Pangnyu graces Wokha district VDB conference

Parliamentary secretary for rural development Pangnyu Phom graced the Wokha District VDB Conference as chief guest, which was held at Wokha town hall on May 12.
Addressing the of village leaders, Pangnyu Phom said that the VDBs were the spine of socio-economic development and also an autonomous body which has direct control over NREGA, PRGF and Grant-in-Aid (GIA) schemes. “The schemes that we implement should be an asset and not a liability to a society and therefore one should render that money which flows for the uplift of the poor as it is not political money and should never be used for political mileage by any politicians”, he said, and went on to add that the VDBs have a huge responsibility through which the policies of the government could be implemented.
According to an official bulletin, while commenting on the misunderstanding and legal suit which had come up in some villages in the district, he said it had been hampering the implementation of NREGA schemes and other developmental process. He called on the village leaders to settle the defenses at their own level and not to be embroiled in controversy which would hinder the flow of funds and stop development in the rural areas.
“Do not be misquoted or victimized by politicians with vested interest”, he said, and called on the village leaders to judiciously use funds for the welfare of the public.
He mentioned that Wokha was the second district in Nagaland where NREGA was being implemented, however most of the funds had been utilized for construction of agri link roads and approach roads, and called on the people to utilize funds for other purposes and beneficial projects so that the schemes could be more development oriented for the people in the rural areas. Short speech was also delivered on the occasion by commissioner & secretary, rural development, V. Sakhrie, director, RD, Metsübo Jamir, deputy commissioner, Wokha, Wepretso Mero, Myingthungo Odyuo on behalf of the VDBs and project director, DRDA Kohima.
Special number was presented by AISLE band. The programme was chaired by project officer DRDA Wokha, Thungchamo Khuvung while invocation prayer was pronounced by associate pastor WTBC, Abemo Jungio. Welcome address was delivered by project director DRDA Wokha, Tsükjem Allinger while vote of thanks was delivered by DPO DRDA Wokha, Chumlanthung Ezung and interactive session with the village councils and secretaries followed the main function.
The programme was attended by village council chairmen, VDB secretaries from 118 villagers under Wokha district, RD official from Kohima and various district officers from different department also attended the conference.