kohima currently has 57 government institutions and 20 private organisations with ICCs, while nine government departments with more than 10 employees are yet to constitute their committees.
The Kohima District Level Advisory Committee (DLAC) for Safe Food and Healthy Diets, in coordination with the District Task Force, also reviewed the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The committee informed that five task force teams have been formed to inspect food establishments across Kohima town starting later this month. The initiative will also focus on public awareness drives, stricter water certification for food establishments, rewarding good practices among food business operators, and stronger interdepartmental coordination.
Another initiative highlighted was the “One Day with the Deputy Commissioner” programme, launched by DC Henok Buchem on September 5, Teachers’ Day. Dr. Riku Khutso, NCS, EAC, presented that the initiative provides meritorious students the opportunity to spend a day with the district administration to gain firsthand experience of governance and inspire interest in public service. The first batch of students from Dr. N. Kire Government Higher Secondary School participated on September 12, engaging with administrative officers, the press, and officials from the Pollution Control Board. It was noted that one school will participate each week until November, with feedback collected from students after every visit.
The Rural Development Department also made a presentation on the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyaan, a national movement aimed at building grassroots tribal leadership and strengthening governance through a cadre of 20 lakh trained leaders across India’s tribal regions. The Abhiyan envisions establishing one lakh Adi Seva Kendras as single-window centres for welfare services, alongside training programmes to empower tribal youth, SHGs, and community leaders.
Concluding the meeting, MLA Kevipodi Sophie congratulated the award-winning Village Adoption Committees and commended the Deputy Commissioner for launching the “One Day with DC” initiative, describing it as a “mindset-changing step that reflects our responsibility towards the younger generation.” The next DPDB meeting will feature a departmental presentation by the Sericulture Department.
(Molungnenla, IA Kohima)
