Nagaland Governor La Ganesan on Friday called upon all stakeholders to rise above their differences, and make a united final push to arrive at the eagerly-awaited solution to the Naga political issue. Addressing the 75th Republic Day celebrations at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza here after unfurling the national flag and witnessing the ceremonial march past, the governor assured that the state government was keen and committed to an early solution.
He recalled that Nagaland was formed six decades ago with special constitutional safeguards to protect the culture, identity and interest of the people. He said that Nagaland had been an active partner in the overall development and growth of the nation. He, however, acknowledged the constraints posed by the Naga political issue and the elusive solution in spite of the best efforts and good wishes of everyone concerned.
He however stressed that everyone should be thankful to all the stakeholders who were working tirelessly to find a peaceful, honourable and acceptable solution. He further mentioned that the government was also in the process of developing a fully planned modern city, which would be the first of its kind in Nagaland, and known as “Nagaki City” at Chathe valley, Chümoukedima district. Governor said that the proposal for the new city, which was at an advanced stage, had been taken up with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for favourable consideration and funding under the 15th Finance Commission.
Ganesan reiterated that the state government was committed to holding elections to the ULBs soon as the state Assembly had recently passed the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023 and relevant rules framed.
He conceded that some parts of the state, especially Eastern Nagaland areas, were still lagging behind the rest in terms of infrastructure and on different socio-economic parameters due to historical and geographical factors.
He however assured that the Centre and state government were seized of the matter, and were firmly committed to suitably address this with the urgency it deserved.
He disclosed that the Department of Industries & Commerce was setting up modern aggregation centres at Longnak, Changtongya and Pfutsero, along with an Integrated Warehousing and Distribution Centre at Meluri, which would greatly enhance the state’s logistical landscape for storage and movement of goods.
The department was also establishing a Unity Mallunder the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital investment at District Industries Centre, 6th Mile, Sovima, Chümoukedima, which was anticipated to yield multifaceted outcomes that would significantly contribute to the socio-economic progress of the region by providing a dedicated platform for the promotion and retail of the state’s one district, one product (ODOP), GI products, and various handicraft items.
Under Jal Jeevan Mission, he claimed that the PHE department had provided more than three lakh functional household tap connection and more than 64,000 households were expected to be covered during the current financial year.
He said the Food & Civil Supplies Department had achieved about 97% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards of NFSA beneficiaries, while the Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) had successfully executed a number of projects in Eastern Nagaland under UDAP and BAD.
Under PM-DevINE programme, he said livelihood projects with an outlay of Rs 180 crore were in the process of being implemented in Eastern Nagaland that would give a further impetus to growth and development in the region.
He said the Higher Education Department had been able to get 36 out of 71 colleges in the state accredited by the NAAC, while other colleges were also under process for assessment. As per National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, he said Nagaland University had already implemented four-year UG programme from the academic session 2023-24 in all colleges of the State.
Mentioning that the proposal for upgradation of three diploma institutes to degree engineering collegeshad also been initiated under PMUSHA Scheme, he revealed that the state government was pursuing with the Centre for establishment of an Indian Institute of Science Education & Research in Nagaland, for which the government had acquired about 200 acres of prime land at Sukhovi village in Chümoukedima district.
While the state’s first medical college – Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR) – was fully functional, he said construction of the medical college in Mon was also making good progress.
He claimed that the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme had received good response from the public, assuring the citizens who had enrolled for the scheme would be entitled to free and cashless treatment for various ailments.
Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, he said a centralised command centre had been established at the Directorate of Agriculture, while the Rural Development Department had generated 177.32 lakh person days and provided employment to 4.07 lakh households in 2023-24 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Further under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-G), construction of more than 9,500 houses had been completed and the department aimed to complete the remaining houses as per the given target by the end of this financial year.
Ganesan claimed that the Department of Economic Affairs had lauded the successful implementation of JICA-assisted Nagaland Forest Management Project in the state.
Additionally, he said the state and district level indicator frameworks had been developed for monitoring the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) across the state, while SDG district roadmaps for all districts were being developed to achieve the Nagaland SDG Vision 2023.
Noting that Nagaland was now one of the most thriving and sought after tourist destinations, he said the state had been identified as one of the 16 most exciting tourist destinations in the world for 2024 by Sydney Morning Herald.
With sports persons continuing to excel at various national and international events, and winning medals, he said the state was making significant mark in the sporting arena.
He said the Department of Youth Resources and Sports gad recently commissioned five pre-fabricated multi discipline sports stadiums, while construction of 11 more such projects were underway and expected to be completed before the end of 2024.
“We are also taking up construction of several other major sports infrastructure projects, most notable among them being the synthetic turf football ground of FIFA standardsand international size with galleries and floodlights at NAPTC, Chümoukedima,” he announced.
The governor mentioned that the state was also planning to host national and regional sporting events such as North East Olympic Games in March 2024, and the Asian Belt & Traditional Wrestling Championships later this year, which would be the biggest ever sports event to be held in Nagaland.
Besides, he said the government would also be hosting the Asia Music Summit at Kohima in the first week of February where 500 delegates and representatives from five continents would be taking part.
He claimed that the state had made headway in most sectors of human endeavours over the past six decades, and credited every citizen for this.
“In the field of sports, music and entrepreneurship we have been making rapid strides. And more recently, our performance in the governance sector has further improved. All these positive developments are the outcomes of the people-centric developmental policies of the government on the one hand, and the enduring and resilient character being exhibited by the people,” he acknowledged.
Ganesan encouraged all to recommit themselves to become law-abiding, good and responsible citizens of the country, while working with renewed enthusiasm to make Nagaland one of the most progressive and developed states.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, host of ministers, legislators, senior officials and public attended the Republic Day celebrations.
Later, the governor inaugurated the exhibition stalls set up on the occasion at the Secretariat Plaza in the presence of the chief minister, senior officials and others. Altogether 12 stalls were set up by various departments.
Earlier, the governor also inspected the parade contingents, led by dy. commandant NAPTC L. Impung Chang as parade commander and 2nd i/c asst. commandant 2nd NAP H. Pongloi.
Altogether 16 Contingents took part in the parade consisting of 13 Assam Rifles, 78 CRPF, 37 BSF, DEF Kohima, 4th NAP, 5th (IR) Mizoram, 10th IR, 15th IR Mahila, Home Guards & Civil Defence & SDRF, Ex-Servicemen, 1 Naga Girls NCC Kohima, Kohima College, NPTS brass band, Nagaland Police Auxiliary brass band, 15th Mahila pipe band and 13 AR pipe band.
Other highlights included dance performance titled ‘Jigra’ by Women Resources department. Pochurycultural troupe Kohima presented an indigenous game while the Burgeon Society Chedema presented the Angami bamboo stilt game called ‘PhinoPhitou’. Lotha folk song was performed by Yachummarocultural troupe while folk dances were presented by Phom Bhumnyucultural troupe Kohima, Sangtam Women cultural troupe and Zeliang cultural troupe Kohima which performed a traditional Skylark dance titled ‘Roina’.
The governor also gave away President’s medals and Governor’s award (announced in 2023) on the occasion. It was also announced that Sano Vamuzo was conferred the Padma Shri award 2024 for her distinguished service in the field of social work.