Nagaland continues to face critical gaps in digital connectivity, telecom manpower, and broadcasting infrastructure, with Member of Parliament S Supongmeren Jamir urging the Government of India to take immediate and time-bound action.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Jamir said he had taken up multiple concerns with the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlighting deficiencies in optical fibre connectivity (OFC), postal infrastructure, and manpower shortages in telecom and broadcasting services.
The MP pointed out that in the NE-11 Circle, which includes Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh, a significant number of District and Block Headquarters remain without Optical Fibre Connectivity.
Out of 67 District Headquarters across the three states, 28 still lack of C connectivity. At the Block level, only 72 out of 313 Block Headquarters are connected, leaving 241 facing serious digital gaps.
Jamir stressed that reliable digital connectivity is vital for governance, education, telemedicine, and economic growth, particularly in remote areas of the Northeast.
The MP also sought a special recruitment drive for Junior Telecom Officers (JTOs). Of the 25 sanctioned posts, only 18 are currently filled, with seven vacancies affecting maintenance and expansion of telecom networks in the state.
Jamir urged the Centre to approve a Sub-Division Post Office at Tuensang, sanction construction of a new Head Post Office building in Kohima, and take up construction of post office buildings at Mangkolemba and Pungro, where land has already been allotted.
He also called for the establishment of a Passport Seva Kendra in the state capital to improve citizen services.
In a forward-looking proposal, the MP suggested modernization of the State Data Centre into an AI-powered facility (NSDC 2.0) and the introduction of blockchain-based service delivery systems to enhance transparency and efficiency in governance.
Serious manpower shortages were also reported at Doordarshan Kendra Kohima and All India Radio Nagaland.
At Doordarshan Kendra Kohima, 89 out of 144 sanctioned posts remain vacant. All India Radio Nagaland is functioning with only 88 personnel against 255 sanctioned posts, leaving 167 vacancies across programme, administration, and engineering sections.
Jamir said such large-scale vacancies are adversely affecting broadcasting quality and outreach in the state.
The MP urged the concerned ministries to strengthen OFC connectivity across district and block headquarters, fill technical and broadcasting vacancies, upgrade digital and postal infrastructure, and ensure Nagaland is not left behind in the national digital growth framework.
He reiterated that equitable infrastructure development in the Northeast is essential for inclusive national progress.
