NEW DELHI : Nearly 30 years after losing its map, Nagaland has finally got down to drawing one with the help of a number of old British-era maps of the northeast provided to it by National Archives of India. Though the state had lost its map after submitting it to the Centre in 1979, it came as a shock to the home ministry in September last year when the loss was brought to light by Nagaland during its submission before the Local Commission on Border.
TOI had first reported the loss on September 10 last year -- leading the home ministry to pursue the matter with Survey of India, National Archives, state archive of Assam and National Library, Kolkata, to help Nagaland reconstruct the map all over again. While National Archives has given 53 old maps of northeast to Nagaland, National Library and Assam state archive have been asked by the home ministry to make the requisite information available to the state so that it can draw its line of jurisdiction as early as possible.
In a glaring instance of callous handling of vital public documents, neither the Centre nor the state could keep the original documents safe. Officials in the home ministry, however, said it was actually Assam’s responsibility to keep the documents/maps safe as it was handed over to the state government which has boundary disputes with Nagaland.
“Government of Nagaland had submitted certain documents/maps in September 1979 to the home ministry with respect to the boundary dispute with Assam. The ministry subsequently referred these maps to Assam for its response, which was duly acknowledged by the state,” a senior home ministry official said.
Assam, however, lost it. Nagaland, meanwhile, witnessed large-scale violence sparked by insurgents’ demand to carve out Greater Nagaland by extending the existing boundaries of the state -- which came into existence in 1963. It, however, remains a mystery why the home ministry, which received the original documents including map of Nagaland, did not keep a copy of what it got in 1979.
Source: Agencies
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Nagaland Congress for Pre-1989 funding pattern
Dimapur: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has pointed out to the Thirteenth Finance Commission that Nagaland State was considered a special category State which was withdrawn after 1989 and that in view of the unique socio-political situation of the State, the pre-1989 funding pattern should be restored. In a memorandum to the chairman of the visiting Thirteenth Finance Commission, the NPCC also put forward the argument that the finance of the State is purely dependent upon the Central Government as the internal revenue of the State is negligible. As such, there should be a review of the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the State of Nagaland and a liberal sharing of taxes in favour of the latter.
The Congress memo also mentioned that State of Nagaland ‘is a hilly State with difficult terrain’. On this, the memo requested that ‘while formulating policies and release of funds for development in the State, the same yardstick should not be applied with plain sector of the country’.
Seeks special grant for inter-district ring road
The State of Nagaland is a land-locked State without any railway connectivity save Dimapur town. The road connectivity is therefore vital for development of the State. The Commission may kindly consider for granting sufficient funds as a one time special grant for construction of Ring Road connecting all the 11 District Headquarters with four-lane provision”, the Congress also stated. It was also felt that the Commission may kindly consider for increased amount of grant for rural local bodies so as to facilitate growth of economic activities in rural areas.
The State Congress also kept up its pressure on the NPF led DAN government by arguing to the visiting Finance Commission that Nagaland was facing rampant corruption and lack of transparency in the decision making process while allotting developmental works. “The State Government should be directed to tackle corruption at a war footing, to maintain transparency and fairness in its decision making process and quality control while executing developmental works”, the NPCC stated in its memo signed by Zachilhu Vadeo Vice President (Admn.)
Source: Morung Express
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TOI had first reported the loss on September 10 last year -- leading the home ministry to pursue the matter with Survey of India, National Archives, state archive of Assam and National Library, Kolkata, to help Nagaland reconstruct the map all over again. While National Archives has given 53 old maps of northeast to Nagaland, National Library and Assam state archive have been asked by the home ministry to make the requisite information available to the state so that it can draw its line of jurisdiction as early as possible.
In a glaring instance of callous handling of vital public documents, neither the Centre nor the state could keep the original documents safe. Officials in the home ministry, however, said it was actually Assam’s responsibility to keep the documents/maps safe as it was handed over to the state government which has boundary disputes with Nagaland.
“Government of Nagaland had submitted certain documents/maps in September 1979 to the home ministry with respect to the boundary dispute with Assam. The ministry subsequently referred these maps to Assam for its response, which was duly acknowledged by the state,” a senior home ministry official said.
Assam, however, lost it. Nagaland, meanwhile, witnessed large-scale violence sparked by insurgents’ demand to carve out Greater Nagaland by extending the existing boundaries of the state -- which came into existence in 1963. It, however, remains a mystery why the home ministry, which received the original documents including map of Nagaland, did not keep a copy of what it got in 1979.
Source: Agencies
-------------------------------------------------
Nagaland Congress for Pre-1989 funding pattern
Dimapur: The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has pointed out to the Thirteenth Finance Commission that Nagaland State was considered a special category State which was withdrawn after 1989 and that in view of the unique socio-political situation of the State, the pre-1989 funding pattern should be restored. In a memorandum to the chairman of the visiting Thirteenth Finance Commission, the NPCC also put forward the argument that the finance of the State is purely dependent upon the Central Government as the internal revenue of the State is negligible. As such, there should be a review of the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the State of Nagaland and a liberal sharing of taxes in favour of the latter.
The Congress memo also mentioned that State of Nagaland ‘is a hilly State with difficult terrain’. On this, the memo requested that ‘while formulating policies and release of funds for development in the State, the same yardstick should not be applied with plain sector of the country’.
Seeks special grant for inter-district ring road
The State of Nagaland is a land-locked State without any railway connectivity save Dimapur town. The road connectivity is therefore vital for development of the State. The Commission may kindly consider for granting sufficient funds as a one time special grant for construction of Ring Road connecting all the 11 District Headquarters with four-lane provision”, the Congress also stated. It was also felt that the Commission may kindly consider for increased amount of grant for rural local bodies so as to facilitate growth of economic activities in rural areas.
The State Congress also kept up its pressure on the NPF led DAN government by arguing to the visiting Finance Commission that Nagaland was facing rampant corruption and lack of transparency in the decision making process while allotting developmental works. “The State Government should be directed to tackle corruption at a war footing, to maintain transparency and fairness in its decision making process and quality control while executing developmental works”, the NPCC stated in its memo signed by Zachilhu Vadeo Vice President (Admn.)
Source: Morung Express
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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