[caption id="attachment_198855" align="aligncenter" width="565"]
Neiphiu Rio with a bust presented to him in Mokokchung on Thursday. Tongpang Ozukum is also seen in the picture. (EM Images)[/caption]
Mokokchung, Aug. 2 (EMN): The chief minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio has said that the People’s Democratic Alliance government has made a policy to hold mini-Hornbill festivals coinciding with Naga tribal festivals in all the districts, and tribal headquarters to boost tourism, while also promoting the state’s culture and tradition. He was of the view that the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland had become an international festival but had been concentrated on Kohima alone.
The chief minister was addressing a mammoth gathering of people at Mongsenyimti village and Mokokchung town in Mokokchung district, during the celebration of the Ao Naga people’s premier festival, Tsungremmong, on Thursday.
Earlier, the ‘road show’ events showcased Naga cultural traditions, cuisine, and handloom and handicrafts. However it was discontinued, but this time the mini-Hornbill festivals will be celebrated on a bigger scale to promote the culture of the Naga tribes to promote tourism throughout the state, he said.
Rio expressed gratitude to the Ao Senden for hosting the festival in a grand manner in the district. “Nagaland is not only known for Hornbill festival but it is the land of festivals,” Rio asserted.
Also, Rio informed that information concerning the premier festivals of the tribes would be uploaded in the Tourism department’s website. That way tourists visiting the state during any month of the year can experience the culture of the Naga tribes. If the Naga people do not preserve their heritage and culture but embrace modern western cultures, he said, it will be a loss of their culture and identity. He has urged the people to ponder upon this issue seriously and to promote and preserve the culture, traditions and identity of the Naga community.
He informed that the dialogue between the GoI and the NNPG was now in the ‘advance stage’ after the central government termed that Naga issue a political issue.
“We don’t want to fight with our neighbouring states but they should respect the right of the Nagas and we too should respect the rights and history of their in order to coexist together. All problems should be solved through peaceful means and strengthen the brotherhood and relationship of good neighbours,” Rio said.
Due to the climactic emergencies in the state, Rio said, many precious lives and property have been lost and the state government’s nodal agency NSDMA is trying its best to provide assistance.
“The government is active, all machinery in its disposals —PWD, NSDMA and other agencies are doing their part. We have informed the deputy commissioner to notify alertness, prevention measures and dispatch relief assistance struck by the disaster,” he said.
The CM said to have informed Delhi that connectivity across Nagaland, which is a landlocked state, had been damaged and that it was facing shortage of essential commodities. “I have requested prime minister and Union minister to provide assistance to the state,” he said.
Rio provided a hint that the state government was pursuing the ministry to resume work on the foothill road, which will be declared a trans-Nagaland highway and will cross six districts covering a distance of 428 Km.
He said that the project had been divided into three phases namely Tizit to Longtho (170 km); Longtho-Niuland (126 Km); and Niuland to Khelma.
However, Rio said that the Union minister has informed him ‘that the project can be sanctioned if there is no land compensation problem.’ “If the sanction is passed, it would be two-lane road and it will free the bordering districts if some troubles happen in Assam,” he said.
The CM also talked about the Tizit-Dimapur-Khelma railway project which could not be because of ‘non-submission of land clearance’ even though it was approved in the railway budget during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure.
In this connection, Rio urged the tribal organisations to consult with village councils and landowners to give way to the railway project, which will benefit the people of Nagaland.
“This belt is an economic belt, where there are minerals deposits and rice bowl which will promote commercial activities for the young generation in the foothill,” he asserted.
Saying that the year marks the birth centenary year of Olympian Dr T Ao, he said that the Dr T Ao Regional Sports Academy foundation stone has been dedicated at Dimapur, which will be funded by the NEC and the Tata Trust, among other agencies. He added that the Dr T Ao Sports Award will resume from Independence Day and by Aug. 15 the state will declare itself to be Open Defecation Free.
The Tsungremmong celebration was marked by cultural activities and a feast.
