Source: Oken Jeet Sandham - NEPS - North East News Service
Kohima, March 03:
The completion of one year in office by the DAN partners is itself a history in Nagaland for the fact that three national political parties (BJP, JD-U and SP) for the first time along with majority regional party, NPF, became partners in running affairs of the State, besides four Independents too joined the Ministry as Cabinet Ministers.
The DAN came to power on March 6, 2003.In this one-year period, the DAN Government headed by Neiphiu Rio could complete several projects that remained incomplete besides various new initiatives taken up.
Expressing his happiness on the completion of one year in office by DAN coalition partners, senior State BJP Leader and Home Minister Dr TM Lotha described as �landmark� the completion of one year in office by DAN partners.
He, however, credited for the successful completion of one year in office by DAN partners to the people of the State.
�We could carry out all these activities because of the true mandate given to us and the commitment we gave to the people have been honored and many positive changes have already been taking place during this one year time in the State,� the Home Minister told NEPS here today.
One of the biggest achievements of the DAN Ministry was it could bring Indian Prime Minister (PM) Atal Behari Vajpayee, soon after it assumed power, in the State and his (PM) �unprecedented economic package amounting to Rs 1050 crore� given to Nagaland, Dr Lotha recalled.
Even before granting this huge economic package to Nagaland, NDA Government at the Center had already shown its concern for the overall development of the State and smooth running of the newly installed DAN Government by granting Rs 365 crore to wipe out the deficits accumulated by the previous Government, he added.
�These are the biggest achievements of the DAN Government in Nagaland and it would go down in the annals of Nagaland history,� Dr Lotha said.
On the peace process front, the Home Minister expressed his happiness on the fast returning normalcy in the State and appreciated the positive gestures aired by various Naga underground groups particularly NSCN factions with regard to the �unity and reconciliation".
�Today, Naga people are so much happy with all these peaceful environments, improved law and order and developments in the State,� Dr Lotha said adding that the expressions of willingness to invest and work in Nagaland by various multi-national agencies were indications that �everything augurs well,� he pointed out.
He also said the inaugurations of Police Headquarters, Kohima, Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, Naga Hospital, Kohima, Dimapur Stadium and up-gradation of three full-fledged revenue districts, laying foundation stone of Sainik School, creation of two separate departments, etc were some of the manifestations that DAN had exercised its accountability and transparency towards its commitments to the people in one year�s time.
Dr Lotha also disclosed that several new programs had already been taken up for the youth and women, besides several major reforms undertaken.