Kohima: Nagaland Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has announced that the state government is taking steps to set up an interim council for the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) in consultation with the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) and tribal hohos of the region.
Delivering his maiden address on the opening day of the Budget Session 2026–27 of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Bhalla said the government would soon initiate special legislation, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, to formally establish the FNTA as envisaged in the Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 5, 2026.
Extending his greetings to members at the start of the Eighth Session of the Fourteenth Assembly, the Governor expressed hope that deliberations would be conducted in keeping with the highest democratic standards.
On the long-pending Naga political issue, Bhalla reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing an early and honourable resolution.
He noted that a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) has been constituted, bringing together ministers, elected representatives from all tribes, leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament from the state to facilitate dialogue. A sub-committee has also been formed to streamline discussions and move the process forward.
He informed the House that the Chief Minister, along with members of the PAC sub-committee, recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to request the appointment of a political-level interlocutor to accelerate the ongoing peace negotiations.
Regarding the upcoming Census, Bhalla said the nationwide decennial exercise, notified on June 16, will be conducted in two phases. In Nagaland, the house listing and housing census will take place from July 1 to July 30, while self-enumeration will be available between June 16 and June 30.
Reviewing the law and order situation, the Governor stated that enforcement efforts under the NDPS Act in 2025 resulted in 157 cases and 260 arrests. To strengthen surveillance and combat drug trafficking, more than 1,400 AI-enabled Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV cameras have been sanctioned for installation in Dimapur and Kohima.
Highlighting progress in social sectors, Bhalla said nearly 3,900 teachers have been trained under the Nagaland Education Project-NECTAR aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, and infrastructure improvements are underway in government colleges under PM-USHA.
Under the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme, claims exceeding Rs 389 crore have been disbursed, benefiting over 1.1 lakh individuals.
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He also reported that GST collections reached Rs 987.38 crore as of January 31, registering a 37 per cent growth rate — the highest in the country. Additionally, the state has begun preparing its long-term development roadmap titled “Viksit Nagaland @2047”.
Concluding his address, Bhalla expressed confidence that the session would contribute meaningfully towards advancing peace, development and prosperity in Nagaland.
