Governor of Nagaland, Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Visits Diphu

Governor of Nagaland Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya last week made his maiden visit to Diphu, headquarter town of the sixth scheduled autonomous district of Karbi Anglong on a one day tour.

The constitutional head of all sixth schedule areas of Assam, the Governor conducted a meeting with the Executive Committee of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council at the Diphu circuit house followed by a meeting with all the department heads.

The Governor particularly reviewed the utilization of funds in centrally sponsored projects. He also interacted with the branch heads of local banks and re-evaluated the growth of ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’ in the district. Later he made a surprise visit to Diphu jail on his way back from the Central University Diphu campus.

Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya expressed his shock and anguish over the dreadful circumstances in the jail.

pb acharya
Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland

“I was shocked when I found that hundreds of inmates are rotting in jail for over seven to nine years on remand – any under trial prisoners cannot be remanded in jail custody more than three months. It is also surprising that in Karbi Anglong Judiciary and executive functions are done by the same executive magistrates. The system will have to be improved,” the Governor told the media.

Sri Padmanabha also was visibly upset about the shabby infrastructure in the district and lack of growth in spite of receiving maximum centrally sponsored funds, during his interaction with the KAAC EC he advised them to dedicate themselves to the development of the downtrodden section instead of functioning for their personal benefit.

“God has given you enough now you should devote yourself for the development of the people of this land with the resources at hand,” Padnava told the KAAC EC members during the meeting.

Sushanta Roy

Sushanta Roy is a journalist in Assam, India, who photographs and writes about the people, animals and flora of Assam, and the things that affect them.