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Include biodiversity, waste management in school curriculum: Principal Secretary

Our CorrespondentKohima | September 23Biodiversity and waste management should be discussed within families and included in school curricula, Nagaland Principal Secretary for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Y Kikheto Sema said on Wednesday.Addressing a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop for revision of the Nagaland State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP) here, Sema said the issue, which is also part of the Sustainable Development Goals, needs to create awareness involving everyone.“It is not the government's responsibility alone; it is a citizen's responsibility,” he said.The workshop was organised by the Nagaland State Biodiversity Board (NSBB) in association with TNCC and FES at Japfu Hotel, Kohima.Sema appealed to churches to include the matter in pulpit preaching and Sunday service teachings, and thanked the Nagaland Baptist Church Council for its proactive role in biodiversity conservation.To protect and promote the state's biodiversity, he said efforts should begin with four C's — Cooperation, Coordination, Confidence and Contribution by all.Noting that Nagaland's shifting cultivation is unique, he said the agricultural system is unfortunately not included in the curriculum of any university in India.He said 70% of the state's population lives in rural areas and is engaged in agro and allied activities, with limited scope for large and medium-scale industries.“We are favoured with all agro-climatic zones. Nagaland is one of the few states in the country where one can grow from dragon fruit to kiwi,” he said.On forest cover, Sema said Nagaland is among the highest in the country at around 73 per cent, against the national average of 21-22%, and maintained that the state is doing well on Sustainable Development Goals and targets.Stressing that Nagaland does not have huge resources like other states, he said its rich biodiversity should be used to encourage people to visit and enjoy the increased ecological services.On the SBSAP, he said it is a commitment and a “burning desire” of the state government to align Nagaland's actions towards biodiversity conservation with the global order, and stressed the need to develop a shared vision and actionable strategy by building on integrated biodiversity.

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PoliticsNagaland

10 percent forest cover loss in Nagaland, says APCCF

Our Correspondent Kohima | September 23Nagaland has witnessed around a 10% decline in its forest cover over the last 10 to 15 years, a senior forest official said, citing that the loss as unprecedented and cautioned that it also means a loss of flora and fauna species.Supongnukshi, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Territorial), in the office of the PCCF and HoFF, Nagaland, said the state has been witnessing a series of degradation and deforestation over the past 10-15 years, with the forest cover shrinking by around 10%.“If the forests cover is losing, that means definitely we have a loss in certain number of population as well as species, also in terms of flora and fauna,” he said.He noted that many academic institutions and scholars have been studying the issue, and stressed that Nagaland’s situation is unique because many species are yet to be discovered. “Without discovering those species, which perhaps would have been very, very important for survival of humankind, we never know. But without discovering those species, we are just losing it without knowing that we have those,” he said.Highlighting the state’s unique ownership structure, Supongnukshi said absolute ownership of forests lies with the community and individuals, who have been given absolute ownership status. "Ours is a unique situation... a place where we own almost everything," he said, adding that the people have long depended on the forest, its resources and biodiversity.He, however, said changing times and situations demand a relook at how these resources are being utilised, especially with rising population and increasing dependency on forests.Stating that 60 to 70% of Nagaland’s population depends on forests and their resources for livelihood, he underlined the need to assess what the state has and what is being done with it. “In such a scenario, it will be for the good of our state and our people only if we are able to have a look at the status of what we have, the strategy, the conservation policies that we are framing,” he said.Supongnukshi also said Nagaland is one of the first states to have initiated revising and updating its biodiversity action plan, in pursuance of a directive from the Ministry and the National Biodiversity Authority.

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PoliticsNagaland

Major fire breaks out in Dimapur, around 100 families affected

Morung Express News Dimapur | September 23  Around 100 families were affected after a major fire broke out at Kuda B Khel in Dimapur on Wednesday afternoon, the Nagaland Fire and Emergency Services said.The fire was reported at around 2:00 pm in the locality, which is predominantly inhabited by daily wage earners and auto-rickshaw drivers. The Central Fire Station received a distress call at around 2:20 pm.The bamboo-structured houses in the affected area were completely gutted in the fire, according to the fire and emergency services.The exact number of houses affected could not be immediately ascertained, but around 100 families were believed to have been affected, fire personnel said.The exact cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. However, a short circuit was suspected. Fire personnel said short circuits were among the common causes of fire incidents in Dimapur.Most of the occupants were reportedly away from their homes when the fire broke out.Seven fire tenders, including six from the Central Fire Station and one from the West Dimapur Fire Station, were pressed into service. Fire-fighters took around one-and-a-half hours to bring the blaze under control.Fire personnel said they did not encounter traffic congestion in the main town area but faced obstruction near the Dhansiri Bridge close to the Power Station. People had reportedly parked their vehicles randomly to watch the fire, blocking the route and delaying the fire tenders' entry into the affected lane.No casualties had been reported till the filing of this report. 

