KOHIMA: Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang said the north eastern state is progressing on many fronts like any other states in the country. In his address at a function at Akuluto Town organized on the up-gradation program of Akuluto SDO (Civil) office to ADC office on Sunday, he said the region had potentiality of becoming an educational hub in the near future due to the presence of Nagaland University Campus at Lumami and its close proximity with Atoizu Polytechnic and educational institutions in Mokokchung.
Setting up of a Block Institute of Education and Training (BIET) Centre is also under progress located at Akuluto Constituency. He termed the upcoming National Highways, NH-2 and NH-702(A), passing through Akuluto and connecting Mokokchung and Wokha, as a 'great achievement,' the Chief Minister called for public support, unity and solidarity in order to march forward with progress and development. Highlighting major National Highways touching Zungheboto District, Zeliang said that work for Kohima-Wokha-VK-Mokokchung-Tuli-Amguri road measuring 240 kms named as NH-2 has started while sanction has been accorded for Mokokchung-Akuluto-Zunheboto-Phek-Meluri road measuring 226 kms and named NH-702 A. He said, “128 kms for Chakabama – Zunheboto road has already been sanctioned at an approximate cost of Rs. 1600 crores and survey work has already started and similarly, we have Pfutsero-Phek (66 kms – 825 Crores), Merangkong – Tamlu – Mon (100 kms – 1250 crores) and Changtonya – Longleng (35 kms – 437.5 Crores) which have been sanctioned.”
Also making references of other new roads under Akuluto and VK jurisdiction like Doyang-Izheto road under VK range and Sema Setsü-Dzulhami road under Akuluto jurisdiction, the Chief Minister said that building more sustainable roads would be a priority.During the last 54 years since its Statehood, Nagaland received sanction of only Rs. 28,000 Crores from the GOI but during the last 4 years alone under the Chief Ministership of TR Zeliang, Nagaland has been accorded sanction of over Rs. 30,000 Crores. On this line, Zeliang stated that the features of road connectivity in the State would completely change in the next 2-3 years and that the priority of the Government was on good roads, healthcare and electricity. 'Achievement of the Government during the last 4 years was more than the achievements during the last 54 years,' he added. He lauded the efforts of Hokishe Sema, former Chief Minister and Governor of Himachal Pradesh who hailed from Sutemi village and former Deputy Chief Minister I.K Sema who hailed from Lumami village and were instrumental in shaping the present day Akuluto Constituency.
Other dignitaries who spoke on the occasion included G. Kaito Aye, Minister for Road and Bridges; Khekaho Assumi, Parliamentary Secretary for YRS and MTF; Yehokhu Chophy, President of Akuluto area GB's Association; Hotovi Chishi, Chairman of Akuluto Town GB's Council and Vihoshe Murru, Vice President of Sumi Hoho.
Jorhat: Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), an indigenous civil society organisation based in Jorhat, Assam, has been appointed as the Constituency Focal Point for the People Affected by Conflict and Disaster Constituency of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM).
APRCEM is a regional civil society platform that brings together organisations across Asia and the Pacific to engage with intergovernmental processes on sustainable development, particularly the implementation and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Through this organisational role,...
SHILLONG, Mar 11: The Meghalaya government has postponed the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) that were scheduled to be held on April 10, 2026, following violent clashes in West Garo Hills that left two people dead.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the decision on Wednesday, saying the state government reviewed the prevailing law-and-order situation in the Garo Hills region before deciding to defer the polls.
The unrest erupted during the nomination process in Chibinang in West Garo Hills, where clashes broke out between groups supporting and opposing the participation of non-tribal candidates in the GHADC elections. Two persons were killed...
The Meghalaya High Court has set aside a controversial notification that made possession of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for candidates contesting the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Delivering the judgment on March 10, Justice H. S. Thangkhiew ruled that the February 17, 2026 notification issued by the GHADC Executive Committee lacked legal authority and did not follow the procedure required under the Assam and Meghalaya Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951.
The court observed that the notification effectively barred non-tribal voters and candidates from participating in the council elections...
TURA, Meghalaya – March 11, 2026: Tensions surrounding the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), scheduled for April 10, have triggered violent clashes in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, leaving two people dead and several others injured. The unrest has also resulted in widespread vandalism and arson in several areas of the district.
The tensions stem from a controversial notification requiring candidates contesting the council elections to possess valid Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate documentation. The rule has effectively prevented many non-tribal residents—particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims living in the plains belt areas such as...
North East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), a grassroots development organisation based in Jorhat working with people’s struggles and community development initiatives, observed International Women’s Day at Chumoni Chapori village under the Jhanjimukh area in Jorhat district on Sunday, bringing together local women, community leaders and youth to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in society.
The programme was organized with the participation of women from riverine communities who shared their experiences, challenges and aspirations for greater social and economic empowerment. The event focused on raising awareness about women’s rights, gender equality and...
A significant milestone for literature from Northeast India has been marked with the publication of The Yellow Metaphor, a collection of poems by Assamese poet Jiban Narah, now released by Penguin Random House India.
The book is a translated anthology of Narah’s poetry and is considered a rare achievement for the region. It is reportedly the first translated poetry collection by a single poet from Northeast India to be published by Penguin, and among only a handful of works in a regional Indian language to receive such recognition from the global publishing house.
The Yellow Metaphor brings together 99 selected poems written over a span of 33 years, reflecting Narah’s long poetic...
Sivasagar, March 6: A meeting of organisations associated with the religious and intellectual affairs of the Tai-Ahom community was held on Thursday (March 5) at the public auditorium of Bakata Parijat Panchayat in Sivasagar district. The meeting was chaired by Jibeshwar Mohan Deva, founding principal of Tingkhang College.
Several prominent personalities attended the meeting, including Manaranjan Baruah, president of the Mohan-Deodhai-Bailung Sanmilan; Vidya Phukan, president of the Mohan-Deodhai-Bailung Pandit Parishad; former president of Phra-Lung-Moung Assam Golap Gohain; secretary Pranjal Mohan; noted Tai cultural researcher Kamal Jyoti Mohan; Tai-Ahom scholar Nripen Mohan;...
Guwahati, Feb 28: The Assam government’s decision to seek a 5 per cent stake in Oil India Limited (OIL) has triggered discussion on the State’s long-term approach to the oil and gas sector in the Northeast.
The proposal, under which Assam has sought a minority share in OIL — where the Government of India holds 56 per cent — will be examined by the Centre, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the State is extending full cooperation to oil sector companies and urged that shares be allocated to Assam to support smoother functioning and stronger coordination.
Reacting to the development, Shantikam Hazarika — former Chairman of...
New Delhi, March 1: Concerns have been raised over the national HPV vaccination campaign launched on February 28, 2026, with a citizen questioning its scientific basis, operational preparedness, and public health prioritisation.
In a public statement, Donthi N. Reddy said that not a single state has published baseline data on cervical cancer incidence or HPV prevalence prior to the rollout. Without such baseline indicators, he argued, outcomes cannot be measured, and without measurable outcomes, the reported annual expenditure of ₹1,300 crore cannot be properly evaluated.
The campaign involves administration of the HPV vaccine Gardasil-4 to 14-year-old girls across the country, aiming...
North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), a grassroots civil society organisation based in Jorhat, Assam, participated in the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD), convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) from 24–27 February, 2026, at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of NEADS, represented the organisation at the Forum. He also participated in his capacity as the Constituency Focal Point for People Affected by Conflicts and Disasters and as a Regional Coordinating Committee Member of the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM).
During...
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