Nagaland needs to develop tourism opportunities beyond the Hornbill Festival and create sustainable avenues to attract visitors throughout the year, Governor Nand Kishore Yadav said on Monday.
Yadav made the observation during an interactive session with Fellows of the Chief Minister’s Fellowship Programme Nagaland (CMFPN) at Lok Bhavan, Kohima, while discussing areas with potential to contribute to the State’s economic growth and livelihoods.
While acknowledging the contribution of the Hornbill Festival in promoting Nagaland, the Governor said the State should explore and develop tourism opportunities beyond a single festival.
He called for greater exploration of the tourism sector and the creation of sustainable avenues to attract visitors throughout the year.
The Governor also pointed to agriculture as another area with significant potential for economic growth and livelihood generation in Nagaland.
He highlighted organic farming, coffee, rubber and other agricultural activities, and encouraged the Fellows to explore ways of leveraging the State’s resources and potential for the benefit of the people.
The discussion also focused on the need for research to address problems faced by farmers. A Fellow highlighted the importance of identifying agricultural challenges through focused research and innovation so that practical solutions could reach farmers at the grassroots level.
On entrepreneurship and indigenous products, the interaction stressed the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR), particularly in protecting and registering indigenous products and traditional knowledge.
The Governor said such protection was important for safeguarding the unique identity and economic interests of Nagaland’s entrepreneurs and producers.
Yadav also emphasised timely disposal of work and transparency as key principles of effective administration while interacting with Fellows interested in public administration.
He stressed the importance of prior planning, dedication and clarity of purpose, and urged the young professionals to remain focused on their goals and pursue their chosen paths with sincerity and determination.
“Your direction should be right. Do not merely imitate others. Think deeply, acquire practical knowledge and continuously explore opportunities to learn more,” he advised.
The Governor further stressed the need to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
While acknowledging the investments being made by the Government of India in the health sector, he said quality healthcare must effectively reach people at the grassroots level.
He emphasised the need to strengthen institutions such as Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres and called for greater attention to improving healthcare delivery across the State.
Yadav also encouraged the Fellows to look beyond Nagaland, study successful practices elsewhere and assess what could feasibly be adapted to the State’s own conditions and requirements.
He said the vision of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Nagaland could be realised only through the collective contribution and active participation of all sections of society.
The CMFPN is a flagship initiative of the Government of Nagaland, implemented by the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), aimed at strengthening governance through research, evidence-based policymaking and field engagement.
The Fellows are assigned to different government departments to assist in preparing policy briefs, research reports and developmental frameworks aligned with the State’s priorities and the vision of Viksit Nagaland 2047.
The CMFPN delegation was led by Under Secretary, IDAN, Changsang Soted.
