KOHIMA, Jan 26: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan on Sunday emphasized the state government’s continuous efforts to resolve the longstanding Naga political issue. Speaking at the Republic Day main function at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, Ganesan reiterated that both the state and central governments were working tirelessly to find an amicable solution for the Naga community.
In his address, the Governor pointed out that on November 21, 2024, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, accompanied by his cabinet colleagues, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to present the people’s desire for an early resolution to the Naga political issue. The state government has also submitted its comments on the third draft of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) regarding the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Ganesan noted that substantial progress had been made and expressed hope that the remaining concerns of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) would be addressed with a spirit of unity.
The ENPO has been advocating for a separate state comprising six eastern Nagaland districts—Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang—that are home to seven tribes: Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung. This demand for a “Frontier Nagaland Territory” has been ongoing since 2010.
Reflecting on Nagaland’s historical context, the Governor mentioned that following the state’s grant of statehood on December 1, 1963, special provisions under the 13th Constitutional Amendment Act, Article 371-A, had been inserted to safeguard the state’s traditions, customs, and laws.
Highlighting ongoing welfare initiatives, Ganesan spoke about the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), launched in October 2022. The scheme has seen remarkable growth, with 65 hospitals empaneled both within and outside the state. As of the 2024-25 financial year, 10,317 beneficiaries have received treatment under the scheme, totaling 14,670 treatments worth Rs 59.77 crore.
Further, the Governor provided an update on the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, noting that as of October 31, 2024, a total of 2,21,931 farmers have benefited, receiving Rs 620 crore directly in their bank accounts.
In support of entrepreneurship, the Department of Industries and Commerce has set up 16 Entrepreneur Development Centres (EDCs) across the state’s districts, alongside six EDCs in colleges. This initiative has supported the creation of over 1,000 jobs and has led to a turnover of approximately Rs 58 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24. The Nagaland Startup Portal currently hosts 330 startups.
Nagaland also achieved a milestone in October 2024 by becoming the first northeastern state to implement Biometric-Based Aadhaar Authentication for GST registration, ensuring business entities are genuine and traceable.
In environmental efforts, the Department of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change is working on the Nagaland Forest Management Project with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Governor mentioned the inauguration of an Eco-Park, developed alongside the Kohima Peace Memorial, symbolizing the strong ties between Japan and India, particularly with Nagaland.
Addressing the issue of drug abuse, Ganesan commended the efforts of the District Administration and police in making Nagaland drug-free. In 2024, the Nagaland Police seized drugs worth approximately Rs 49 crore, and the State Excise Department confiscated over Rs 1.16 crore worth of illicit substances between April and November 2024.
