Supongmeren urges Centre to act on NE development and Naga peace accords

Raising the voice of the North East in the Lok Sabha under Rule 377 during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir on Wednesday highlighted the longstanding neglect of the region in infrastructure and policy development.
In a press statement, the NPCC Communications Department informed that Supongmeren, in his written submission, stated that despite sharing borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar and China—and the government’s declared “Act East Policy”—the region continues to lag behind in key sectors such as road, rail, and air connectivity, electricity, health, telecom, and quality education, especially in rural areas.
He cited logistical difficulties even for Defence and paramilitary forces due to poor infrastructure, which hampers effective border management. Referring to Nagaland’s Longwa International Trade Centre, he said that while two-wheelers from the Myanmar side can access the centre easily, access from the Indian side remains poorly connected.
He criticized the Union Government’s “defensive and dismissive” attitude, questioning why peace accords with Naga groups—promised as final settlements—remain unimplemented even after several years. He also expressed concern over the continued imposition of AFSPA, calling it contradictory to the Centre’s narrative of peace and progress. Urging decentralised and region-specific policies, Supongmeren said only inclusive planning can bring real development to the North East. He therefore called on the government to move beyond slogans and optics, and take concrete steps for the region’s progress.