Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said finding an early solution to the Naga political issue remains the top agenda of his government, and assured to make every effort to hold consultations with all the stakeholders.
Hoisting the national flag at the main function of the 77th Independence Day celebration at Secretariat Plaza, Nagaland Civil Secretariat in Kohima, the Chief Minister called on all the Naga Political Groups, all stakeholders and the Central government to bring about an inclusive, honourable and acceptable solution to the Naga Political issue without any further delay.
Acknowledging the developmental deficit, particularly in the eastern districts of Nagaland and the grievances raised by Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO), Rio appreciated the Central government for looking into the matter, and assured of supporting the desire of the eastern districts to bridge the development deficit, to bring them at par with the rest of the state.
Claiming that the six districts have been neglected for years, the ENPO has been demanding a separate 'Frontier Nagaland' state, since 2010.
Seven backward tribes of eastern Nagaland -- Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung -- are spread across these six districts.
On the Urban Local Bodies' election issue, the Chief Minister said that the Nagaland Assembly, heeding to the wishes of the people did not go ahead with the ULB elections, and repealed the Act.
He said that the government is in the process of taking steps to make a new Act, and requested the cooperation and guidance of every stakeholder.
The impasse has persisted since last year over the holding of long awaited urban local body polls in Nagaland over the 33 per cent reservation of seats for the women in ULBs.
Objecting to the women reservations in ULBs, various Naga tribal hohos and civil societies demanded the total review of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2021 and then the assembly took the decision.
The Naga organisations claimed reservations for women in ULBs would go against their community's customary laws.
The Chief Minister in his Independence Day speech informed that keeping in view the sentiments of the people, the state cabinet urged the Law Commission to exempt Nagaland from the purview of Uniform Civil Code and shared that the Union Home Minister has assured that UCC would not be applicable to the Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland and the northeast.
Expressing his concern about the ethnic conflicts in neighbouring Manipur, Rio appealed to all the communities and groups in Manipur to give peace a chance and take urgent steps to resolve their differences amicably.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency, has covered 144 villages across the state and an area of 24,225 hectares has been brought under afforestation with 55.79 lakh seedlings planted.
He said that under the project, the department is in the process of constructing an Eco-Park in Kohima.
He also stated that the Department has started implementation of the second Externally Aided Project, called "Forest & Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya, Nagaland", under Indo-German Financial Cooperation and funded by KfW Development Bank. Independence Day celebrations were held with a variety of functions and events in the mountainous state.
Tripura CM stresses promoting NE states' potential to attract investment
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the development of the communication process and system has generated a lot of investment potential, and therefore, more emphasis should be placed on promotion to attract investors in all the northeastern states.
Tripura has 94,723 Lakhpati Didis; 93,425 women to get similar status soon: Minister
Among the 4,75,582 Self Help Group (SHGs) members in Tripura, 94,723 women emerged as ‘Lakhpati Didis’ through their engagement in various enterprising units and 93,425 more women would be ‘Lakhpati Didis’ soon, Social Welfare and Labour Minister Tinku Roy said.
Bhavan’s Little Learners celebrate annual programme
The Bhavan’s Little Learners, Bordowali celebrated annual programme and organised prize distribution ceremony here at Agartala Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan on Wednesday.
Govt working to boost agricultural production to make Tripura self-reliant: Minister Ratan Lal Nath
The Tripura government is contemplating to make Tripura self-reliant in agricultural production, said agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath on Wednesday.
Scholarship Fraud: Tribal Welfare Dept issues show cause to 34 students
In a major crackdown on scholarship fraud, the Tripura Tribal Welfare Department has issued show cause notices to 34 students for allegedly submitting fake income certificates to avail the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Post-Matric Scholarship for the academic year 2023-24.
Fall of Congress in Gujarat: Three decades of decline and struggle for relevance
The Congress party was once the dominant political force in Gujarat, shaping the state’s governance since independence. However, over the past 30 years, the party has witnessed a dramatic downfall, losing ground to the BJP’s aggressive electoral strategies, organisational strength, and ideological appeal.
‘Disempowering Muslims’: J&K political parties oppose Waqf (Amendment) Bill
All political parties of J&K, except the BJP, opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying that the Bill is intended to disempower Muslims and only target one religion.
Radical group founder wanted in Jaipur serial blast plot apprehended in Ratlam
The Madhya Pradesh Police in Ratlam achieved a significant breakthrough in apprehending Firoz, also known as Sabji, a fugitive implicated in a conspiracy to execute serial blasts aimed at creating panic and terrorising the Rajasthan capital city of Jaipur.