Central Government Urges Nagaland to Accelerate Development Projects
The central government has directed Nagaland to prioritize key development projects under PM-DevINE and DoNER initiatives for timely implementation.
Kohima, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : The central government has instructed the Nagaland administration to prioritize the implementation of projects under the “Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the Northeastern Region” (PM-DevINE) and the plans of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
In a recent meeting, DoNER’s Joint Secretary, Vipul Agrawal, reviewed the ongoing projects with state officials. He urged the state to prioritize these initiatives for presentation before the 16th Finance Commission. Agrawal advised departments not to wait for final allocation figures to submit their priority lists.
He emphasized the need to submit proposals by the end of October and clarified that any outstanding liabilities from the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions would not be carried over to the 17th Finance Commission.
Highlighting the importance of timely project completion, Agrawal called for a clear roadmap that prioritizes older projects and those that can be completed by the next financial year. He stressed the need to expedite work, reduce timelines where possible, and respond promptly to inquiries and clarifications.
Agrawal insisted on closely monitoring major ongoing projects under PM-DevINE and prioritizing their swift completion. He also highlighted the necessity of preparing objective and need-based proposals, suggesting targeted actions to address shortcomings in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) performance.
While appreciating the progress made by other northeastern states, he noted that Nagaland must intensify efforts to enhance its socio-economic development and effectively implement development projects.
During the meeting, Y. Kikhieto Sema, Nagaland’s Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, expressed gratitude to the central government and DoNER for the financial assistance provided since the ministry’s establishment in 1998. However, he pointed out that the funding received has not matched the state’s developmental needs.
Sema reported that between 1998 and 2025, Nagaland received a total of ₹5,339.50 crore from DoNER, significantly less compared to other northeastern states. He highlighted that despite being the second oldest state in the region after Assam, Nagaland ranks third in receiving the least funding from DoNER.
He called for increased financial support to meet the state’s developmental requirements. Sema emphasized that Nagaland is looking forward to a new era of peace, progress, and development, urging a focus on critical areas such as healthcare, road connectivity, education, and other essential infrastructure to accelerate growth.
With government job opportunities nearing saturation, the state government is now exploring alternative livelihoods and employment avenues, especially for the youth. Sema underscored the importance of promoting entrepreneurship, income generation, and sustainable economic growth through the cultivation of cash crops like coffee, tea, rubber, and agarwood, as well as exploring eco-tourism prospects.
