Wrapping up his three-day maiden visit to Nagaland, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday unveiled a Rs 1,050 crore (Rs 10.8 billion) economic package to accelerate development in the state.
The Centre and state government would draw up a plan for creating 25,000 employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth of Nagaland in the next two years in sectors like agriculture, village industries, horticulture, medicinal plants, floriculture, bamboo products, tourism and transport.
The Centre would provide Rs 250 crore (Rs 2.5 billion) for its implementation, the prime minister told a crowded press conference before leaving for Delhi.
The Rural Employment Generation Programme, run by Khadi and Village Industries Commission, would be provided Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million) to set up a training institute for development of entrepreneurship.
Besides, the capital Kohima would be connected with the east-west corridor under National Highway Development Programme and the 81-km stretch between Dimapur and
Kohima on NH-39 would be converted into a four-lane road at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore (Rs 4 billion). The work on it would start during the next financial year, he said.
