Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M Scindia on Thursday began a three-day official tour of Nagaland, underscoring the Centre’s intensified development focus in the Northeast under the Prime Minister’s “Act-East, Act-Fast, Act-First” policy.
Scindia arrived at Dimapur Airport to a formal reception by Nagaland’s Minister for Public Health Engineering Jacob Zhimomi and MLA Moatoshi Longkumer, Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Excise, along with senior state officials.
Speaking to the media upon arrival, Scindia said it was a “great pleasure to be back in Nagaland,” praising the state’s “rich diversity, equality, and cultural heritage.” He said Nagaland “symbolises immense potential” and noted that the timing of his visit coincides with an important period of celebration in the state.
Reiterating the Centre’s commitment to the region, Scindia highlighted that 10% of the gross budgetary support – “amounting to more than Rs 1 lakh crore annually”- has been earmarked for development across the eight Northeastern states, which he referred to as “Ashta Lakshmi.”
When asked about the recently deleted video from the DoNER Ministry’s social media handles, which was alleged to involve cultural misrepresentation linked to the GI tag of the Naga King Chilli, Scindia said he was “not aware of the incident,” but added that “if such an error occurred, it was unfortunate.” He stressed that the Ministry has always celebrated the “culture, identity, and diversity” of Northeast communities, including the 17 tribes of Nagaland, “with deep respect.”
Scindia’s itinerary includes a series of key engagements across the state. On December 5, he will attend the foundation stone laying ceremony for several DoNER-funded projects aimed at improving connectivity, infrastructure, and livelihood generation in Nagaland.
He is also scheduled to participate in a traditional stone-pulling ceremony at Touphema village, before gracing the Hornbill Festival at Kisama as a special guest, where he is expected to witness cultural performances, traditional displays, and exhibitions showcasing Naga heritage.
On December 6, the Union Minister will visit the Heirloom Naga Centre at Sovima to interact with artisans and review initiatives promoting traditional crafts, sustainable village industries, and community-led livelihood programs. The visit will conclude his three-day tour of the state.
