CM Rio along with other officials and media team from Gujarat pose for a photo at the CMR Complex in Kohima on January 21. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, January 21 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio interacted with a visiting media delegation from Gujarat at the Chief Minister’s Residential Complex in Kohima on January 21.
During the interaction, Rio spoke on various aspects of Nagaland, including its history, struggles, economy and social issues, besides highlighting the special provisions for the State under Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution.
Explaining the reasons for limited industrial investment in Nagaland, the Chief Minister said the constitutional safeguard under Article 371(A), which provides that land and its resources belong to the people, does not permit outsiders to own land in the State, except on lease for a specified period for investment or establishment purposes. This, he said, has resulted in the absence of factories and large industries.
Rio said that with the advent of Christianity and education, Naga youth today are talented and well educated, working not only across India but also in many parts of the world in large numbers. While the State’s natural resources cannot be exploited due to its special constitutional status, he asserted that Nagaland’s human resources can be fully utilised.
The Chief Minister also referred to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project sponsored by the Government of Japan and highlighted the good relationship the State has developed with the Japanese people in recent years.
He said the primary objective of the media delegation’s visit was to showcase the various development activities taking place in Nagaland and to highlight the State’s rich cultural heritage. The visit, he added, would help foster better understanding and interaction and strengthen the bond between Nagaland and Gujarat.
The tour programme is being organised by the Press Information Bureau under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Altogether, 15 media persons from different media houses and two PIB officials from Gujarat are on a four-day visit to Nagaland from January 19 to 22.
