Neiphiu Rio inaugurates new DUDA Directorate building

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday inaugurated the new Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) Directorate Office building at Kohima, near the NPSC Office.

Rio in his inaugural speech congratulated and expressed his appreciation to the department, contractors, the consultant and all those involved for successfully completing the project. He informed that the building was completed at a cost of Rs 10.96 crore.

He highlighted that the department was created in June 2003 to strengthen and improve infrastructure development of eastern Nagaland and to capacitate the people through life-skill programmes and livelihood solutions.

The Chief Minister stated that over the years, the DUDA Department has made tangible progress through its programmes such as Under Developed Areas Programmes (UDAP) and Border Area Development Programme (BADP). He said the department is in the process of building up its own cadre of personnel and at present the department is manned by a total of 76 personnel – 44 from DUDA cadre and 32 from the Engineering Wing and Treasuries.

He further highlighted that since the inception of the department, a number of programmes have been implemented like – Under Developed Areas Programme (UDAP), Border Area Development Programme (BADP), Empowerment of Underprivileged Youth of Eastern Nagaland in collaboration with NIELIT and under this programme, 1,280 youths of eastern Nagaland have been computer trained, stated a DIPR release.

Rio expressed that the new directorate building will be the epicentre of various programme and policies for the people of Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) as well as a collective voice to convey the needs and aspirations of the four districts of ENPO.

Also read: Nagaland news