Under flak for inducting Merentoshi R.Jamir, the youngest and first time elected member into the cabinet, Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, justified his decision on the basis of the policy since 2004 in DAN-I, DAN-II and continued in DAN-III on youth empowerment.
He said Merentoshi was inducted as a youth icon, so as serve as an encouragement and inspiration for the youth.
“We have done justice. We are very sincere in our approach for the youth activities”, he said, while talking to media after the swearing-in at Raj Bhavan.
On the cabinet composition, he said it was a good team and exuded confidence that it will perform. Rio said it was a challenge for ministers to perform and those who fail, will have to give way to others.
He also reiterated the NPF commitment on bringing solution to the Naga political issue that has been unresolved since 1963.
The other priority of his government was on development. He said the record of the NPF on development during the past ten years has brought the party back to power.
He said DAN III will forge ahead with developmental activity to uplift the economy of the people particularly infrastructure and programmes for youth and the farmers.
Rio said two elected NPF members from Dimapur district were appointed as parliamentary secretaries adding all out efforts would be made to uplift the state’s commercial hub.
Rio said that he has given assignments to almost everybody and that whoever had gone out of DAN should compete in serving the Naga people.