The 22nd Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-III, held in Kohima from November 9 to 11, 2025, concluded on Tuesday with the unanimous adoption of a resolution reaffirming the commitment of Northeast State Legislatures to strengthen parliamentary democracy, inclusive growth, and regional cooperation.
Convened under the theme “Policy, Progress & People: Legislature as Catalysts of Change,” the three-day conference brought together presiding officers, legislators, and parliamentary officials from across the Northeastern states to deliberate on the legislature’s role in driving transformative governance.
The conference concluded with a historic resolution encompassing eight key points of collective intent and action.
The House unanimously resolved to review and renew commitment of respective State Legislatures of the region in encouraging the esteemed Legislators in connecting with the people to contribute and participate in the mission towards a “developed North East Region as a partner of Viksit Bharat 2047”.
In a major policy thrust, the conference urged the Central Government to initiate dialogue with all respective State Government of the Northeast Region to assess, prepare a comprehensive, sustainable development plan of the Northeast by taking into account the ethnic diversity of the region towards a progressive, inclusive and sustainable progress of the region for the next 20 years to achieve Viksit Bharat.
While acknowledging the Central Government’s initiatives focusing in the Northeast region under the Act East Policy over the past decade, the House noted that “socio-economic disparities between the North East and the rest of India remain to be comprehensively acknowledged and addressed.” It therefore impressed upon the Centre to substantially increase the budget allocation for the region so that the Northeast can become a key growth engine for Viksit Bharat 2047.
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Recognizing the geo-political significance of the region as India’s gateway to ASEAN, the resolution called for an exclusive and targeted developmental programme for the Northeast focusing on social, cultural, and economic growth in collaboration and partnership of the Northeast region with ASEAN nations.
The House further resolved to deepen regional cooperation in trade, culture, healthcare, education, and tourism to ensure “collective regional progress.”
In a strong show of solidarity, the House also endorsed and extended support to Nagaland’s developmental aspirations, urging the Central Government to prioritize: Upgradation of Kohima Medical College into a Central Institute on the lines of AIIMS and RIMS, Imphal; Implementation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)/IIT as announced in the 2015–16 Union Budget by the late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley; and Consideration and early approval of the Chiethu Airport project at Kohima to enhance regional connectivity and economic integration.
Given the Northeast’s vulnerability to seismic activities and climate change, the conference emphasized the urgent need for “a climate-resilient approach towards development.” The House resolved that each State Legislature will initiate new commitments through policies and action plans and will urge respective governments to formulate dedicated State Climate Action Plans.
The House also resolved to explore the establishment of a Regional Research Centre to monitor, study, and formulate preventive measures against the impact of global warming and climate change and its effects on the socio-economic uplift of the region.
The House further resolved to use the institution of respective State Assemblies of the region in encouraging its legislators on the pertinent and pressing global issue of climate change through Committees/Workshops/Symposiums etc. The House also resolved to reach out to the people of the region on the discussed subject matters through the esteemed office of the legislators in respective State Assemblies of the region.
In conclusion, the House condemned the bomb blast at Red Fort, New Delhi, on November 10, 2025, and expressed its deepest condolences to the victims and their families.
