Kohima Apr 24 PTI Nagaland became a coronavirus-free state on Sunday with the lone active COVID patient from Dimapur district recovering from the disease a senior health department official saidThe active case count hit zero for the first time in the northeastern state since the detection of three COVID patients on May 25 2020 he saidThe first three coronavirus patients in Nagaland were among returnees from ChennaiThe caseload remained at 35488 as no fresh infection was reported in the last 24 hours the official saidAltogether 33244 people have so far recovered from the diseaseThe recovery rate was 9368 per centThe death toll due to the infection stood at 760Altogether 1484 patients have migrated to other states the official saidNagaland has so far tested 471479 samples for the infectionOver 1616 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the state till Saturday PTI NBS BDC BDC

Kohima Mar 31 PTI Nagaland on Thursday reported only one COVID-19 case pushing the tally to 35476 a health department official said The COVID-19 death toll remained at 758 as no new fatality was reported in the last 24 hours he said Nagaland now has 16 active COVID-19 cases while 33217 people have recovered from the disease and 1484 patients have migrated to other states the official said The COVID-19 recovery rate in the state now is 9363 per cent The northeastern state has thus far tested more than 469 lakh samples for the infection A total of 1580250 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the state till Wednesday PTI NBS RG RG

Kohima Mar 19 PTI The Nagaland government has been making every endeavour as a facilitator of the Naga political issue NPI so that all the negotiating parties arrive at an honourable acceptable and inclusive solution Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi said on Saturday In his address on the first day of the week-long budget session of the Assembly the governor appreciated coming together of all MLAs to form the United Democratic Alliance UDA an opposition-less government to pursue an early solution to the NPI He termed it as one of the most beautiful illustrations of everyone putting the interest and welfare of the people and the state above anything elseThe Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party NDPP and the BJP had formed the government in 2018 The NPF joined the ruling dispensation in September last year and formed the UDA I also hear and echo the voice of the people of the state for an early settlement of the NPI which continues to take centre stage in our minds and hearts We are aware of the significant positive developments that have taken place in the past few years Mukhi saidThe union government has been holding two separate parleys with the NSCNIM since 1997 and Naga National Political Groups NNPGs comprising of seven organizations since 2017 The Centre signed a framework agreement with the NSCNIM on August 3 2015 and also entered into an agreed position with NNPGs in December 2017However the final solution is yet to see the light of the day mainly because of the unwillingness of the government to accept the NSCNIMs persistent demand for a separate flag and constitution The governor said The state government as always has been making every endeavour as a facilitator of the NPI so that all the negotiating parties are able to appreciate each others position and arrive at a solution which is honourable acceptable and inclusive Mukhi expressed confidence that with the deepest concern being shown by everyone the long-cherished solution will soon become a realityReferring to the killing of 14 civilians at Oting village in Mon district on December 4 last year involving security forces he said the event which is painful and unfortunate caused outrage The government formed a Special Investigation Team SIT which completed its inquiries he said The Army has also constituted a Court of Inquiry on the matter and it is also expected to complete its investigations soon the governor said On the COVID-19 pandemic he said the government has taken several measures to curtail the spread of the virus We need to continue adhering to COVID-19 behaviour he said while urging all unvaccinated persons to get fully vaccinated at the earliest The governor said the general law and order situation in the state has remained by and large peaceful On the issue of the inter-state border tension with Assam he expressed happiness that the Assembly has constituted a committee headed by the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to find ways for amicable settlement of the issue Mukhi said he was delighted to note that the state government is also taking steps to resolve the issues concerning oil and petroleum exploration The Budget session will conclude on March 25 PTI NBS NN NN

Kohima Nov 26 PTI The Nagaland government is all set to organise the popular Hornbill festival from December 1 to help artisans and entrepreneurs associated with textile agriculture and allied sectors state tourism advisor Khehovi Yepthomi said on Friday The 10-day programme which boosts the local economy will be held at Naga Heritage village Kisama about 12 km from the state capital Yepthomi also a BJP MLA told the assembly Hornbill Festival showcases the culture heritage food and customs of Naga tribes and people from these tribes come together to celebrate their traditions with colourful dance performances Termed the Hornbill event as the festival of festivals he said the annual programme brings all the 17 tribes of the state on a platform and facilitates promotion of their culture to the rest of the world Nagaland is known as the land of festivals as each tribe has its own traditions language and culture and these are celebrated throughout the year during different seasons of the agricultural calendar This festival is not only an annual cultural affair but also a window to experience the unique identity and legacy of our rich Naga traditions the tourism advisor said The Hornbill festival has been showcasing the culture of Nagaland for the last 21 years and providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow he said It has promoted the states tourism and related businesses he said Over 112 lakh tourists came to Nagaland during the Hornbill festival in 2016 while 282 lakh travellers visited in 2019 The festival was celebrated virtually last year amid the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country Citing a study on the economic impact of the festival he said an investment of Rs 7 crore in the 2018 Hornbill festival translated into a revenue generation of Rs 45 crore The total turnover from spending on transportation food accommodation and local products was at Rs 10073 crore in 2019 and the government pumped in around Rs 1152 crore for the 10-day gala in that year the tourism advisor said The annual festival has not only placed Nagaland on the World tourism map but has helped Nagas strengthen their bonding with culture and heritage and fostered inter-tribal interaction It generated a growing interest among people about the diverse and vibrant cultures of North East India Yepthomi said He also announced that the 9th International Tourism Mart ITM will be held at Kisama in the state for the first time from Saturday ITM is an annual event organised by the Centre with the objective to promote tourism in the northeastern states and establish the region as an attractive destination for domestic and overseas travellers PTI NBS BDC BDC

Kohima Nov 25 PTI The Nagaland government on Thursday introduced two resolutions in the assembly on regulating transplantation of human organs and streamlining the SARFAESI Act in the state which allows banks to auction properties of defaulters to recover loansThursday is the first of the two-day winter sessionThis is the first session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly without any opposition member The government sans any opposition was formed in August Initially it was named the Nagaland United Government but was rechristened as United Democratic Alliance UDA on September 18Introducing the first resolution Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom said Transplantation of Human Organ Act 1994 and Transplantation of Human Organ Act Amendment 2011 should be adopted in the state The adoption is needed for regulation of transplantation of human organs in Nagaland Pangnyu said Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio moved the second resolution on the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest SARFAESI Act 2002The law allows banks and financial institutions to auction properties residential and commercial when borrowers fail to repay their loans It enables banks to reduce their non-performing assets by adopting measures for recovery or reconstructionRio said the resolution when adopted will provide clarity to the implementing agencies of the SARFAESI Act read with Nagaland and Revenue Regulations Amendment Act 2002 The state government had earlier said it wants to limit the auction of confiscated properties of borrowers in Nagaland to localsThree amendment bills on fiscal matters and Lokayukta were also tabled in the HouseSpeaker Sharingain Longkumer said discussions consideration and voting of the bills and resolutions would be taken up on Friday the last day of the session Earlier obituary references were made to five former legislators who died recently PTI NBS NN NN