Tribal hohos seek clarity on the Kisama Heritage Village public-private partnership plan ahead of the Hornbill Festival
-1792681674716.webp&w=1200&q=75)
KOHIMA — Tribal hohos have sought clarity on the proposed public-private partnership (PPP) model for Kisama Heritage Village, flagging concerns over cultural authenticity, control of morungs and the sharing of revenue ahead of the 27th Hornbill Festival.
The issue came up during a coordination meeting convened by Tourism department with tribal hohos in Kohima on Thursday. While the department highlighted plans to improve facilities and make Kisama functional throughout the year, tribal representatives stressed that the communities must be consulted before any change in the management of their morungs.
Director of Tourism Veyielo Doulo said the Cabinet had decided to introduce a PPP model for Kisama Heritage Village, but the proposal had not been finalised. A consultative meeting would be held to discuss the details, he said.
Doulo added that once the PPP arrangement was operational, the morungs would be handed over to the respective tribal bodies 20 days before the festival. The department would share further details after this year’s festival.
Also read: Hornbill Festival 2026: Murmu visit likely, Kisama to get PPP push
NSF Martyrs Memorial Trophy to coincide with Hornbill Festival 2026
Chakhesang Cultural Organisation president Keduotsolhi Wetsah said the community welcomed the prospect of improving Kisama but called for clarity on the proposed arrangement, particularly the revenue-sharing mechanism. He maintained that tribal bodies should be consulted before decisions affecting their morungs were taken.
Wetsah also said the maintenance grant of INR 1.5 lakh provided last year was inadequate and sought an increase to at least INR 2 lakh, along with a lump-sum honorarium for tribal bodies/hohos.
The meeting also discussed water supply, sanitation, electricity, security and waste management at the heritage village.
The Public Health Engineering department has proposed an additional reservoir with a capacity of five lakh litres at Kisama. Commissioner and Secretary for Tourism Kovi Meyase said the proposal had been submitted to the chief secretary and was awaiting funds and sanction.
Meyase said the Hornbill Festival had grown from an event attended by thousands at Kohima local ground to one that draws lakhs of visitors over the past 26 years. He called on tribal hohos to help improve facilities, standards and hospitality at the venue.
The department has asked communities to complete repairs and renovation of their morungs by the second week of November. It has also advised them to display traditional attire and models, and provide interpretation of their cultural practices through storytellers.
Meyase suggested that the department might enhance maintenance grants, though any increase might not meet all expectations.
This year, cultural troupes are expected to perform in two phases instead of having all tribes perform daily. The schedule will be announced later.
The department also plans to limit private food stalls at Kisama to 15, apart from stalls operating within tribal morungs. Meyase urged vendors to reduce plastic waste and comply with the venue’s no-plastic policy.
Representatives raised concerns about sanitation and hygiene, while the Ao community flagged fire risks in bamboo structures and called for fire-safety measures and CCTV surveillance.
According to Veyielo Doulo, security arrangements at Kisama had been strengthened throughout the year, with an Indian Reserve Battalion contingent stationed at the venue and additional personnel deployed during the festival.
The department also intends to gradually extend festival activities to districts and other parts of Nagaland, he added.
President Droupadi Murmu is likely to attend this year’s festival, according to the information shared at the meeting.