Addressing the State on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day of India at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Kohima, on 15th August 2024, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio commended the successful conduct of the Urban Local Body (ULB) election in the state with 33% women reservation.

“From having no women members in town and municipal councils, we have reached 37% women representation”, the Chief Minister remarked, stating that with unity, there is nothing that cannot be achieved as a state.

Asserting that his government is open to all policies to resolve the issue of Eastern Nagaland which is demanding for Frontier Nagaland Territory (FNT), Rio stated that the region requires more hand holding than the other parts of the state which is essential “to breach both physical and human capital gaps that exists today.” He expressed confidence that “our shared history and culture, our feelings of brotherhood and our commitment to equity development of our state will guide us to the path of progress and prosperity.”

On the Naga political issue, the Chief Minister affirmed the government’s commitment to early solution and hoped that the “continuity in the dispensation at the Centre” will prove beneficial. He further asserted that the Nagaland Government is making every possible effort in the direction to achieve early solution.

Further in his speech on the 78th Independence Day, Rio lauded the constitution of the Political Affairs Committee comprising of the entire Cabinet and elected members from those tribes who are not in the Cabinet.

Earlier, the Chief Minister unfurled the National Flag, took the Rashtriya Salute and began his speech by extending his greetings to the citizens.

Addressed the Independence Day celebration at the Secretariat Plaza, Kohima. Happy to witness the vibrant parades and cultural performances showcasing India’s unity in diversity. Let us continue to build a stronger and a more inclusive India. #HappyIndependenceDay2024 pic.twitter.com/SPvG734YWy

— Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) August 15, 2024

Key points from the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s address include:

INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY & CONNECTIVITY

1. Future Focus:

– Ciethu Airport Kohima; Dimapur-Tizit railway line; Foothill Road; Establishment of Indian Institute of Science; Education & Research; Upgradation of Nagaland Institute of Medical; Science & Research as a Central Institute; Establishing a New Incubation City ‘Nagaki’ in Chümoukedima district; Construction of the Konyak Heritage Complex in Mon, under DUDU

– Public Works Department (R&B), under the NESIDS completed 3 projects under Tuensang, Longleng and Noklak district

– To implement 8 projects under NESIDS covering more than 175 Kms. MoRTH to support 18 projects covering more than 300 km

– Two-Lane widening of NH-61 (new NH-2) spanning Wokha and Mokokchung districts (covering 93.6km), widening of single lane to intermediate lane from Mokokchung to Chare via Dikhu (covering 20km) and rehabilitation of Dimapur overbridge on NH-29

Future Energy Initiatives:

– Two major Hydro Electric Projects – 42 MW Lower Tizu & 24 MW Zungki

– 2.4 MW Duilumroi Small Hydro Project scheduled for completion by August 2024

Other Initiatives:

– PHED, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, provided Functional Household Tap Connections to 91% of target households in the State by July 2024

– Startup Nagaland fostered entrepreneurship with 5 incubators, including one for persons with disabilities and created over 970 employment opportunities for Naga youths

– Dept. of IT & C upgraded the Nagaland State Data Centre (NSDC) under the SASCI scheme, enabling NSC to provide more secure & efficient government services

– The Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution, a pioneering risk insurance solution in the world, implemented with effect from June 2024 to May 2027

AGRICULTURE & ALLIED SECTORS:

1. Development of an integrated web-based Geo-Portal and mobile application to help farmers under the Digital Agriculture Mission
2. The buy-back of Fresh Fruit bunches under National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm commenced in Peren, Wokha, Mon, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mokokchung and Longleng
3. Achieving Excellence

– “Best State Horticulture Award 2024” at the Agriculture Leadership Conclave on July 10, 2024

– Chansu Organic Kiwi Producer Company Ltd., Phek supported by the Dept. of Horticulture awarded “Centre for Innovations in Public Systems Award 2023” for achievements in promotion and marketing of organic kiwi fruit

4. Dept. of Horticulture launched the organic cultivation of citrus, persimmon, ginger & large cardamom across 2,500ha. Set-up 380 low-cost mushroom units to promote mushroom farming
5. Dept. of Sericulture, under Silk Samagra-2 benefited 800 individuals, created 17,350 jobs through silkworm rearing (2021-24), and covered 200 acres of land with silkworm host plants under the State Programme for Eri and Muga (2022-25)
6. Fisheries Dept. under PMMSY constructed 150ha of water bodies during 2023-24, impacting 1,050 beneficiaries in the State
7. Dept. of AH&VS launched the Community Thutho Project in Lumithsami Village, Zunheboto for indigenous breed propagation, and recently established a Veterinary Hospital in Tseminyu and a Mini Dairy Plant-cum-Dairy Farmers Training Institute in Mokokchung
8. Dept. of Soil & Water Conservation completed the installation of Static Soil Testing laboratories in Tseminyu, Chiephobozou and Pughoboto
9. Dept. of Land Resources covered 400ha of coffee plantation in the last FY, and under the PMKSY, treated 86 micro-watersheds covering 32,000ha in 9 districts to promote sustainable development through a focus on high-value crops
10. Dept. of Water Resources, as part of Jal Shakti Abhiyan, completed 29 water harvesting structures across Kohima, Dimapur, Mokokchung, Wokha and Zunheboto
11. 262 units of Ground Water Irrigation Schemes covering more than 660ha set up under the PMKSY
12. Dept. of Cooperation uploaded data for 8,110 registered cooperative societies to the National Cooperative Database, and computerization of 231 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies is underway, with 33 already completed
13. Dept. of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is implementing the Nagaland Forest Management Project-an externally aided project funded by JICA, Govt. of Japan. The project has so far covered 152 villages across the State.
14. Joint inauguration of the Kohima Peace Memorial Eco Park in May 2024 with the Ambassador of Japan to India to commemorate the Naga-Japanese partnership Art & Culture, Sports & Tourism

