Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, visited Kohima district on January 10 in connection with the Fortnightly Visit of Union Ministers to the North Eastern Region (NER). The programme was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Kohima.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister, Satish Chandra Dubey expressed his gratitude to all district officials and officers from various departments for their cooperation. He stated that the Prime Minister has laid special emphasis on the development of the North-East and stressed the need to focus on every district, region, and state. Referring to aspirational districts, the Minister said such visits help assess the implementation of central schemes and identify areas where improvements are required.
The Minister noted that in some areas the benefits of government schemes may not be reaching the intended beneficiaries fully, while in others there may be gaps in implementation. He said the purpose of the visit was to understand ground realities, address concerns raised by officials, and submit reports to the Government of India for further action.
Sharing his impressions of Nagaland, the Minister said he admired the culture and honesty of the people. He also appreciated the discipline and efficiency of the police and district administration. Highlighting the importance of organic farming, he praised the practice of producing food grains without chemical fertilizers in Nagaland and noted that such practices are beneficial for public health.
On infrastructure development, the Minister said efforts are being made to improve connectivity through roads, highways, and railway projects across the North-East. He reiterated the Government of India’s commitment to ensuring inclusive development under the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and expressed hope that the coming years would bring greater progress for Nagaland and the region.
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.
(Molungnenla, IA Kohima)
