Page 3 - Nagaland

Nagaland Assembly passes bills to revise taxes on motor vehicles and goods

The Nagaland Assembly on Tuesday passed two bills that seek to revise taxes on motor vehicles and goods transported in them. Another bill was for amending an Act to include various new subjects to be taught in the North East Christian University. The Bills were introduced on September 11, the first day of the monsoon session. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also holds the transport department, said the motor vehicles tax for transport vehicles was last revised in 1999 and for private vehicles, the same was done in 2009. The tax rate prevalent in Nagaland is low as compared to other states in the country, Rio stated adding that the hiring charges for transport vehicles have significantly increased and the road conditions too have improved over the years. Taking into account the rise in price and to improve the financial health of the state, he said the government proposes for revision of the Motor Vehicles Tax by amending the Act. The Nagaland Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) B

Shops burnt after fire broke out in commercial buildings in Nagaland

Hundreds of shops with properties worth crores of rupees have been razed to ashes after a fire broke out in a few commercial buildings at High School junction here in the early hours of Saturday, police said. The Fire & Emergency Service Department received the information around 2:30 am and the blaze was brought under control by 5 am, they said. Officials of the High School Traders Union said some people suffered minor injuries while trying to protect the properties inside more than 100 shops. There was no report of any fatality. The blaze is suspected to have erupted due to a short-circuit in one of the shops, police said. Further investigation is underway.

Nagaland govt launches Tele-MANAS to fight mental health challenges

To provide mental health support to people to those in need in Nagaland, the Tele-Mental Health and Neuroscience (Tele-MANAS) initiative was launched on Tuesday, an official said. Tele-MANAS would provide mental health services to those in need by offering remote access to mental health professionals, said Mission Director National Health Mission, Dr Ritu Thurr during the launching ceremony held at the State Mental Health Institute here under the auspices of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. The initiative facilitates early identification of mental health issues, enabling timely intervention and care, he said. Highlighting the comprehensive nature of mental health, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social well-being, he said mental health extends to thinking patterns, emotions, behaviour, stress management, relationships, and decision-making. Through technology-driven mental health services, Tele-MANAS aims to minimise the stigma attached to seeking mental health support, he ...

Naga flag, constitution inseparable from sovereignty of people: NSCN-IM

NSCN-IM General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah on Monday asserted that the separate flag and constitution for the Nagas, contentious issues that have stalled the peace process, are inseparable from the sovereignty of the people. The Framework Agreement signed between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to bring lasting peace in Nagaland was inked in 2015 recognising the unique history and sovereignty of the Nagas, Muivah said. We must defend what we have achieved with our own sweat and blood. On the issue of integration of all Naga areas, the government of India has officially acknowledged that it is the legitimate right of the Nagas and therefore, it shall be finalised accordingly, he said. Muivah was speaking on the occasion of the NSCN-IM's independence day' celebration at its headquarters in Hebron, 30 km from Nagaland's commercial hub of Dimapur. The Naga national resistance movement is all about defending the inherent sovereign right of the Na

PM Modi urged for honourable solution for Naga-Centre peace talks

The United Naga Council (UNC) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after thousands of Nagas of Manipur took out rallies in areas inhabited by them to press for the successful conclusion of peace talks between the Centre and Naga groups based on the Framework Agreement. The memorandum, which was submitted through Senapati deputy commissioner, stated, "We call upon the government of India to honour the Framework Agreement in letter and spirit by accepting the universal fact that sovereignity lies with people and by extension, that the Naga national flag and Constitution must be an integral part of the shared sovereignity". Naga peace talks have been in a stalemate for long over a demand by the NSCN(IM) that Nagaland be allowed a flag and a chapter in the Indian Constitution. The UNC also requested the PM that "Naga areas" should not be touched while attempting to address demands of "any other community". The Naga body's appeal comes at the backdrop of t

Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act not a threat to Nagas: Nagaland CM Rio

