In his debut speech in the Lok Sabha, Nagaland MP Supongmeren Jamir sharply criticized the ruling government’s budget, arguing that it fails to address key issues such as unemployment and the lack of funding for tourism in the Northeast. Among his concerns, Jamir surprisingly highlighted the long-standing proposal for an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Nagaland.
The idea of establishing an IISER in Nagaland was originally proposed by the late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2015. Jaitley announced plans for IISERs in both Odisha and Nagaland. While the proposal for an IISER in Berhampur, Odisha, was approved and established, the Nagaland proposal has faced delays due to “differing priorities” between the state and central governments.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Jaitley’s announcement was made without prior consultation with the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry or the Nagaland government. The HRD ministry later sought a site for the IISER in Nagaland but encountered resistance from the state government, which preferred a School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) instead.
A top HRD ministry official was quoted by The Telegraph in its 2016 report saying, “The state government (Nagaland) wants a School of Planning and Architecture (SPA). It is under examination.” The state government argued that an SPA would better meet regional development needs compared to an IISER, and there were concerns that an IISER in Nagaland may not attract the best scientists.
Due to financial constraints, the finance ministry proposed setting up one institute in the region, suggesting an IISER in Assam and an SPA in Nagaland. This recommendation was supported by the then SPA, New Delhi director Chetan Vaidya, who emphasized the Northeast’s need for such an institution.
Interestingly, in March 2023, Nagaland governor La Ganesan said that the State Government has already acquired and earmarked about 200 acres of land for setting up the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) in Sukhovi village in Chumoukedima district. However, this newspaper has yet to determine whether the IISER in Chumoukedima, which Governor La Ganesan mentioned is part of the late Arun Jaitley’s proposal or an entirely new initiative.
In August 2023, CM Rio mentioned that the State is taking up the establishment of an Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) in the State.
And lastly, in January 2024, CM Rio said that the state is pushing to set up an Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) in Nagaland. Meanwhile, today, MP Jamir, in his speech, was seen stressing the urgency of prioritizing the IISER for Nagaland.