Kohima, March 2 (NationPress) The Acting Governor of Nagaland, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, reiterated the government's dedication to achieving a peaceful resolution of the longstanding Naga Political issue. He informed the state Assembly that the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is diligently reviewing the situation.

The PAC is composed of Ministers, elected representatives from all tribes, political party reps, and Members of Parliament from the state, he noted.

In his first address since taking office in August 2025 during the 8th session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, the Governor mentioned that a Sub-Committee has been formed to enhance its efforts.

Recently, the Chief Minister, along with his cabinet and members of the PAC Sub-Committee, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, urging the Indian government to elevate the ongoing peace dialogue by appointing an interlocutor at the political or ministerial level to hasten discussions towards a timely and honorable resolution, Bhalla stated.

The Governor emphasized the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on February 5, 2026, involving the Centre, the Nagaland government, and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation for the formation of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

He characterized this agreement as a critical advancement towards ensuring fair and inclusive development in Eastern Nagaland.

The state government is currently engaged in establishing an Interim Council for FNTA in consultation with stakeholders and will pursue the enactment of specific legislation for its formal establishment.

The Governor also informed the Assembly about the upcoming decennial Census of India exercise.

The Census 2027 will occur in two stages, with the House Listing and Housing Census taking place in Nagaland from July 1 to July 30, 2026, and self-enumeration options available from June 16 to June 30, 2026.

Stressing the importance of human resource development, the Governor announced that the Department of School Education has launched school transformation initiatives through Lighthouse School Complexes and teacher training programs under the Nagaland Education Project – NECTAR, aimed at implementing the National Education Policy 2020.

The Department of Higher Education is working on infrastructure development under the PM-USHA Scheme, while the Nagaland Scholarship Nodal Cell has been established to facilitate scholarship distribution.

New guidelines for Coaching Centres in 2025 have also been issued to regulate institutions and protect students.

Significant strides in rural infrastructure and water supply have been made under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with over 3.41 lakh household tap connections provided and multiple villages designated as “Har Ghar Jal”.

The Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) continues to bolster sanitation sustainability across rural areas.

The Governor also highlighted initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Aadi Adarsh Gram Yojana and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, which aim to expedite development in tribal regions.

In agriculture, the government is fostering productivity and sustainable farming practices through PM-KISAN and the National Mission on Natural Farming.

Programs under the National Livestock Mission, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, and sericulture development schemes are supporting rural livelihoods and women beneficiaries in various districts.

Environmental conservation initiatives include plantation and protection efforts under the Nagaland Forest Management Project and the designation of nearly 200 Community Reserves to bolster the state’s protected area network.

A new Nagaland Agar Policy is being formulated to encourage sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Department of Underdeveloped Areas is executing livelihood projects under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East (PM-DeVINE), remaining committed to enhancing infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for people in underdeveloped areas, Bhalla noted.

Urban development projects include infrastructure enhancements in urban local bodies and the anticipated execution of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban across statutory towns in the state.

In terms of economic growth, the Governor indicated that Nagaland has advanced in startup encouragement and entrepreneurship, creating over 1,500 jobs through registered startups and gaining recognition in national rankings, including the Export Preparedness Index published by NITI Aayog.

He stated that promoting tourism is a critical focus, with the successful hosting of the Hornbill Festival in December attracting numerous visitors and showcasing the state's rich cultural heritage.

The Governor also touched on disaster management strategies implemented by the Nagaland state disaster Management Authority, which include establishing an AI-enabled climate risk analysis system and launching a weather alert mobile application.

Reiterating the state’s vision for long-term development, the Governor asserted that Nagaland is aligning its strategies with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with preparations underway for a comprehensive “Viksit Nagaland @2047” roadmap.