Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has highlighted the state’s achievements in sustainable development, governance reforms and human capital development while seeking the Centre’s support for several major infrastructure projects during the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi.
According to an official report issued by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Rio reaffirmed Nagaland’s commitment to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and outlined the state’s progress across various sectors.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said Nagaland has emerged as a national leader in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-5, which focuses on gender equality. He also informed the council that Mokokchung, Kohima and Dimapur were among the top ten performers in the Northeast District SDG Index 2.0, reflecting the state’s efforts in achieving development targets.
Rio highlighted several governance reforms undertaken by the state government, including SDG-linked budgeting, gender budgeting and outcome-based budgeting. He said these initiatives have helped improve transparency, accountability and evidence-based planning in government programmes.
Speaking on women-led development, the chief minister referred to initiatives such as the Innovation Seed Fund for nano women entrepreneurs and the Pink Scooty Taxi programme. He also highlighted efforts aimed at promoting water resilience, bamboo-based value chains and the green economy.
On youth development, Rio outlined programmes being implemented under the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission, Nagaland Apprenticeship and Placement Exchange, Chief Minister’s STEM Incentive Programme, Academic Excellence Corpus and Open Learning Support Scheme. He said these initiatives are aimed at enhancing employability and creating opportunities for young people across the state.
The chief minister also highlighted fiscal and administrative reforms, including the modernisation of land revenue systems, introduction of e-Stamping, implementation of the e-GRAS digital revenue platform and the establishment of a revenue and development fund mobilisation cell.
In the agriculture sector, Rio stressed the need for stronger food processing facilities and post-harvest infrastructure to support farmers. He also highlighted efforts to promote coffee cultivation and high-value horticultural crops such as kiwi, persimmon, dragon fruit, avocado and pineapple.
Tourism and culture were identified as important drivers of economic growth. Rio said flagship events such as the Hornbill Festival and Mini Hornbill Festivals have helped generate livelihoods while showcasing and preserving Naga cultural heritage.
Speaking on the meeting’s theme, “Human Capital for Viksit Bharat @ 2047”, Rio highlighted several initiatives in education, skill development, sports and digital governance. These included the development of lighthouse school complexes, the Smile App for monitoring teacher attendance, vocational education programmes, artificial intelligence-based skill development initiatives and the proposed AI research centre in Kohima.
He also highlighted sports development programmes, including the “Catch Them Young, Teach Them Right” initiative, the Nagaland Super League and efforts to expand sports infrastructure across districts.
Seeking continued support from the Centre, Rio proposed several key infrastructure and development projects for Nagaland. These included the Foothill Road, also known as the Trans-Nagaland Highway, a Greenfield Airport at Ciethu, establishment of an AIIMS and an IIT in Nagaland, development of Nagaki City, railway expansion, resumption of oil and natural gas exploration, inland waterways development, construction of urban flyovers, promotion of agarwood cultivation and strengthening of power transmission infrastructure.
The chief minister said these projects would play a significant role in improving connectivity, boosting economic growth and creating new opportunities for the people of the state.
Expressing confidence in the outcomes of the meeting, Rio said the discussions would further strengthen cooperative federalism and contribute to the goal of building a stronger, more inclusive and resilient India.
He emphasised that sustained cooperation between the Centre and the states would be essential for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 while ensuring balanced and inclusive development across all regions of the country.
