The Deputy Commissioners’ Conference 2026 began on Friday at the Civil Secretariat Conference Hall in Kohima, bringing together district officials and senior government officers for discussions on governance, census work and development reforms in the state.
The two-day conference is aimed at reviewing key administrative issues and improving coordination across departments at the district level.
Addressing the inaugural session, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the meeting comes at an important time when the role of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) is changing. He said while core duties such as maintaining law and order, revenue administration, elections and census operations remain essential, the responsibilities of DCs have increased over the years.
He said DCs are now also responsible for implementing Centrally Sponsored Schemes, handling disaster management, addressing public grievances and ensuring coordination among different departments. According to him, the role has shifted from only regulatory work to a more development-focused and people-oriented approach.
Rio said governance today is more focused on people, with greater use of technology and emphasis on results. He added that DCs are at the centre of delivering government services at the grassroots level and must ensure that welfare schemes reach the last mile.
Highlighting government initiatives, the Chief Minister spoke about steps taken to improve transparency in recruitment, including the setting up of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board. He also mentioned the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative, which aims to support livelihoods and promote inclusive growth.
On employment, Rio said the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission has been aligned with sectors such as construction, hospitality, transport and IT services. He noted that over 73,000 applicants have registered under the programme, with efforts being made to link training with job opportunities through job fairs.
He also referred to the Nagaland Japan Connect 2026 initiative, under which more than 450 youth have registered for overseas employment opportunities. So far, 65 candidates have received recruitment intent in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and shipping.
Speaking on the health sector, the Chief Minister said 83 medical officers and junior specialists appointed during the COVID-19 period are currently in service. However, he expressed concern over low participation in recruitment, noting that only a small number of registered doctors have applied for government posts.
