Chief Minister, Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio inaugurated a series of landmark initiatives at the IDAN, Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, on 27th November 2024, positioning Nagaland at the forefront of innovation and economic development.
Describing the launch of Ura Cabs as a proud moment for Nagaland, Rio emphasized its role in bridging critical gaps in tourism and transportation. The platform offers tourists a seamless booking experience while providing local taxi owners with a stable and lucrative livelihood. Rio also mentioned that as part of the Nagaland Tourism Connect initiative, a new fleet of vehicles—comprising 20-seater Tata buses, Tata Wingers, Kia Carens, and Toyota Innovas—was also flagged off. These vehicles are specially branded to promote the state's identity and ensure a superior travel experience for visitors.
The Chief Minister also flagged off newly branded tourism vehicles under the Nagaland Tourism Connect Scheme, marking the culmination of extensive tourism training programs ahead of the 25th Hornbill Festival. Additionally, the Nagaland Logistics Connect initiative was introduced to enhance the state’s transportation and logistics infrastructure.
The Chief Minister further highlighted the government’s commitment to skilling local mechanics to handle advanced BS-6 vehicle technology ensuring modern infrastructure reaches even the remotest areas. Tourism stakeholders, including guides, homestay operators, taxi drivers, and tourism police, have also undergone comprehensive training to enhance visitor experiences during the Hornbill Festival and beyond.
The newly launched Nagaland Logistics Connect initiative aims to drive economic growth by offering exclusive discounts and subsidies on vehicles used for commercial purposes. Entrepreneurs can avail a 12% manufacturer discount on vehicle procurement and up to a 42% subsidy through the Chief Minister’s Micro Finance Initiative (CMMFI).
In a pioneering effort, Nagaland introduced Digital Piggery Insurance, developed in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Tata AIG. This app-based system simplifies registration and claim processing for livestock farmers, addressing the challenges of remote connectivity and reducing costs. Rio said that this initiative not only provides financial security but also exemplifies inclusivity by empowering farmers in the most remote areas while highlighting the partnership between the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission and the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department.
Rio also announced the Chief Minister's Universal Life Insurance Scheme, designed to safeguard families from unforeseen tragedies, further underscoring the government’s commitment to social and financial security.
As the state prepares for the 25th edition of the Hornbill Festival, Rio urged all stakeholders to make the event a testament to Naga hospitality and efficiency. He called upon all to work collectively towards building a robust tourism ecosystem. These initiatives, Rio affirmed, reflect Nagaland’s innovative spirit and commitment to economic progress, empowering local communities while elevating the state’s profile on the national stage.
During the launch programme Advisor to the Chief Minister & Chairman, IDAN, Abu Metha emphasized on benefitting the benefactors and IDAN helps in filling those gaps of development across the state.
He also talked about encouraging homestays, cold storage and innovation hubs and strongly emphasized the importance of sustainability in alignment with recent trends not just in national platforms but also globally.
He also mentioned Nagaland is packed with young talented youths and emphasized on the Naga youths working outside facing many challenges and encouraged them to come back and pursue their creative pursuits.
Chief General Manager, SBI, Guwahati, S. Radhakrishnan talked about the great opportunities presented to citizens of Nagaland under Tourism through Hornbill Festival in collaboration with various countries like Japan, Peru, Wales and the United States. He also emphasized on citizens being responsible consumers as well as customers and encouraged people to take advantage of the natural resources and rich heritage of Nagaland through enhanced financial collaboration.
Minister, Tourism, Temjen Imna Along said he sees Nagaland at the forefront of the nation. He encouraged people to continuously upgrade themselves to today’s time and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government. He mentioned that IDAN is important for networking and pushing aspirations and encouraged the citizens to be messengers of upgraded Nagaland and to be equal stakeholders in it.
Chief Secretary, Nagaland, Dr. J. Alam, IAS thanked the Chief Minister for vision, guidance and continuous support towards the development of the state as well as the IDAN team for coming up with so many innovative initiatives which have a very significant impact on the future of our state.
He said Hornbill Festival has come to be known both nationally and internationally and that the launching ceremony of the economic empowerment initiatives, an event dedicated to unveiling transformative steps towards progress and development, is a significant and historical moment for Nagaland. He mentioned that IDAN has implications for Nagaland’s economy and opportunities that the state has for the young people and to take benefits from these initiatives. He talked about the importance of upskilling the workforce especially in the hospitality sector.
Alam, also mentioned that the state GDP of Nagaland is growing at the rate of 6.5% and per capita income is growing at the rate of 11.2 %, which indicates that there are great opportunities and citizens can take advantage of it and thanked the Chief Minister for his continuous vision, guidance and support towards the development of the state as well as the IDAN team for coming up with so many innovative initiatives which have a very significant impact on the future of our state.
The event also marked the culmination of extensive capacity-building programs for homestays, tour guides, tourist taxi drivers, and heritage interpreters. Financial assistance under the Chief Minister’s Universal Life Insurance Scheme (CMLIS) was handed over to beneficiaries during the ceremony. The Chief Minister also launched a booklet on the tourism directory at the ceremony.
(Thungbeni Humtsoe, APRO, Takumpula Longkumer, IA)
