Nagaland budget session begins today with Governor’s address

February 26, 2024 15 Views No Comment

State Budgets, various reports to be presented in the House

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 26

The 4th session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s budget session will commence on Monday at 9:30 AM with the traditional address by Governor R La Ganesan.

The Governor’s address conventionally highlights the achievements of the Government of the day as well as outline future policies.

Besides the Governor’s address, there will be minimal activities on Day-I as List of Business (LoB) for February 26 shared by the NLA Secretariat on the NEVA website.

While the Election of Deputy Speaker is scheduled for the first day, it will be a mere formality to swear in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator from 33 Suruhuto Assembly Constituency, S Toiho Yeptho, who stands unopposed as no other MLA filed a nomination for the post.

The LoB for the first day also includes an obituary reference, including former Governor Late PB Acharya by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others by NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer.

The Motion of Thanks on Governor Ganesan’s address will be moved by Moatoshi Longkumer, Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Excise.

The session will also include felicitation by the Chief Minister.

While the session is slated from February 26 to March 1, with a recess on Wednesday, the House will transact business for four days (February 26, 27, & 29, and March 1).

Crucial session
However, the upcoming session is considered crucial, including the presentation of the State Budget for the year 2024-25 on February 27 by Chief Minister Rio, who also holds the finance portfolio.

As per reports, the Assembly will also take up discussions on the border fencing and Free Movement Regime (FMR) issues as “matters of urgent public importance.”

It remains uncertain whether the demand for lifting prohibition by civil society organisations in Dimapur will be taken up.
In addition to the Question Hour, other provisional programmes for the session include the laying of the annual administrative reports, assembly committee reports, and introduction, consideration, and passage of government bills and resolutions.

It remains to be seen whether the latest reports of the annual Comptroller and Auditor General of India (C&AG) on Social, Economic, General, and Revenue Sectors as well as State Finances Audit Report will be tabled in the House during the up coming session.

Meanwhile, an NLA Bulletin issued on February 24 informed that “The Nagaland Salaries, Allowance & other Facilities of the Chief Minister, Speaker, Deputy Chief Minister/ Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Deputy Speaker, and other Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and Pension for Ex- Members Bil, 2005 (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2024″ would be introduced for Consideration and Passing during the ensuing Fourth Session.

“The Establishment of Private University Bill, 2024” is also slated to be introduced for consideration and passing during the budget session.

Incidentally, on February 24, the NLA Secretariat announced that continuing the digital push introduced in 2022, 70% of the upcoming 4th Session of the 14th NLA would be conducted in a paperless environment within the legislative proceedings.

Hard copies of the LoB, Annual Administrative Reports, Questions, and Replies to Questions on the table of the House, etc., will no longer be provided but instead made available for download on the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) website and mobile app on the specific days they are listed for, it said.

This paperless transition will also apply to all media houses and personnel, it added.