Principal Correspondent
KOHIMA, DECEMBER 1
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi urged the Nagas to look back, introspect and take stock of the ground they have covered so far in last 50 years(Nagaland was created in 1963) and what remains to be achieved. However, he avoided any talk on the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and the NSCN(IM).
“I have seen that the strength of your society lies in the very rich cultural heritage. This must be protected,” Modi said in an event at Kisama near Kohima on Monday. ‘Bishi bhaal ase’, he said in Nagamese on the cultural diversity of the Naga people.
Adorned in traditional Naga head gear and warrior attire, Modi greeted the Nagas in Tenyidie dialect ‘Teiso Viwe’ (Good Day).
“Your culture must not only be interpreted as your colourful dances and songs, but the Naga culture of sturdiness, honesty, simplicity, should be reflected in all your deliberations and actions. The Naga way of life means pride in your inherent strong character and your hard working attitude,” he said.
Maintaining that Nagaland is known for its rich biodiversity, he said people from outside will come for investment and tourism and therefore, called upon the people to protect it.
The Prime Minister also lauded the equal status granted to women in Naga society while also being appreciative of the deployment of Naga women police battalion during the last Common Wealth Games in Delhi.
Nagas are sports loving people and have the potential to perform well in disciplines such as boxing, taekwondo, football and archery, he said. These activities can be promoted in a systematic way to realize the potential of the people of the region, given the right direction, he added.
In a jocular vein, he said, “Nowadays it hardly takes 10-15 hours to reach Kohima from Delhi, but it took more than 10 years for the Prime Minister to reach here,” indicating that Congress-led government’s prime minister had not visited the State in 10 years.
Assuring the people of the State that they will not have to wait so long again for a prime minister’s visit to the State, he said “I will be happy to come to meet the people of the State often and I will come back to see all that I said has become a reality”.
While describing the North East region as the ‘organic agriculture capital’ of the country, Modi announced that the Centre would establish six agriculture colleges in the region. He said the North East can produce the best organic products to the rest of the country and the world.
Highlighting the initiatives taken by his government for the Northeast over the last six months, Modi said the Centre has earmarked Rs 53,000 crore in the Union Budget for development of North East region.
He announced that Rs 28,000 crore has been earmarked for construction of 14 new railway lines to boost connectivity, Rs 5000 crore for improvement of intrastate power transmission systems for six NE states, including Nagaland, while another Rs 5000 crore has been allocated for boosting 2G mobile connectivity under the comprehensive telecom development plan.
“So many tourists are coming here from other parts of the country and abroad. This is the best destination for tourists. But for that, we require connectivity. Unless we have road connectivity, rail connectivity, air connectivity, it is very difficult to develop tourism,” Modi stated.
He said special scholarship would be granted to 10,000 students of the region through Ishan Uday while Ishan Vikas scheme would focus on 2000 students and 500 teachers from the region to visit other parts of the country every year.
Pointing out that the women of the region are masters in weaving, the Prime Minister said to promote textile industry in the region, a modern apparel garment manufacturing centre would be set up in every state of the North East, with Assam, Nagaland and Sikkim as the first preferences. The Central government will spend Rs 20 crore for this new programme, he said.
A National Sports University will be established in Manipur to benefit the region, he added.
Stating that other places of the country have Special Economic Zones (SEZs) which are man-made, but the NE region has NEZ “Natural Economic Zone”, he said this potential remained untapped potential and needs to be nourished for the benefit of the region and the country.
The Prime Minister was given a traditional reception by Kigwema village. He also unveiled the monolith erected in his honour.
“Let us build together a resurgent, stronger and prosperous India and Nagaland,” he appealed while concluding his speech with local word ‘Kuknalim’ meaning ‘Victory to our Land’.
