Nagaland: Rio reiterates commitment to development & peace

Nagaland chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio on Monday affirmed that the state government was making sustained efforts across sectors to achieve the national goal of Viksit Bharat@2047, with human resource development at the core of the vision.
Addressing the 77th Republic Day celebration at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza here, Rio said Nagaland would work alongside other states to achieve this collective goal while advancing welfare, infrastructure and governance initiatives.
On Naga issue, Rio said the Political Affairs Committee– comprising ministers, advisors, MPs and representatives of political parties– had been holding regular meetings to review matters related to the Naga peace talks and would intensify its role as an active facilitator. He urged all negotiating parties and stakeholders to heed the people’s aspirations and work towards an honourable, inclusive and acceptable solution without further delay, stressing unity and mutual understanding.
On Eastern Nagaland, Rio said the government remained committed to addressing regional disparities and was moving ahead in understanding with the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation on the demand for creation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA). The state’s views, he said, had already been conveyed to the Centre.
In education, Rio said the Department of School Education under NESIDS (OTRI) had completed an in-service teachers’ training-cum-examination centre with residential facilities at Medziphema in Chümoukedima district, along with IT-enabled infrastructure.
The State Level Education Committee had also approved a three-month certificate course for language teachers and officials of recognised languages in collaboration with Nagaland University. In the labour and skill development sector, he said a construction skill centre was being set up in partnership with the Construction Skill Development Council (CSDC).
The Labour department had also introduced an online registration and licensing system, notified on November 13, 2025, to improve governance and transparency.
Highlighting technical education, Rio said three polytechnics had secured NBA accreditation, while the upgradation of Khelhoshe Polytechnic, Atoizu, to a degree college was progressing. An MoU with ARMS Incorporation of Japan was also in the pipeline, focusing on employment opportunities for technical graduates. To streamline scholarship governance, the Nagaland Scholarship Nodal Cell was set up at the Directorate of Higher Education and launched on December 1, 2025.
The state cabinet had also approved the Guidelines on Coaching Centres 2025 to regulate the sector and safeguard students’ welfare.
Rio said the department of Youth Resources and Sports was strengthening the sports ecosystem. Nagaland hosted the Dr. Talimeren Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship 2025–26 (Tier 2) at Chümoukedima from November 22 to December 11, 2025, with participation from 13 states and UTs—the first national-level football championship hosted by the state.
He added that Nagaland was preparing to host the 9th North East Youth Festival in March 2026, expected to bring together over 1,200 youth from across the region.
Rio said the Agriculture department had engaged AG Horizon Pvt. Ltd. as Programme Management Unit to improve project implementation.
Under PM-KISAN, over 2.38 lakh farmers benefited, with more than ₹763 crore credited directly to their bank accounts. The state was also implementing the National Mission on Natural Farming since 2024–25.
In horticulture, under MIDH 2025–26, area expansion of 1,290 hectares had been achieved across multiple crops. Under RKVY, initiatives were underway for an apple processing unit, low-cost oyster mushroom units and promotion of GI-tagged tree tomato cultivation.
The State Level Nodal Agency under the Land Resources department organised the Watershed Mahotsav Campaign 2025 under PMKSY-WDC 2.0 and inventorised 7,369 springs across 1,318 villages. The Soil & Water Conservation department also inaugurated 12 biofertiliser production units and a command and control centre under RKVY.
In animal husbandry, mass vaccination of 60,000 bovines against foot and mouth disease was underway under NADCP, along with establishment of nine pork meat production units. The Fisheries department was developing 10 hectares of water bodies under PMMSY and would implement a table fish production farm under NEC.
The Sericulture department was promoting eri silkworm rearing in five districts, benefiting 120 women with training and infrastructure support.
Rio said Nagaland remained one of the most peaceful states in the country. Citing NCRB’s Crime in India 2023 report, he said the state had the second-lowest cognisable crime rate at 84.9 per lakh population.
Police were strengthening response to cybercrime and financial offences. In anti-narcotics operations, Nagaland Police seized 230 kg of NDPS drugs and around one lakh units of synthetic drugs in the past year, registering 135 cases and arresting 218 persons.
Rio said One Stop Centres were operational in all 17 districts, while the Nagaland Juvenile Justice Rules 2025 were notified on December 2, 2025. The Food & Civil Supplies department had achieved 100% online allocation and supply chain management.
In healthcare, over 5.78 lakh PM-JAY and CMHIS (General) cards and 1.92 lakh CMHIS (EP) cards had been issued, with claim payouts exceeding ₹450 crore. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was improving healthcare delivery, supported by an MoU with FSSAI on preventive healthcare.
On infrastructure, 11 road projects under NESIDS covering 205.92 km were underway, along with 56 road projects and one RCC bridge under SASCI. Rural roads under PMGSY were being built using eco-friendly Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology.
Rio also highlighted upgradation of the Nagarjan substation, optical ground wire installation, Jal Jeevan Mission progress, industrial infrastructure projects, DUDA initiatives, children’s libraries, and NSDMA’s “ELIONA” high-performance computing system for disaster risk management.
Concluding, Rio said that while progress had been made, much remained to be done, and called upon citizens to rededicate themselves to building a more developed, prosperous and progressive Nagaland.
Earlier, Rio unfurled the National Flag, received the Rashtriya Salute and inspected the parade. He also unveiled the commemorative plaque for the Drone School and Drone Centre of Excellence in the presence of deputy chief ministers T.R. Zeliang and Y. Patton, chief secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, and home commissioner Abhijit Sinha.
The march past was led by parade commander Z. Tshurhosie Kajiri, Dy. Commandant, 5th NAP, with Gurpreet Kaur, IPS (Probationer), as second-in-command. Seventeen contingents, including pipe and brass bands from the Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police, participated.
Highlights included special presentations by Nurile Chizo of 78 Bn CRPF and Women Resources Development, along with cultural performances by Jakhama Village Cultural Troupe, Yachummaro Cultural Group, Pochury Cultural Troupe Kohima, Yangphi Jümü Lili Mulung, and Yimkhiung Beru Cultural Troupe.