In response to the plea of chairman Nagaland Khadi & Village Industries Board (NKVIB) N.Thongwang Konyak, for completion of the Khadi Plaza in Dimapur, union minister of state (independent charge) Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), K.H.Muniyappa was sympathetic to the need for infrastructural development and called for a meeting on May 6.
The Minister also assured to sanction the same phase-wise to ensure that the construction of the Khadi Plaza in Dimapur, the only of its kind in the country if completed will be dedicated to the people of Nagaland.
Thongwang, on his maiden visit to Delhi after taking over the NKVIB on April 29 met the union minister along with Development Commissioner, MSME, joint secretary, secretary, MSME and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), KVIC, Mumbai, and NKVIB officials from Nagaland– K. Jimo CEO, NKVIB and Kivishe, Executive Officer.
The Chairman NKVIB apprised the union minister of state on the need for infrastructural development and the status of the Khadi Plaza which has come to a grinding halt owing to blockage of central funds for the last three and half years.
He also highlighted challenges faced by the state in addressing unemployment as avenues were limited with no industries. Thongwang also opined that enhancement of Prime Minister’s Employment Guarantee Programme (PMEGP) could help mitigate unemployment.
The union minister also promised to enhance existing amount of current annual sanction under PMEGP by 60%.