ART & CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM

1. The Nagaland Madrigal Singers won two Gold Medals at the World Choir Games, New Zealand, in the Contemporary Music Mixed Voices and Mixed Chamber Choir categories
2. Hosted the 3rd North East Games in March, 2024 with an overall medal tally improvement from 79 in Shillong (2nd edition) to 134
3. For the first time, hosted the Khelo India University Games for Wrestling in February, 2024
4. Nagaland, as the first in India, hosted the Asia Music Summit, drawing event managers from 12 countries and leading to MoUs for promoting Naga talents globally
5. Launched the State’s documentary film, “Head Hunting to Beat Boxing” at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 in France
6. The Nagaland Tourism Policy 2024, launched on March 20, 2024, aims to establish Nagaland as a ‘Green Destination’ by emphasizing sustainability, community-centered tourism, infrastructure development, promotion, & tourism awareness
7. Chumoukedima & Niuland part of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme of the Government of India
8. For the 25th anniversary of the Hornbill Festival, new galleries with a 7,000+ capacity & new features are being added to the Kisama Heritage Village to enhance tourist experience

RURAL DEVELOPMENT & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

1. Under MGNREGA, generated an employment of 6.65 lakh person days till early July 2024
2. The DAY – NRLM has achieved 100% saturation of targeted 1.22 lakh rural households
3. 15,245 Self Help Groups formed
4. Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan scheme, Community Resource Centre at Yangzitong village (Kiphire) & the Rural Resource & Training Centre at Thipuzu village (Phek) are expected to be completed this year
5. Under the PM SVANidhi scheme, 3,814 street vendors availed loans to diversify their businesses
6. Nagaland Urban Infrastructure Development Project assisted by the Asian Development Bank aims to cover all the 16 HQ towns in the State
7. The Municipal Affairs Dept. completed 21,525 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

scheme, with 9,241 more at various stages of construction

HEALTH AND WELFARE

1. 4 PHs received the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) certification from the Ministry of H&FW
2. Upgradation of Radiation Oncology Centre at Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dimapur
3. NIMSR successfully completed its 1st year of operation & will soon welcome its 2nd batch of 100 students. Medical College in Mon is making good progress
4. The Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme provided cashless treatments to over 10,700 patients & achieved a 91.13% immunisation coverage for infants last FY
5. The Social Welfare Dept. through the helpline facility in 2023-24, assisted 64 women & 297 children

EDUCATION, LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT & SKILL DEVELOPMENT

1. The Dept. of School Education constructed 17 new school buildings & 17 residential quarters
2. The World Bank funded, Nagaland Education Project – The Lighthouse (NECTAR), is in its 4th yr. of operation

– An Attendance Management System called SMILE App- an Education Management Information System maintains database of students, teachers, schools, and education offices in the state

– 16 Lighthouse School Complexes selected in 16 districts, which will develop innovative models & lead the institutional transformation of school education in the State

3. The Dept. of Higher Education under the PM-AJAY constructed 8 girls hostels
4. NAAC accredited 37 colleges out of 71 higher education institutions in Nagaland
5. Scholarship provided to 47,228 students
6. The Dept. of Technical Education to ensure all Polytechnic Institutes in the State achieve NBA accreditation. Govt. Polytechnics in Longleng & Kiphire are set to begin their academic sessions soon
7. SCERT has uploaded 148 E-Textbooks of Nagaland Heritage for classes 1 to 8 on DIKSHA portal & is developing a State Curriculum Framework for School Education
8. The Dept. of Labour trained 50 trainers per district in key construction trades to address the shortage of skilled trainers under the “Skill Proficiency Management for Building and Other Construction Workers – Advance Training of Trainers” programme
9. To ensure quicker dissemination & easy access of news, the Dept. of Information & Public Relations has developed the DIPR Nagaland Mobile App compatible with android phones
10. Eight Multimedia Mobile Vehicles for Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Zunheboto, Mokokchung, Phek & Wokha flagged-off in June 2024
11. Nagaland became the 1st NE State to estimate & publish Gross District Domestic Product (GDP), with the efforts of the Dept. of Economics & Statistics

LAW & ORDER

1. District admin. & police ensured elections to the Lok Sabha & the Urban Local Body were concluded peacefully
2. To enhance crime-fighting & modernize the police force, Nagaland Police has upgraded forensic capabilities with a new Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) instrument & a state-of-the-art 4k spectral camera for capturing fingerprints on porous surfaces
3. Continuing the fight against drug menace, Nagaland Police seized drugs worth approx. Rs. 142 Crores & also arrested a drug kingpin of the NE

(Source: CMO Nagaland)