Advisor for Industries and Commerce, Hekani Jakhalu, while initiating the general discussion on the Budget for the year 2026–2027, considered the budget as ‘women-led development’ and “women-centric’.
Jakhalu stated that despite the state’s financial challenges, Nagaland has already slowly but surely begun the process of working towards Viksit Nagaland 2047, with focus on areas that will spur economic growth. She described the Budget as visionary, futuristic, and inclusive, bringing everyone on board, including farmers, women, youth, and students.
She also expressed optimism over the 17 new innovative initiatives announced in the Budget, which include the Nagaland Agro-Based Produce Logistics Support, Nagaland Strategic Water Resilience Initiative, Chief Minister’s STEM Initiative Programme, Chief Minister’s Sports Advancement Initiative, Nagaland Academic Excellence Corpus, and the Nagaland Apprenticeship and Placement Exchange, among others.
Jakhalu pointed out that, unlike in the past, and as mentioned by the Chief Minister, for the first time in the state’s fiscal framework, the Budget has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and incorporates a strong women-centric approach. She said this clearly reflects that the government considers women as equal stakeholders in the growth and development of the state, especially since women constitute half of the population.
She added that the Chief Minister has consistently demonstrated his commitment towards the upliftment of women — from enabling the election of two women to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, to passing reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies, and now consciously incorporating a women-led development Budget.
The Advisor viewed that the Innovation Seed Fund initiative would provide early-stage financial support to women-led nano enterprises without requiring them to undergo cumbersome loan-related documentation. These women, she added, will also be facilitated for linkages with the formal banking sector, opening new avenues for expansion and helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Jakhalu also considered the introduction of creches in government establishments as another measure towards women empowerment, to enable higher participation of women in the workplace and improve women workforce stability.
Jakhalu also welcomed the government’s commitment to introduce 50 Pink Scooty Taxis in pilot mode across three districts, remarking that Nagaland will probably be the first state in the country to launch such an initiative. She said this will also create opportunities for women drivers to operate taxi services across the state.
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She remarked that these measures clearly show that the Chief Minister and his government understand and are sensitive to women’s issues.
Jakhalu also highlighted the Nagaland Weavers Advancement and Market Formalization Initiative, and provided some background to place it in perspective. She said that the Ministry of DoNER has constituted eight high-level task forces for the eight northeastern states, each headed by the respective Chief Minister, with other Chief Ministers and the DoNER Minister as members.
She noted that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is the convener of the high-level task force on handicraft and handloom, and has already held a series of meetings to strategically plan the promotion of the handloom and handicraft sector.
Jakhalu further said that while the Chief Minister has been focusing on promoting the sector, he has also remained concerned about preserving and protecting traditional designs and motifs so that they are not exploited. She said the announcement of the Nagaland Weavers Advancement and Market Formalization Initiative is a step towards supporting traditional artisans by establishing a registry to strengthen market access, product formalization, facilitate GI tagging, and promote value addition in the traditional textile sector. At the same time, she said, it will help mainstream weavers into the organised sector.
Under the Department of Industries and Commerce, she noted that there is provision and allocation for Startup Nagaland, wherein 25 per cent of the funds have been earmarked for women-led startups. Further, the Women Resources Development Department has been allocated Rs 4.3 crore for transformative livelihood intervention projects and MYKI activities.
Besides the women-specific allocations, Jakhalu held the view that women will also equally benefit from many of the other broader budgetary provisions.
Stating that the government has placed so much trust in women, she expressed hope that women will utilise these funds judiciously, and that tangible results will be reflected in the Outcome Budget Statement that the government proposes to publish in the subsequent financial year.
She concluded by thanking the Chief Minister for presenting what she described as a very comprehensive gender budget.
