FACES BEHIND NECTAR

This section features NECTAR officials in various roles to familiarise readers with the individuals and the purpose behind the project’s initiatives and interventions, as well as the strides made so far.

In this edition, we connect with the Project Deputy Secretary to share his experience with NECTAR and to apprise us of the ongoing work on Lighthouse School Complexes.

Q1. Where were you previously posted, and in what capacity? When did you join NECTAR?

A: Prior to joining NECTAR, I was posted at Phek as SDO (Civil). I joined NECTAR in June 2023.

Q2. Could you describe your role in NECTAR and how it differs from your previous assignment?

A: At the moment, I am overseeing the civil work of the Lighthouse School Complexes (LSC). Whereas in my previous assignment (i.e., District Administration), we dealt with all kinds of work under the sun, in NECTAR project, you design, implement, and execute only those components that exist within the project framework.

Q3. Have you come across any aspect of the NECTAR project during your previous role in district administration? If so, which components of the project, and in what ways? 

A:  Yes, I carried out assessment and certification as an administration officer for Batch 1 (1^st and 2^nd instalments) and Batch 2 (1^st instalment) of the Performance Incentive Grants.

I also know about the LSC, as I was involved in the survey of the school land even before GHSS Phek was selected as one of the LSCs.

Q4. What were your observations on the Performance Incentive Grants implementation (PIG) at the grassroots level? How does entrusting district administrative officers with the monitoring make a difference?

A:  Many schools in the rural areas function without proper infrastructure and basic amenities; some do not even have decent classrooms, benches, or desks, etc. However, after the intervention of NECTAR in the form of PIG, the schools have improved manifold, and it has also boosted the morale of the stakeholders including SMCs/SMDCs. In the process, many communities came forward and contributed to the schools in the form of cash, manpower and materials. PIG has been a saving grace for many rural schools.

Entrusting DAOs with the assessment has been the best decision the project has made. This has ensured judicious utilisation of PIG grants and works executed as per specifications.

Q5. In your close involvement in the ongoing work on Lighthouse School Complexes (LSC), could you shed some light on the challenges, the progress made so far, and the anticipated outcomes?

A: Some of the challenges faced to date are mentioned below:

1. Given that almost all the LSC constructions require demolition of the old existing buildings and the construction of makeshift classrooms and alternative arrangements for classes, the commencement of work was delayed by two months. Work started in mid-March 2025.

• Additional requirements for shifting of electrical poles, transmission lines, community pipelines, and water reservoirs resulted in delays.

• Onset of early monsoon has affected the pace of construction in most of the LSCs with landslides, floods, and roadblocks.

• In most of the sites, additional work, such as the construction of retaining walls, was necessitated to ensure protection against landslides.

• Some sites were relocated due to site conditions and to accommodate requests from stakeholders.

Despite all the challenges faced in the last nine months, NECTAR and the construction firms have worked together to overcome them. To date, physical progress of 30% has been achieved, and financial progress stands at 15%.

After the monsoon, the pace of construction work is expected to improve, and the construction of LSCs is expected to be completed by August 2026.