State chief minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, during his visit to Capt N Kengurüse, Centre of Excellence & Wellness at Chieswema on Wednesday, commended the Centre for empowering the youth to secure a better future.
He encouraged the students to stay focused and disciplined and to take pride in being part of a project that represented the aspirations of Nagaland’s youth. The Centre, a joint initiative by Assam Rifles and National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO), provides free residential coaching to talented underprivileged students of Nagaland for competitive exams, along with structured personality development and mentoring. Dr. Rio said the centre was not just an academic initiative, but a movement towards empowerment, equality of opportunity, and a brighter future for the youth.
Extending his best wishes, the chief minister expressed hope that the centre would continue to rise to the pinnacle of success and become an iconic institution.
He also lauded the vision and commitment of Assam Rifles for undertaking such a transformative educational initiative.
The chief minister also interacted with the students and faculty, witnessed cultural performances by the scholars and toured the academic and residential infrastructure.
Earlier, Rio was received by Director General Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera along with senior officers and members of NIEDO team. Lt Gen Lakhera reaffirmed the AR’s unwavering dedication to the development of the North East, not only through security but through meaningful outreach and capacity-building. He also commended the spirit of the students and the positive impact of the Centre’s holistic training model.
Rio urges for patience on job reservation review
KOHIMA, JUL 2 (PTI): Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday urged people to have patience as the state government prepares to constitute a Commission to review the existing job reservation policy.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a formal function in Kohima, Rio said the Commission’s task is “very detailed” and cannot deliver immediate results.
He emphasised that any reforms – be it in administration, reservations, or delimitations should be carried out only after the national census, which is expected to begin in 2027. “We don’t want to make temporary arrangements,” Rio said, adding that the entire state must undergo the review exercise thoroughly. He acknowledged certain gaps in the current system and assured that steps would be taken to address them comprehensively and conclusively.
Responding to the demand made by the 5-Tribes Committee on Revision of Reservation Policy (CoRRP) that civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs be excluded from the proposed Commission, Rio said, “The government will look into it. We have to wait and see.” The CoRRP, comprising representatives of five major tribes – Angami, Ao, Lotha, Rengma, and Sema – recently expressed serious concern over what it described as government inaction, despite a cabinet decision to form a review Commission. While welcoming the announcement, the committee reiterated its two core demands: to either scrap the existing reservation policy or allocate the unreserved quota to the five tribes.
They argued that the policy, which has been in place since 1977, no longer reflects the current socio-economic and educational realities of the various communities in the state.
Despite submitting the memorandum on September 20, 2024, and issuing a 30-day ultimatum on April 26, 2025, the tribes claimed the government “failed” to respond until recently.
It was only during a meeting convened by deputy chief minister Y Patton on June 3, that the government assured CoRRP and the five tribes that a commission would be constituted by June 17.
This assurance came following sustained public pressure, including a large rally held in Kohima and other districts inhabited by the five tribes, where they peacefully protested the delay and demanded transparency and inclusivity in the review process.