Congress leader and former Chairman Nagaland PCC Minority Department Rajesh Kumar Sethi Jain, National Coordinator, AICC Minority Department and In-charge, Manipur State, has raised serious concerns over the Nagaland government’s appeal to Corporate India to invest in the state and contribute through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s invitation to outside investors to explore opportunities in tourism, infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics and other sectors raises an important question: Is the state government creating an equally supportive environment for those who have lived, worked and built businesses in Nagaland for generations?
While investment from Corporate India is welcome and necessary for development, many Non-Naga residents, including families who have lived in Nagaland for decades, continue to express concerns regarding government policies related to the Inner Line Permit (ILP), land ownership, education, healthcare, employment and access to government benefits.
Several business families have reportedly faced growing uncertainty, with some closing their establishments or shifting their businesses to other states in search of a more predictable environment.
The issue is not whether Corporate India should invest in Nagaland. The issue is whether the same spirit of opportunity, security and economic participation is being extended to everyone who has contributed to Nagaland’s economy for decades.
Article 371A is an important constitutional safeguard that protects Nagaland’s unique identity, customary practices and specified land-related matters. However, its implementation and the state’s broader policy framework must also be guided by transparency, clarity and constructive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of long-standing Non-Naga residents. The government’s failure to create a predictable, inclusive and peaceful business environment is undermining the confidence of those who have lived in Nagaland for generations and are willing to invest, expand their businesses and contribute to the state’s economic growth. Protecting Nagaland’s constitutional identity and encouraging investment must go hand in hand, ensuring that existing residents and entrepreneurs are not left uncertain about their future.
According to Sethi Jain, development cannot be measured merely by the number of corporate investors invited to a summit. It must also be measured by whether existing businesses survive, whether young people find employment, whether families can access essential services, and whether every law-abiding resident can live and conduct business with dignity and certainty.
Nagaland needs investment, but it also needs inclusion. It needs new industries, but it must not overlook existing entrepreneurs. It must protect its constitutional identity while addressing the concerns of all communities that have contributed to the state’s growth.
The government must clarify its policies on land, business, education, healthcare, employment and access to public welfare schemes so that investors and existing residents alike understand their rights, responsibilities and opportunities.
Sethi Jain has asked the Rio government a simple question: If Corporate India is being invited to build its future in Nagaland, what assurance is being offered to those who have already spent generations building their lives and businesses in the state?
Development should create opportunities for all, not uncertainty for those who are already here.
Rajesh Kumar Sethi Jain
National Coordinator, AICC Minority Department
In-charge, Manipur State
Thursday, November 5, 2026