Shamator district still struggling with infrastructure, three years after inception

DIMAPUR — Shamator became the 16th district of Nagaland on January 19, 2022, and was officially inaugurated on March 4, 2022, by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who suggested it be called the ‘brotherhood district.’

The district headquarters is located in Shamator town. The first Deputy Commissioner (DC) was Thsuvisie Phoji, and the first Superintendent of Police (SP) was Amit Kumar.

The decision to grant Shamator district status followed a joint resolution by the Yimkhiung Tribal Council (YTC) and the Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) on January 13, 2022. The two groups unanimously supported the upgrade of Shamator subdivision and agreed to the recognition of Tikhir as a separate Naga tribe.

According to the 2011 Census of India, Shamator district had a population of 34,223, comprising 37 recognised villages. It reported a sex ratio of 984 females per 1000 males and a literacy rate of 63.79%. The district is home primarily to the Yimkhiung, Tikhir, and Sumi Nagas.

During a conversation with Eastern Mirror, a district administrative officer stated that while Shamator’s status as a district has brought aspirations for growth, there’s a significant amount of work to be done, particularly in terms of infrastructure development.

Several administrative offices still fall under the jurisdictions of Kiphire and Tuensang districts, leading to coordination difficulties and irregular attendance of heads of departments in district meetings. Until these offices are fully brought under Shamator’s jurisdiction, such issues are likely to persist, the official said.

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According to the officer, land acquisition is another significant roadblock, as the district’s proposals for compensation are considered high by the government, though the rates are comparatively lower than those in other districts.

This disagreement has stalled land acquisition entirely, and as of now, there is no government-acquired land in Shamator. This, he said, is an issue that continues to hinder infrastructural development.

On the positive side, he said the construction of the deputy commissioner’s office is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by November this year. The office of the superintendent of police is also under construction, although the progress is slow.

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The official said that road expansion within Shamator town has been achieved through public participation. The Shamator Town Road Expansion Committee was formed, and in collaboration with the district administration and civil society groups such as the Shamator Town Public Forum, Yimkhiung Liberü Arihako Shamator Area, and others, road expansion efforts were taken up through crowd-funding.

The Urban Development department has since initiated further infrastructure improvements, including the construction of footpaths, culverts, and retaining walls along with soiling and metalling of roads. According to the officer, the department has exceeded the specified work requirements and contributed significantly to improving the town’s road infrastructure.

However, the healthcare sector remains a matter of concern. Though the district hospital has been upgraded to a community health centre (CHC), and facilities have been renovated through the 15th Finance Commission grant, it continues to function with the resources and staffing of a primary health centre.

He said that though various NGOs have repeatedly flagged these issues, little progress has been made. The CHC has resources like an ambulance and X-ray machine, but these are not being utilised due to lack of technicians. The current interruption in government recruitment is worsening the situation, he added.

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In emergencies, patients are forced to travel to Tuensang District Hospital, three hours away, or to Dimapur, which is an option only for those who can afford it.

In other sectors, the official said that the construction of the District Education Officer’s office has yet to begin, although funds have already been sanctioned. The district’s first District Planning and Development Board meeting in 2023 had proposed the creation of several key offices, including a district cultural office, district planning office, and an assistant registrar of co-operative societies. Though these proposals were forwarded to the government, there has been no visible progress to date.

Chief Minister Rio, during Shamator’s district inauguration, had stressed the importance of road connectivity in development. Yet, the ground reality presents a different picture, as there are visible gaps between policy priorities and actual infrastructure.

According to the sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Roads and Bridges (R&B), road conditions in the district remain poor. While most villages are connected to the district headquarters, the lack of blacktopping makes them barely motorable. He bluntly described the condition as “not favourable.”

Despite this, some developmental work is underway, the SDO (R&B) said. He mentioned that a road construction project under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Phase III from Huker village to Y Anner village commenced in mid-2024.

Additionally, a 2-lane upgrade of NH-202 (approximately 54–57 km) is in the pipeline, with surveys already completed by the department of Works & Housing in collaboration with Land Records and Forest departments.

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On the other hand, the proposed Trans-National Highway, which the chief minister had referred to during Shamator’s district inauguration, has seen no updates since its initial mention.

A local student leader pointed out that apart from the deputy commissioner’s office and the slow construction of the SP and Information and public relations offices, Shamator has seen little infrastructure development.

Even basic administrative facilities such as a dedicated DEO office are lacking. As of now, the district continues to operate from the sub-divisional education officer’s premises, two academic sessions after its formation.

Still, the student leader acknowledged the positive momentum generated by the civil society’s collaboration with the district administration. The community-led road expansion project, funded through public contributions, marked a notable improvement after 20 to 30 years of neglect.

Agri potential

In terms of agriculture, the administrative officer noted that major crops include rice, maize, kholar (kidney beans), potatoes, soybeans, and millets.

According to the district officials, millets and potatoes are the two crops that have significant economic potential for the district.

In the district, an annual Millets Festival, now in its fifth edition, is celebrated in the first week of August. Organised by the Self Employed Women Association (SEWA) Shamator in collaboration with North East Network (NEN) and Millet Network of India (MINI), the festival highlights the district’s focus on millets as a key driver of local economy and food security.

However, when asked about the district’s tourism potential, the SDO (R&B), who hails from Shamator, expressed scepticism, stating that the geographical location and the district’s natural setting may not be conducive for tourism growth.

(This report is the first of a series focusing on development works in Nagaland's newly recognised districts, providing an in-depth look at the progress and challenges in these areas).