Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 3 (EMN): President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on Thursday, visited the historical village, Kigwema, and paid homage to the soldiers at Kohima War Cemetery, before leaving for Mizoram.
At Kigwema village, she visited live exhibitions on weaving, organic food products, and traditional attires that were displayed at Kigwema Council Hall. Women welcomed her with a traditional song and villagers presented her with traditional attire.
She was accompanied by Nagaland Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, MLAs and government officials.
Speaking about the village, Rio said Kigwema is a historical village where the Japanese were stationed during the WW-II.
Under the NDA government, the villagers of the state including Kigwema received “immense benefit” from various central schemes and programmes including NREGA, PMJSY, livelihood support etc.
He informed that the village has a total of 34 self help groups particularly of women, who are engaged in cultivating vegetables and fruits. He said land is fertile and suitable for cultivation despite being a hilly terrain.
Rio thanked the president for visiting the village and expressed hope that she will remember the Naga village and carry back good memories.
Village Council Chairman, Kigwema, Balie Kere, sought the president’s involvement in upgrading National Highway- 2 to four-lane.
It may be noted that the then President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam was presented with a request to upgrade NH-02 to four-lane when he travelled through the road in 2002.
“As you visit us again today as the head of the Union, we implore your kind and personal indulgence to the matter, to let it see the light of the day. An initiative will invariably leave an indelible footprint of development following your August visit”, Kere said.
He also said that the village is contributing towards national security and integrity, by way of co-existence with the army and paramilitary forces, stationed at Jakhama. The traditional land endowment to the military soldiers comes to 72.7% of the total land, under the armed forces occupation.
As a legacy to the people of the area, he requested the president to support having a national standard-level playground situated between the military stations and the village, jointly shared and utilised by the village community and the army personnel.
The president’s maiden visit to Nagaland after becoming the 15th President of India ended on Thursday as she left for Mizoram the same day.