Appeal to Gov, CM to revive Nagaland House in Mumbai

An appeal has been made to Nagaland Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and chief minister Neiphiu Rio for immediate intervention to revive and operationalise Nagaland House at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, citing the prolonged suffering of Nagas living in Mumbai, especially patients and their families.
In an open letter addressed to the Governor and chief minister of Nagaland, Naga Christian Fellowship Mumbai pastor Hamyan Phom, representing the Naga community in Mumbai, expressed deep concern over the continued non-functioning of Nagaland House, which was completed in 2010 but has remained unused for the last 16 years.
Stating that Nagaland House was envisioned as a “home away from home” for Naga students, working youth, patients seeking medical treatment and officials visiting Mumbai, the letter said the building today stands neglected and forgotten despite repeated assurances and public announcements over the years that it would be made functional.
Phom pointed out that the Nagaland government continued to spend lakhs of rupees every month on maintenance, even though not a single Naga was residing there. He said the building’s condition had deteriorated, with falling ceilings, cracked floors, non-functional lifts, damaged walls and outdated lighting systems, while only a few security personnel were stationed there.
Highlighting the contrast, the letter noted that Meghalaya House, Assam Bhawan, Rajasthan Bhawan, Uttarakhand Bhawan, UP Bhawan, MP Bhawan and Mizoram House in Mumbai were all fully functional, providing accommodation and support systems to their people.
The letter drew particular attention to the plight of cancer patients and families coming to Mumbai for treatment, especially at Tata Memorial Hospital, stating that high rents and accommodation costs forced many families into debt and distress.
It also stated that there was no place to conduct condolence services with dignity when Nagas passed away in Mumbai.
The appeal further questioned why, despite Nagaland having two houses each in Delhi and Kolkata, there was not even one functional Nagaland House in Mumbai. It urged the state leadership to ensure that Nagaland House, Mumbai, was made fully functional within the year, stressing that the community was not asking for luxury but for dignity, compassion and responsibility.