KOHIMA, Dec 1: Nagaland celebrated its 63rd Statehood Day on Monday at the Secretariat Plaza, where Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio renewed the call for an early, honourable and inclusive solution to the Naga political issue. He said the state government remains committed to facilitating the peace process, noting that the Political Affairs Committee recently endorsed the Ungma Statement issued on August 23.
Rio appealed to Naga political groups, the Centre and tribal bodies to unite on a common platform to restart negotiations. On the matter of Eastern Nagaland, the Chief Minister informed that the state government has submitted its comments on the draft Memorandum of Settlement for the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territory to the Ministry of Home Affairs and is hopeful of a positive outcome.
The celebrations also marked the opening of the 26th Hornbill Festival, featuring participation from six international partner countries—Austria, Malta, Switzerland, Ireland, France and the United Kingdom—with Arunachal Pradesh as the state partner. Rio described the festival as a testament to the Naga people’s cultural resilience.
Highlighting key developmental strides, Rio detailed progress in youth and sports infrastructure, AI and innovation initiatives, higher and technical education, trade reforms, road connectivity and healthcare, including malaria elimination efforts and the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.
Welcoming the temporary relaxation of Protected Area Permit (PAP) norms for the Hornbill Festival, he reiterated the state’s long-standing demand for permanent removal of PAP restrictions. He also underlined urban development projects such as the Kohima Peace Memorial & Eco-Park, land acquisition for the planned Nagaki City in Chümoukedima and new sanitation vehicles for urban local bodies.
Major launches during the event included 120 digitally equipped Children and Adolescents Libraries, the Nagaland Scholarship Nodal Cell and two new tourism and governance apps—StateSync and Discover Kisama.
The celebrations began with a march-past by ten contingents of armed and village guards, followed by the release of publications on tribal heritage, disability empowerment and traditional crafts. Accredited journalists received tablets, and ten sanitation vehicles were flagged off to boost urban waste management.
Cultural troupes from various Naga communities and special performances including “Cantate Domino” and “Warrior’s Call” added vibrancy to the event. An exhibition, Journey of Nagaland Down the Decades, curated by the Department of Information & Public Relations, was also inaugurated.
