Nagaland’s rural development department on Monday distributed 71 tractors and its accessories to village development boards (VDBs) of the state in an effort to enhance the rural economy and make the villagers self-sufficient.
Out of the 71 tractors, 11 were given to 11 best performing VDBs while the remaining 60 are distributed in all the 60 Assembly constituencies of the state as per recommendation of local MLAs of the constituencies.
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The tractors were provided to the beneficiaries for free under NITI Ayog’s grant-in-aid and special financial assistance programme.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio gave away the keys of 11 tractors to the 11 best performing VDBs on the occasion.
Describing the distribution ceremony as historic, Rio expressed gratitude to the Centre for funding in unfunded areas under NITI Ayog’s grant-in-aid and special financial assistance programme and said this will bridge the gap in developmental activities among the people.
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“The government of India helped us enough. We should now be self-dependent. We cannot be parasite,” he stated while urging the Naga people to develop work culture to be self-sufficient.
He said besides allocation of 60 tractors to all the 60 Assembly constituencies, each MLA has been given Rs 30 lakh to build rural areas and uplift the village economy.
“In politics, we are parties, ruling and Opposition. But when it comes to developing the economy, we have to work collectively,” Rio stated.
The chief minister asked the VDBs to train Naga youths and employ them as operators of the tractors. “We are farmers and we are servants. If we employ others, we will remain servants,”
He said besides rural development department, education, power, public health engineering and health and family welfare department in the state have been communitised and given special allocation for maintenance of their infrastructure.
Rio hoped the beneficiaries will utilize the tractors properly to develop their economy. “Do not eat the seeds but nurture them to enjoy the fruits,” he told the beneficiaries.
The chief minister asked the Naga people to work, earn, save, invest and then spend for their day-to-day activities. He hoped the people of the state, including the farmers, will slowly engage themselves in economic activities.