Village Guards Rest House at Thizama, Kohima was inaugurated by Advisor, Information & Public Relations and Village Guards, S. Keoshu Yimkhiung on 20th April 2022.
Addressing the gathering, Yimkhiung hoped that the Rest House will benefit the VG personnel and the public by providing the much-needed accommodation during their visit to the State Capital for official works. He mentioned that the Rest House is not only for VG personnel but for all the Nagas, as funds from the Department will not suffice; funds need to flow in from all quarters, for its maintenance. In his few months of taking charge as the Advisor of Village Guards, Keoshu said he has observed that the VG organization today has many loopholes in its infrastructure and development, and this needs to be seriously worked out. He also suggested a separate Directorate/HoD for the Village Guards to maintain a proper system in its working and functioning.
Presenting the Technical Report for the VG Rest House, Executive Engineer, CAWD, Er. Sungti Amer said that having felt the need for accommodation of VGs traveling to the capital for State functions and official works, the building was conceptualized in 2014-15, during the tenure of the then ACS & Commissioner, Banuo Z. Jamir. The construction of the building which is a (G+2) storied RCC structure with a total floor area of 525 sq.m/5651 sq. ft. was carried out by Contractor K. C. Angami & Sons Consortium. It commenced on 4th October 2016 and was completed on 16th October 2017, and the estimated cost of the building stands at Rs. 236.85 lakh.
Commissioner, Nagaland, Rovilatuo Mor, IAS said that many a time, VG officials in Kohima face accommodation problems but with the construction of the VG Rest House at Thizama, he hoped that this will encourage and boost the morale of the VG personnel. Stating that no appointments can be made since there are no sanctioned posts for staff like caretakers, cooks, etc. initially, the Rest House has to be managed/maintained from an internal adjustment of funds from the Commissioner’s Office. He requested the VIPs visiting the Rest House to help and support the maintenance, and appealed to all the guests to cooperate in maintaining the hygiene and infrastructure of the Rest House. Rovilatuo Mor mentioned that the rates for room rent etc. will be fixed, with a concession to be extended to the VG personnel, and the income collected from the room rent, food and lodging, etc. will not go to the government exchequer but should be accounted and utilized judiciously for the upkeep and maintenance of the Rest House.
Commandant, Village Guards, Tuensang, Mongkoyanchu Chang requested that the VG Rest House is kept particularly for the VG officials and that it is not leased out to a third party or used for any other purposes. He also appealed to the VG personnel visiting the Rest House to pay the rate as fixed by the concerned Department and to maintain it as their own. He expressed his gratitude to the Government for taking care of the needs and priorities of the VG personnel.
Minister, Health & Family Welfare, S. Pangnyu Phom said that it is a long-felt need of the Village Guards to have a Rest House in the State Capital. Lauding the immense activities carried out by the VGs, he said that their welfare needs to be taken care of. With the removal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), there will be more failures, problems, and hurdles in law and order issues, and in such a situation, the VG personnel have a responsibility toward the State and will play an important role in assisting the State Government and the public, especially in the border areas. He asserted that the VG personnel, in their respective districts, should maintain discipline and carry out their duties sincerely. Minister Pangnyu mentioned that the norms and guidelines of the VGs need to be framed at the earliest, and accordingly, the 21 elected members working in the VG areas have submitted various representations, for which the Chief Minister, Nagaland has entrusted and endorsed to the concerned department/authority, to take up and expedite the matter.
The inaugural programme was chaired by ADC (HQ), Commissioner’s Office, M. S. Thangpong, and invocation was pronounced by Pastor, Yimkhiung Baptist Church, Kohima, Wongtokiu. The programme was also attended by MLA Yitachu, MLA C. L. John, MLA Eshak Konyak, VG Personnels, and a host of government officials.
(Mhonlumi, APRO)
