NDPP releases manifesto: Bats for solution to Naga issue, enhancing connectivity and other issues

The manifesto was released by NDPP leader and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio along with NDPP President Chingwang Konyak.

Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) on Saturday launched its election manifesto for the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections with the motto of ‘Towards A State of Excellence’
The manifesto was released by NDPP leader and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio along with NDPP President Chingwang Konyak.

Regarding the Naga political issue, the NDPP in it’s statement said,”The Indo-Naga political imbroglio has remained unresolved for several decades. The people have been crying out for peace with the expectation of a negotiated political solution through the present peace talks. Generations of every Naga family have given their blood and tears in the Naga political journey.

All sections of society and generations of Nagas have been deeply impacted by the political conflict. The masses want the conflict to end and peace to prevail.

The unresolved political issue has created hurdles on all fronts, particularly, on the economy and all-round progress of Nagaland. The younger generations are unable to strive towards their dreams and ambitions due to the challenges created by the political conflict and the denial of equal opportunity, at par, with their counterparts in the rest of the country and the world. Without the prevalence of just peace, no aspect of society can make progress. Peace is a prerequisite for development! The political imbroglio needs to be resolved at the earliest possible so that all-round development of the State can take place without any limitations.

The NDPP is of the firm opinion that the Indo-Naga issue must be resolved through a negotiated political settlement and a solution that is honourable, acceptable, and inclusive must be reached at the earliest possible. The NDPP assures that the Party will not be a mute spectator but will be proactive and do everything possible to strengthen the ongoing peace process and play the role of active facilitator to bring an early solution.

The NDPP commits that it will not come in the way of any agreement that comes about from the peace process and will pave the way for the alternative arrangement that is arrived at, through a negotiated political solution that is honourable, acceptable, and inclusive.

The Party will make efforts to bring on board all sections to strengthen the peace process in the greater interest of the Naga people. The Party is of the strong opinion that civil society, mass-based organizations and tribal hohos must play a contributory role in our common endeavor of finding a political solution.
“Peace for development and development for peace” shall be the NDPP agenda under the slogan “Nagaland – Towards a State of Excellence!”

Regarding Tansparency and Good Governance, the NDPP in it’s manifesto said,

The Nagaland Lokayukta has been framed and established to check corruption in the State.
Committees will be constituted to examine the award of tenders and also reviewtenders that have been allocated and government undertakings that have been leased.

All projects at both district and state level will be strictly monitored by implementing an efficient Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and time-bound periodical inspections to be carried out.
All projects will require the posting of names of contractors and monitoring engineers on prominent signboards so that the reputation and image of the concerned personsare available in the public space. This will also promote competition and quality control.

Right to Information (RTI) Act is being implemented both in letter and in spirit.

A Zero Tolerance Policy for fighting corruption and nepotism will be taken up from the top down.
All Ministers and MLAs will be required to declare assets and sources of income, including those of their spouses and dependents.

Effective and efficient austerity drives and accountability measures have been strictly implemented.
Misuse of government machinery for private purposes and arbitrary spending of government funds will continue to be checked.

Systematic reforms towards e-governance or Electronic-Governance for delivery of government services, exchange of information, and feedback through e-governance, government services will be made available to citizens in a convenient, efficient, and transparent manner have been set in motion.

The PIMS (Personnel Information Management System) has been strengthened bylinking it to a central database unit. This biometric linkage will help to weed out bogus or proxy government employees, false pensioners, ghost employees, etc.

Each government department and government institution now have websites and internet portals that portray all activities of the department, the composition of employees, implementation of programs, policies and projects and reflect use of budgets and finances. These portals will also compulsorily have feedback facilities from citizens.

The Quality Control Board shall continue to be fully activated and strengthened to supervise the implementation of projects.

The war against drugs and narcotics will be further strengthened with the institution of a special cell to combat this menace.

A scheme for addressing public grievances will be launched.

Information technology to cover proceedings of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Regarding connectivity too, the NDPP has also made some key promises.

These include, “Considering the state of roads, good quality and safe roads have been given topmost priority from day one.

Improvement work on all roads within towns, cities and urban areas has been taken up on war footing and has been largely successful.

The NDPP will continue to put its concerted efforts into improving road connectivity within the state so that the entire state is covered with good-quality roads and bridges.

Despite several challenges, the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane highway is nearing completion with only a few stretches left to be completed.

Many district headquarters have already been connected with good quality two-lane roads and it will continue to be our endeavor that the rest of the headquarters and the state will be similarly connected.
PMGSY will continue to be effectively and strictly monitored so that the villages in Nagaland are connected through quality roads.

Traffic congestion in urban areas will be streamlined by constructing overpasses and bypasses. Kohima and Dimapur by-pass roads will be undertaken on priority to bring relief to commuters.

Facilitate India’s Act East policy undertaking road connectivity projects to the international boundary via Myanmar and into the ASEAN countries, ensuring that the highways pass through human habitations so that the population gets benefits from infrastructure development.

Improve drainage systems along the roads.

Air connectivity from Dimapur to the rest of the country has been greatly enhanced with more flights and more airlines. This has helped in improving air connectivity with major metropolitans in the country.
A major achievement in the last five years has been that Dimapur is now connected daily with Guwahati and Imphal and Shillong.

A regional airline that connects within the region and also internally in the state will be explored on a public-private partnership mode (PPP) with fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter service. This service will ensure consistent air connectivity for the citizens of the state apart from providing air services during emergencies and calamities, medical airlifts, etc.

Dimapur Airport has been upgraded and intake capacity has also been increased. The airport is becoming a hub for connectivity with more facilities and modern public conveniences like restrooms, lounges, medical center, banking services, restaurants, shops, etc.”

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