KOHIMA, March 3: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan on Monday asserted that the state’s opposition-less, NDPP-led government has been actively taking steps to ensure the peaceful resolution of the Naga Political Issue. Speaking on the first day of the week-long budget session of the 60-member Nagaland Assembly, Ganesan highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment to the people of Nagaland.
The Governor emphasized that the state government has collectively worked towards addressing the issue, as reiterated by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. On September 12, a consultative meeting with the apex and influential tribal bodies and civil society organizations was held to deliberate on the Naga Political Issue. The Governor expressed his gratitude for the wholehearted cooperation from the members of the Assembly in this regard.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his Cabinet colleagues also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 21 to express the people’s desire for an early resolution to the Naga Political Issue. Ganesan further noted the state’s support for the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) demand for a level of autonomy in six districts, stating that the government had submitted its comments on the third draft of the Memorandum of Settlement.
On narcotics control, the Governor revealed that last year, narcotic drugs worth more than Rs 44 crore were seized by the police, and the Excise and Prohibition Department made seizures valued at over Rs 1.18 crore, arresting more than 1,770 individuals.
Ganesan also highlighted several developments in the state’s agricultural and economic sectors. Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, 2,21,931 farmers benefited from direct financial support and technological innovations. Additionally, 30,500 hectares are now under organic cultivation, with a significant portion of the produce being marketed outside the state.
Further progress has been made under the National Livestock Mission, with the establishment of 26 pig breeding farms aimed at increasing meat production. The state government also identified 16 Horticulture Model Villages, with a total coverage of 340 hectares, under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
In the area of water resources, the state expects to complete 270 Surface Minor Irrigation Schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), with an estimated cost of Rs 206 crore. The Governor also noted ongoing efforts to upgrade power infrastructure, including the construction of new substations and the installation of smart prepaid meters.
In his address, the Governor listed various government initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the people, such as the successful implementation of Public Distribution System (PDS) optimization, rural development projects, and skill development initiatives. The state has also promoted industrialization, with over 32,000 MSME units registered and several startups launched.
The discussion on the Governor’s address will take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio made an obituary reference to the late former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, and several legislators, including T A Ngullie, K Zungkum, Bendangangshi Ao, Mhavil Khieya, and Kejong Chang.