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PoliticsNagaland

Ao Senden issues 15-day ultimatum to NSCN (IM) leaders

Demands to retract remarks on JamirMokokchung, September 23 (MExN): The Ao Senden has vehemently condemned the disparaging remarks made against former Nagaland chief minister Dr SC Jamir by two leaders of the NSCN (IM) and demanded that they retract their statements within 15 days, failing which it will take its own course of action.Ao Senden President Marsanen Imsong and General Secretary Imtipokyim, in a press release, said any Naga citizen with a grasp of the Naga political scenario can comment and contribute views to move forward the stagnated political process.The Ao Senden’s ultimatum follows remarks made on September 16, 2026, by VS Atem, Deputy Ato Kilonser of NSCN (IM), who said Dr SC Jamir is “not mandated and authorized people, just talking for the sake of barking,” and by RH Raising, Member of the Steering Committee of NSCN (IM), who stated that “Dr SC Jamir is not an advocate of the Naga people, he does not have any right to talk about issue of Naga people.”Asserting its position on the Naga political issue, the Ao Senden said “the vision of Sovereignty is the sole aim and the legitimate aspiration of the Naga people and nothing else,” and it stands by it. It noted that in the course of the Naga political journey there have been differences of opinion and self-inflicted divisions amongst the Nagas, but added that “these do not mean that the Naga political issue is in the sole domain of an individual, group of persons or faction.”

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PoliticsNagaland

NSSB seeks dedicated IT cell and secure facilities

Kohima, September 23 (MExN): The Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) has shared concerns regarding ‘differences and ambiguities in service rules and eligibility conditions,’ technological upgradation and data security concerns, and constraints in office space and secure facilities as key challenges before it.The challenges were apprised to Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav during a review meeting with NSSB officials at Lok Bhavan, Kohima on September 23, PRO Lok Bhavan Nagaland said in a press release.The Board also highlighted the need for a dedicated IT cell and dedicated premises for handling confidential examination materials, besides continuous technological upgradation. The NSSB officials presented an overview of the Board’s establishment, mandate, organisational structure, recruitment framework, achievements and future plans during the meeting. Established on July 31, 2020, the Board became functional on August 25, 2022, and is mandated to conduct centralised recruitment examinations for Grade III posts under Pay Matrix Levels 3 to 7 in the Government of Nagaland.The meeting highlighted the Board's efforts towards centralised and standardised recruitment, digitisation and transparency, including online registration, One Time Registration, e-admit cards, publication of answer keys and cut-off marks, and digital access to examination and recruitment information.Since becoming operational, the NSSB has conducted examinations covering 1,734 advertised posts, with 4,232 candidates called for interview and 1,511 candidates selected.The NSSB outlined its way forward, including strengthening its recruitment data repository, moving towards a completely paperless recruitment ecosystem, greater standardisation and digitisation of workflows, enhanced cybersecurity and data protection, and capacity building and training of staff.

