Nagaland Governor Ganesan Affirms Commitment to Resolving Naga Political Issue
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Synopsis
Nagaland Governor La Ganesan reiterated the state's commitment to addressing the long-standing Naga political issue, highlighting significant efforts made by the government. He discussed recent meetings with Union officials, the success of health schemes, and initiatives to foster entrepreneurship and environmental cooperation.
Key Takeaways
- Nagaland Governor emphasizes efforts to resolve the Naga political issue.
- Chief Minister met Union Home Minister to discuss the matter.
- Significant progress reported on the Memorandum of Settlement.
- Highlights the success of health insurance and entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Nagaland first in the North East to implement Biometric GST Registration.
Kohima, Jan 26 (NationPress) Nagaland Governor La Ganesan emphasized on Sunday that the state government has exerted every effort to address the longstanding Naga political issue.
During the Republic Day ceremony held at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza, the Governor noted that on November 21, 2024, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, along with his cabinet members, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to express the community's aspiration for a prompt resolution of the Naga political issue.
The Governor informed attendees that the state government has provided its feedback on the third draft of the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) concerning the proposed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Significant progress has been achieved, and it is anticipated that the remaining issues concerning the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) will be resolved in a spirit of unity, he remarked.
Since 2010, the ENPO has been advocating for a distinct 'Frontier Nagaland Territory' or a separate state that would encompass six districts in eastern Nagaland: Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator, and Tuensang, which are home to seven underprivileged tribes: Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung.
Ganesan noted that after Nagaland was granted statehood on December 1, 1963, special provisions were incorporated through the 13th Constitutional Amendment Act, Article 371-A, which safeguards the state's traditions, customs, laws, and procedures.
The Governor also highlighted the success of the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme, which was initiated in October 2022. Currently, 65 hospitals from both within and outside the state have been empaneled under the CMHIS.
He stated that 10,317 individuals have benefited from the scheme, resulting in 14,670 treatments amounting to Rs 59.77 crore during the financial year 2024-25. Under PM-KISAN, as of October 31, 2024, 2,21,931 farmers have reaped benefits with Rs 620 crore directly credited to their bank accounts as of November 31, 2024, the Governor added.
According to Ganesan, the Department of Industries and Commerce has established 16 Entrepreneur Development Centres (EDCs) across 16 districts and six EDCs in colleges to promote entrepreneurship from an early age. The Nagaland Startup Portal currently hosts 330 startups, creating over 1,000 jobs and generating approximately Rs 58 crore in turnover during the fiscal year 2023-24.
Nagaland has become the first state in the North East to implement Biometric-Based Aadhaar Authentication for GST Registration in October 2024, ensuring the genuineness and traceability of business entities.
The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is executing the Nagaland Forest Management Project, which is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). An Eco-Park was inaugurated last month by the Chief Minister and Keichii Ono, Ambassador of Japan in India.
This Eco-Park is being developed alongside the Kohima Peace Memorial, symbolizing the strong bonds between Japan and India, particularly with Nagaland, the Governor stated.
To ensure a drug-free state, the District Administration and police have worked diligently to maintain peace in Nagaland. Last year, the Nagaland Police Department intensified its anti-drug efforts, seizing drugs valued at approximately Rs 49 crore from various regions of the state. The State Excise Department reported seizures exceeding Rs 1.16 crore between April 2024 and November 2024, as stated by Ganesan.
