The Union Minister for Communications and Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, began his three-day official tour of Nagaland with his arrival at Dimapur Airport on 4th December 2025. The Union Minister was received by Jacob Zhimomi, Minister for Public Health Engineering, Nagaland, and Moatoshi Longkumer, MLA and Advisor for Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, and Excise Department, along with senior government officials and representatives of various departments.
Upon arrival, Scindia briefly interacted with media persons at the airport. Describing it as a “great pleasure to be back in Nagaland,” he spoke highly of the state’s rich diversity, equality, and cultural heritage. He said Nagaland symbolises immense potential and added that his visit coincides with an important period of celebration for the people of the state. Highlighting the Centre’s commitment to the development of the Northeastern region, he reiterated that the Prime Minister’s “Act-East, Act-Fast, Act-First” policy has yielded significant progress. He noted that 10% of the gross budgetary support, amounting to more than ₹1 lakh crore annually, has been dedicated to accelerating development across the eight Northeastern states, which he described it as “Ashta Lakshmi.”
During the media interaction, Scindia was asked about the recently deleted video from the DoNER Ministry’s social media handle that was alleged to depict cultural misappropriation related to the GI tag of Naga King Chilli. Responding to the query, the minister clarified that he was not aware of the incident but stated that if such an error occurred, it was unfortunate. He added that the DoNER Ministry has consistently celebrated the culture, identity, and diversity of all communities across the Northeast, including the 17 tribes of Nagaland, with deep respect.
Scindia’s visit to Nagaland includes a schedule focusing on development initiatives and cultural engagements. On December 5, he is expected to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony for multiple DoNER-funded projects aimed at boosting connectivity, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities in the state. Later, he is expected to participate in the traditional stone-pulling ceremony at Touphema village. In the evening, the Union Minister will grace the Hornbill Festival at Kisama as a special guest, where he is likely to witness cultural performances, traditional displays, and various exhibitions highlighting the heritage of the Naga tribes.
On December 6, Scindia will visit the Heirloom Naga Centre at Sovima, where he will interact with artisans and review initiatives that promote traditional crafts, sustainable village industries, and livelihood programmes led by local communities. This visit will mark the culmination of his three-day tour.
(I.Tiakumla.Ao, IA Dimapur)