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PoliticsNagaland

NSCN Provisional Government rejects ‘Competencies’ document

Dimapur, September 23 (MExN): The NSCN Provisional Government has rejected the “Competencies” document submitted to the Government of India (GoI) in January 2020, alleging that it was framed within the Indian Constitution and amounted to “absorption” of Naga sovereignty rather than a negotiated political settlement.In a statement, Provisional Government chairman Ikato K Chishi Swu said the Competencies were formulated by a committee led by Lt Gen (Retd) VS Atem and submitted to New Delhi on January 2, 2020, without consultation with the NSCN’s National Assembly or Tatar Hoho. He alleged that the document was finalised under sustained pressure from the GoI following a three-month ultimatum issued between August and October 2019.The Provisional Government was constituted at an ‘Extraordinary Joint Emergency Meeting’ of NSCN civil workers and army officers at Mt Horeb in Eastern Nagalim on July 21, 2026, chaired by Lt Gen (Retd) HS Ramsan, VC. According to the statement, the meeting resolved that the talks between the GoI and the Hebron-based NSCN leadership no longer represented the mandate of the Naga people and decided to pursue “political resistance alongside arms resistance” until what it described as restoration of Naga sovereignty across Nagalim.Swu alleged that the Competencies contravened the August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement between the NSCN (IM) and GoI. He said there had been a “marked and disconcerting shift” in New Delhi’s position following the death of then NSCN chairman Isak Chishi Swu in 2016. He further alleged that the advanced age and declining health of NSCN general secretary Th Muivah had subsequently been used to press the organisation towards a settlement within the Indian Union.The statement referred to the 4th Naga People’s Consultative Meeting at Hebron on January 20-21, 2005, which it said had declared the unification of Naga-inhabited areas “legitimate and therefore non-negotiable”. It said any political solution should be pursued through peaceful means with “utmost honesty and sincerity” from both sides.Listing its objections, the Provisional Government said Clause 2(g) of the Competencies provides for the Election Commission of the proposed Tatar Hoho to function in conjunction with the Election Commission of India. Clause 2(k), it said, provides for the Yaruiwo and Kedallo of the Tatar Hoho to be elected by both houses, followed by a proclamation by the President of India for them to assume office.Clause 3(vi), it said, provides for the oath of office of the Midan Kilonser and Kilonsers of Naga Regional Territorial Councils to be administered by the Governor of the concerned Indian state. Clause 4(c) provides for Naga representation through Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.The statement also cited Clause 6(c), which provides that “positive steps shall be taken at the earliest” towards resolving outstanding issues through an earnest political process, but does not specify a timeframe. Clauses 7(a) and (b), it said, provide for continued consultation with a proposed Pan Naga Hoho by the Provisional Government of Nagalim, Naga Regional Territorial Councils and District Councils pending integration.It further cited Clause 29(a), which describes the agreement as constituting a constitution to be called the “Yehzabo” within its defined competencies, and Clause 29(b), which provides for the Naga Yehzabo to be incorporated as a separate chapter in the Constitution of India.Swu argued that provisions for continued separate Regional Territorial and District Council structures were inconsistent with the stated objective of early resolution and unification. He also said the absence of a defined timeframe could allow an indefinite arrangement within the Indian Union.On constituent authority, the statement argued that if sovereignty lies with the people, as referenced in the 2015 Framework Agreement, the authority to frame a Naga constitutional order must emanate from the Naga people rather than a negotiating committee or an agreement with the GoI.Swu rejected the position that the Competencies were merely a draft proposal subject to further negotiations, arguing that a document framed within the Indian Constitution could not logically stand outside it once finalised.The statement also referred to a November 7, 2024 statement by Th Muivah, chief political negotiator of the NSCN (IM), cautioning of resumption of “violent armed resistance against India” if its political demands were rejected by New Delhi. The Provisional Government alleged that the Hebron leadership had neither rejected nor condemned the Competencies and had instead defended the document.Tracing the negotiations, the statement recalled the GoI-NSCN ceasefire agreement signed on July 25, 1997, effective August 1, 1997, under which talks were to be held without preconditions, at the level of the Indian Prime Minister and in a third country. It said subsequent talks were held in Paris, New York, Bangkok, Osaka, Geneva and Amsterdam, besides locations in India.It also referred to the joint communiqué signed in Amsterdam on July 11, 2002, which recorded the GoI’s recognition of the “unique history and situation” of the Nagas, a formulation later reaffirmed in the 2015 Framework Agreement.The statement recalled the May 24, 1964 ceasefire agreement between the GoI and Federal Government of Nagaland, effective September 6, 1964, and the November 11, 1975 Shillong Accord. It said the accord was rejected by the Naga National Assembly and subsequently cited by the founders of the NSCN when the organisation was formed on January 31, 1980, with Isak Chishi Swu as chairman, SS Khaplang as vice-chairman and Th Muivah as general secretary. 

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PoliticsNagaland

AKM: Questioning Dr Jamir’s views not same as denying right to speak

Dimapur, September 23 (MExN): The Ao Students' Conference (AKM) has asserted that ongoing public discourse surrounding Dr SC Jamir should be approached strictly through democratic dialogue and public debate. In a press release issued on September 23, signed by AKM President Lanulemba Longchar and General Secretary Aomayang Longkumer, the student body noted that while Dr Jamir has expressed his views on the Naga political issue, those views remain open to questioning, disagreement, and scrutiny. However, the conference emphasized that questioning his perspectives should not be equated with challenging his fundamental right to speak. Stating that every Naga citizen possesses the freedom to express opinions on the Naga political issue, the AKM maintained that everyone equally holds the right to question, challenge, and seek clarification on those opinions. "No individual or organization should claim exclusive ownership of the right to discuss the political future of the Naga people," the statement read. Addressing historical or factual discrepancies, the student organization stated that if any individual's statement is deemed incorrect, the concerned parties should present factual records and well-reasoned arguments to the public. It underscored that the proper answer to a disputed political view is another reasoned perspective rather than any attempt to silence the speaker. Reiterating that the Naga political issue concerns every member of society, the AKM called for differences of opinion to be handled through dialogue, mutual respect, and debate rather than intimidation, condemnation, or attempts at ownership. 

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