Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 25
From the State’s tryst with a universal health scheme to its skill mission, and from solar energy to microfinance, Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the State to contribute towards the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047, at the 10th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, held in New Delhi on May 24.
Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for convening the 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, he also noted that the platform continues to serve as a catalyst for cooperative federalism and inclusive policy discourse across the length and breadth of India.
Aligning with the national objective towards green energy transition through Roof Top Solar (RTS), the Government of Nagaland has launched the Nagaland Solar Mission (NSM) in convergence with PMSG:MBY (PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana), he noted, listing the initiatives undertaken.
The State is implementing the NSM with an additional subsidy of up to Rs 50,000 for systems of up to 3 kilowatts, he added, noting that the aim is to achieve a capacity of 32.8 MW through RTS, accounting for over 15% of the State’s total power consumption.
Further, building on the PMJAY Ayushman Bharat platform, the State’s Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS), which covers all the leftover population including government employees of the State, was highlighted.
The CM Life Insurance Scheme, covering about 4 lakh beneficiaries, was also mentioned.
CM Rio showcased the Nagaland Skill Mission announced in the 2025–26 State Budget, which aims to train and provide employment opportunities for at least 5,000 youth in sectors such as hospitality, tourism, banking and insurance, construction, healthcare, logistics, and drone technology within this financial year.
Many residential schools under EMRS, World Bank-supported Light House Schools, and PM SHRI Schools are bringing about a sea change in school education, especially in government schools, he added.
Facial recognition-based teacher attendance systems and performance incentive grants for well-performing schools have generated enthusiastic responses from local communities, who are also voluntarily contributing in cash and kind to meet various school needs, he maintained.
State preparing ‘Viksit Nagaland@2047’
Meanwhile, CM Rio also noted that a framework for the formulation of ‘Viksit Nagaland@2047’ is currently being prepared, and the formulation of the vision document will begin within the next month.
As part of the process, thematic working groups will be constituted for each priority sector and a series of workshops and stakeholder consultations will be organised across the State, he informed.
Inputs and data will be collected from all relevant departments, community-based organisations, experts, and citizen groups to ensure the vision is inclusive, evidence-based, and actionable, he added.
The document is targeted for completion by February 2026.
According to Dr Rio, the vision document will align with national development frameworks and regional aspirations, serving as a strategic roadmap for Nagaland’s transformation into a peaceful, progressive, self-reliant, and developed State.
He also sought continued support from the Central Government in realising the long-term vision.
Promotion of Entrepreneurship, Employment & Skilling
On the theme of Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment & Skilling – Leveraging the Demographic Dividend, CM Rio noted that Nagaland is a youthful State, with a significant portion of its population under the age of 35.
This demographic profile presents both a challenge and an opportunity, he maintained, noting that the State has adopted a multipronged strategy centred on enabling ease of doing business and supporting entrepreneurship.
One such strategy is the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), resulting, among other things, in the development of the State Single Window System, launched in 2022, he said.
Currently hosting 11 departments, with approvals from 5 departments live, the platform is evolving into a one-stop digital gateway for investors and entrepreneurs to access all business-related approvals with greater speed and transparency, he added.
CM Rio also highlighted the State Startup Policy 2019, aligning with the Government of India’s Startup India initiative and seeking to position Nagaland as a regional leader in entrepreneurship.
Under this framework, five startup incubators have been set up to provide mentoring, infrastructure, and capacity-building support to early-stage ventures, he said.
Besides, he mentioned the Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) in colleges and schools across all districts with the aim of inculcating entrepreneurial mindsets, as well as the YouthNet Incubation Centre in Kohima, the first incubation space in the Northeast dedicated to Persons with Disabilities.
Access to finance has been enabled via the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI), now in its second phase, he added.
The initiative provides tailored financial support to a wide spectrum of ventures across sectors such as retail, services, transport, innovation, agriculture, and hospitality.
The Integrated Business Hub & Innovation Centre (IBH&IC) at Forest Colony, Dimapur, established as a physical and institutional platform for entrepreneurship and innovation, was also showcased.
Nagaland is committed to converting its demographic dividend into a dynamic asset by building an entrepreneurial and innovation-driven economy, he added.