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday asserted that the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act 2023 is not a threat to Nagas as more than 95 per cent of forest cover in the state belong to individuals or community. "In Nagaland, hardly 5 per cent of the land and forest cover belongs to the government while more than 95 per cent are owned by individuals or community," he said while replying to a query of PTI on the stand of the state government on the passing of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill by Parliament recently. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on August 2 and it received the President's assent on August 4. Rio while talking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function here said Article 371 (A) gives special protection to Nagas on land and its resources. He said, "We feel that it is not a threat to the state but we will make further study on its implication and we will not make any reacting for now". On the Naga Peopl

Immunisation drive begins in Nagaland to vaccinate 2,064 women, children

The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0 was launched in Nagaland along with the rest of the country on Monday with the target to immunise 2,064 pregnant women and children below 5 years in the state. Principal Director of Health and Family Welfare Vibeituonuo M Sachu launched the programme by administering the first dose to an infant at the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Kohima district. During the first round, 209 sessions will be held to immunise 2,064 beneficiaries, including 1,885 children and 179 pregnant women, across Nagaland, State Immunisation Officer Dr Imkongtemsu Longchar told PTI. The drive aims to vaccinate the children and pregnant women left out during the routine immunisation activities, he said. Sachu said that IMI 5.0 aims to strengthen routine immunisation under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). A lot of beneficiaries in the first round are those who have missed different vaccines or were left out after the first dose, she said. Healthc

Meet S Phangnon Konyak, Nagaland's 1st woman MP to preside over Rajya Sabha

WRI India launches geospatial platform Energy Access Explorer in Nagaland

The World Research Institute (WRI) India on Friday launched its flagship geospatial platform the Energy Access Explorer (EAE) for Nagaland in the state capital here. EAE is a geospatial platform that provides data on electricity, health, education and livelihood indicators in the regions that it serves, said Executive Director, of Energy Programme, WRI India, Bharath Jairaj at the launching programme. He said that the data would aid policymakers, entrepreneurs and governments, decide the least cost and most sustainable energy access solutions for unserved and underserved communities to accelerate development. EAE is an online, open-source, interactive, geospatial platform that will provide an opportunity to visualize development indicators, and aid decision-making to accelerate development of the state, he said. Chairman of the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) and Advisor to Chief Minister, Abu Metha officially launched EAE Nagaland in the presence of ...

Meet S Phangnon Konyak, Nagaland's 1st woman MP to preside over Rajya Sabha

The first woman MP from Nagaland to preside over Rajya Sabha, Konyak will likely become a leading BJP woman's voice from the Northeast, soft but insistent

All 7 NCP MLAs in Nagaland extend support to Ajit Pawar's faction

All the seven MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Nagaland and its office-bearers in the northeastern state have extended their support to the Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, a spokesperson said on Thursday, in a boost to the rebel camp in Maharashtra. The Ajit Pawar faction of the outfit, founded by former Union minister Sharad Pawar in 1999, is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. National spokesperson of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) Brajmohan Srivastava said, Nagaland unit president Wanthung Odio came to New Delhi and met national working president Praful Patel and Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare. He informed us about the decision of the Nagaland NCP (to support Ajit Pawar camp). Odio handed over affidavits of support of all office-bearers, including seven MLAs, Srivastava said. As per an NCP statement, Patel assured Odio he would support him in his efforts to strengthen the 24-year-old party. Patel instructed the state executive and district units .

Nagaland govt bans single use plastic to eradicate ecological challenges

The Nagaland government banned single use plastic (SUP) in the state to eradicate the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by the rampant use of plastic. This is in compliance with the directives from the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate and subsequent directives from the Urban Development Department Nagaland (UDD) as per the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The UDD said on Saturday that the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of carry bags made of mod, virgin, or recycled plastic, irrespective of the thickness in microns, are prohibited. It also banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, and polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration. Plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, and trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, ...

