As part of the ongoing urban expansion efforts, chief minister Neiphiu Rio has disclosed that Tsiesema Basa village has been identified for incorporation into the Kohima Capital Complex Project. He said this while speaking at Tsiesema Basa village 50th anniversary celebration held at the village local ground on Tuesday.
Rio remarked that the village completing 50 years was a major milestone achieved through God’s blessings and the visionary leadership of the villagers’ forefathers. He urged the youth to honour the hard work and sacrifices of their ancestors, which laid the foundation for the village’s development.
He also thanked the villagers for their unwavering support throughout his political career, assuring them of his government’s commitment to bringing development. He admitted that progress had been hindered by the unresolved political issue, but assured the people that efforts were ongoing to find an early solution.
He emphasised the need for Nagas to recognise their identity, unite, and live in peace and harmony. Rio noted that even during British rule, Naga customary laws, identity and traditions remained untouched, and preserved. He called for the preservation of these rich cultural heritages, lamenting that while outsiders recognised Nagas’ uniqueness, the Nagas themselves often overlooked them.
He encouraged the Angami community to leverage their geographical advantage for economic growth through a proactive approach. Rio acknowledged the challenges posed by the reinstatement of the Protected Area Regime and the disruptions caused by the lifting of Free Movement Regime in border areas.
He reiterated his government’s dedication to working for the welfare of the people, stressing the importance of thorough discussions and understanding to address these issues.
He pointed out that to show their unity and resolve for an early solution of the Naga political issue, the state’s 60 legislators had came together and formed an opposition-less government.
Rio said regional parties in Nagaland had struggled to complete a full five-year terms due to interference from the central government. But, when regional parties aligned with national parties, they were able to complete their terms.
He also highlighted the key government initiatives, including the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS) that provided accessible and affordable healthcare through 65 empanelled hospitals in Nagaland and 64 outside the state.
Acknowledging challenges like fraudulent claims, he urged the people to use the scheme responsibly to ensure its sustainability. He said the Chief Minister Micro-Finance Scheme offered financial assistance of up to Rs 15 lakh (extendable up to Rs 50 lakh) to support self-help groups (SHGs), farmers, and entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and self-reliance.
Claiming that 92% of households had been covered by the Jal Jeevan Mission, he admitted that certain villages had submitted false completion reports. He warned that such actions would lead to confusion and delay implementation of the project. He advised villagers to plan for sustainable water sources, assuring them that he would address the water scarcity issue of Tsiesema Basa.
The celebration witnessed the unveiling of two monoliths — one unveiled to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the political career of Rio, dedicated and unveiled by village council chairman Razoukhrielie Khro, and the other marking the 50th anniversary of Tsiesema Basa village unveiled by the chief minister.
The unveiling of the monoliths was blessed with a prayer by TBBC pastor Lhoukuolie Khro.
The programme began with an invocation by TBBC assistant pastor Mezhiivolie Khrabvü, followed by a welcome address by Razoukhrielie Khro, while greeting messages were delivered by Tsiesema village chairman Khrielezo Khro, and the history of the village’s establishment was narrated by Chüpfhü Khrodi.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by NDPP village unit president Ruokuovolie Khro. As a mark of appreciation, the Tsiesema Basa Women’s Organisation gifted the chief minister 50 baskets of rice grains, symbolising his 50 years of service to the people. In 50 years, the village has grown from 24 households to 106 now.