Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 6
Nagaland Minister for Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Jacob Zhimomi, has described the Union Budget 2026-27 as a blueprint for “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
He told a press conference in Dimapur on February 6 that the financial statement aims to secure economic self-reliance to complement the political freedom India achieved in 1947.
According to him, the budget focuses on structural reforms and sustained public investment under the “Vocal for Local” theme. He noted that the Central government is prioritising the micro-management of economic issues, extending down to the village level.
“Unless India becomes economically self-dependent and self-reliant, we will not be able to prove to the world that India is a developing nation having ambitions,” Zhimomi said.
A significant portion of the address focused on the cooperative sector under the "Sahakar Se Samriddhi" initiative. The Minister highlighted that cooperative societies will now be recognised as startups. He noted the relevance of this for Nagaland, describing land as the state’s “biggest asset” and capital for potential startups.
Regarding the north-east, Zhimomi cited the Prime Minister’s vision to transform the region into the nation’s “organic capital,” while giving increased priority to the tourism sector.
He described the budget as “youth-driven” (Yuva Shakti), focusing on skilling and up-skilling to ensure gainful employment across various sectors including agriculture and MSMEs.
The Minister also highlighted relief measures in the healthcare sector, specifically the exemption of customs duties on specific life-saving drugs and cancer medicines.
He urged citizens to practice financial prudence similar to a household budget. According to him, budgets, whether for a family or a government, must reflect real earnings and avoid deficit spending beyond means. “This budget exactly reflects those sentiments. Plan according to the budget. There has to be a security provision in your budget,” he said.
These measures, he asserted, are steps toward the “Viksit Bharat 2047” goal of making India a fully developed nation.