Massive rocks crush three cars on Nagaland highway during landslide

The heavy boulders sliding down from the mountain reduced three cars to heaps of metal, resulting in the death of two persons while injuring three others

Nagaland gets first HIV-1 viral load lab in Naga Hospital Authority Kohima

Nagaland, which has more than 12,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) on Monday got its first HIV-1 viral load laboratory. The laboratory set up in Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) will help the patients undergo viral load testing, which is required at least once a year for PLHIV. Commissioner and Secretary for Health and Family Welfare Department, Y Kikheto Sema, said that India, being a signatory of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, is committed to ending AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. "Nagaland has approximately 12,290 PLHIV who are on treatment and many more are unreached and untested for HIV. The state has the second-highest HIV positive cases in the country. "PLHIV have to mandatorily undergo viral load testing at least once a year. If the viral load does not come down, it indicates that the person is not responding to the drug and therefore will need another line of treatment. The laboratory will help doctors provide correct treatment

BJP leader's remarks of ED probe against 17 Nagaland officials spark row

The controversy generated by a BJP leader's statement that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing into the files of 17 senior officers in Nagaland has triggered a major socio-political row

1,500 people from trouble-torn Manipur take refuge in Nagaland: Official

Around 1,500 people from the ethnic violence-affected Manipur have taken refuge in different parts of neighbouring Nagaland, an official said on Friday. While many of these people are staying with their relatives, others are in houses provided by villagers. The Nagaland government is yet to collect the accurate data. However, as per available reports, around 1,500 people from Manipur have taken shelter in various parts of the state, Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha told PTI here. The clashes between Meitei and Kuki tribes, which started early last month, have so far claimed over 100 lives and some 10,000 army and para-military personnel had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern state. Meanwhile, the Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO), a tribal body, on Friday visited six villages in Chumoukedima district, where the displaced people have taken refuge. The organisation distributed relief materials to them. In a statement, the CPO said a total of 704 Kuki people h

Nagaland seeks 5 basic food laboratories with adequate manpower from Centre

Nagaland Commissioner and Secretary for Health and Family, Y Kikheto Sema, on Wednesday said that several imported food products in the state do not have manufacturing and expiry tags. Pointing out that Nagaland is not a dustbin for adulterated and sub-standard products, Sema said to provide safe food to people, the state government has requested the Central government to set up five basic food laboratories and Modified Food Safety on Wheels (MFSW) with adequate manpower. Currently, the state has only one food safety lab in Kohima and three MFSWs. Once we are equipped properly, we will verify imported as well locally produced food items and ban the selling of any adulterated food, the official said. Stressing the importance of eating quality food, Sema suggested the necessity of setting up proper markets for vegetable and fruit vendors. Though we do not eat clothes and cars, it is sold in air-conditioned markets but the vegetables and fruits that we eat are being sold on the stree

Govt to build 25 km highway in Nagaland to improve northeast connectivity

The government is building a 25-km two-lane highway project in Nagaland to improve connectivity to northeastern states, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. "We are currently undertaking the development of a 25 km two-lane highway with hard shoulders, spanning from Chakabama to Zunheboto, as part of package-3," the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said. The main aim of this project is to bolster connectivity with neighbouring states in the northeast region, offering efficient, sustainable and economical transportation options for all commuters. In a separate statement, the minister said the government is engaged in the four-laning of the Sinnar-Shirdi section of NH-160, including the construction of the Sinnar Bypass, in Maharashtra. The work is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojna, he said. "This transformative project holds immense social significance, as it will serve as a dedicated route, or 'Marg,' for Sai Baba devotees making their pilgrimage to Shirdi on

NBSE HSLC, HSSLC Results 2023: Details about Nagaland 10th, 12th results

The NBSE results 2023 for the 10th and 12th classes will be posted today afternoon on nbsenl.edu.in by the Nagaland Board

Nagaland urban local body polls: Law of land must be followed, says SC

The law of the land must be followed, the Supreme Court said on Thursday while expressing displeasure over the Nagaland assembly passing a resolution to repeal the municipal act and resolving not to hold elections to the urban local bodies. The apex court observed that it respects the local sentiments but asserted authorities cannot let the law of the land not prevail especially when there is nothing affecting the personal rights or personal laws. A bench of justices S K Kaul and A Amanullah is hearing a petition seeking 33 per cent reservation for women in the elections to local bodies in the state. The top court had on April 5 stayed the March 30 notification cancelling till further orders the elections to the urban local bodies in Nagaland which were scheduled for May 16 after almost two decades. Following pressure from tribal organisations and civil society groups, the Nagaland assembly passed a resolution to repeal the municipal act and resolved not to hold the elections. On