Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, highlighted the difficulties faced by Nagaland and the North Eastern Region (NER) during the National Workshop on SDG Budgeting, organised by NITI Aayog and UNDP, and hosted by the Government of West Bengal, under the State Support Mission in Kolkata on 29th September 2026.
The Development Commissioner highlighted the challenges of financial inclusion, which is aligned with SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. He noted that access to banking services is essential for the effective delivery of government welfare schemes, as benefits are linked to bank accounts. However, 14 out of Nagaland’s 76 blocks remain unbanked, with people in remote areas sometimes having to travel 30–40 km to access banking services. He called upon the Government of India to consider providing appropriate financial support and exploring innovative mechanisms to improve the viability and accessibility of banking services in these underserved areas.
The Development Commissioner emphasized the need to contextualize the SDG indicators used in the SDG India Index, published by NITI Aayog, to better reflect the realities of Nagaland and the North Eastern Region (NER). The indicators on ‘Average yield of rice (kg/ha)’ and ‘Productivity of fruits and vegetables (kg/ha)’ under SDG 2: Zero Hunger, may not fully reflect Nagaland’s agricultural context. Nagaland is relatively untouched by the Green Revolution, and many farmers continue to practice jhum and shifting cultivation. Therefore, lower productivity should not, by itself, be interpreted as an indicator of food insecurity or poor agricultural performance. The indicator may need to be interpreted alongside local cropping patterns, nutritional outcomes, environmental sustainability, high-value crops and farm incomes.
The Development Commissioner also raised concerns regarding the indicator ‘Area under jhum cultivation as a percentage of total area under agriculture’ under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production, for which the target is set at zero. He emphasized that this target needs to be considered in the context of the hilly States of the NER, and stated that jhum is not merely an agricultural practice but is deeply rooted in the culture, traditions and livelihoods of communities in the region, with agricultural cycles closely associated with traditional festivals. He therefore stressed that jhum should not be assessed solely as a practice to be eliminated, but should also be understood in terms of its ecological, cultural and livelihood dimensions. The Development Commissioner further noted that Nagaland has eight Agriculture and Allied Departments with agriculture professionals, yet indigenous farming systems, including jhum and shifting cultivation, are not adequately covered in agricultural education curricula, including agricultural institutions in Nagaland. He highlighted the resulting gap between agricultural education and the realities faced by farmers in the region. He therefore called for greater inclusion of jhum and shifting cultivation in the curricula of agricultural colleges and institutions, particularly across the NER, to strengthen understanding, research and the development of context-specific approaches to the region’s indigenous agricultural systems.
On nutrition under SDG 2: Zero Hunger, the Development Commissioner also highlighted the need for contextual consideration of the indicator ‘Percentage of women (aged 15–49) whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is below 18.5’. While acknowledging that the WHO classification provides a standard benchmark, he noted that the NER has distinct demographic, anthropometric and socio-cultural characteristics. He suggested that it may be useful to examine whether a uniform BMI benchmark adequately captures nutritional status across diverse populations and whether region-specific evidence could be considered while interpreting the indicator.
The Development Commissioner further stressed that India’s diverse geographical, cultural and socio-economic contexts require region-sensitive policies and programmes. A one-size-fits-all approach may not adequately address local realities, and national policies, schemes and cost norms should therefore provide greater flexibility while incorporating the perspectives of States and communities.
The national workshop brought together senior officers from 36 States and Union Territories, Ministries of the Government of India, UNDP and other stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening SDG budgeting into State’s planning and budgeting processes. The Nagaland delegation was represented by the Principal Secretary & Development Commissioner, Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Finance Commissioner, Commissioner & Secretary to the Chief Minister, Kesonyu Yhome, IAS and Assistant Planning Officer, Loktimen Longchari.
