Parliamentary leaders from eight northeastern states have urged the central government to devise a comprehensive two-decade development plan, highlighting persistent socio-economic disparities that may hinder the region’s progress within India’s growth framework. This appeal was central to the ‘Kohima Proclamation,’ which was unanimously adopted on November 11 during the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Zone-III Conference. The four-day event, organized by the Nagaland Assembly under the theme “Policy, Progress & People: Legislatures as Catalysts of Change,” brought together legislative leaders from the Northeast.
The proclamation emphasized the necessity for ongoing dialogue between the central government and northeastern states to formulate a sustainable development strategy that respects the region’s ethnic diversity and unique challenges. It called for increased budgetary allocations, asserting that such funding is crucial for integrating the Northeast into the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Given the region’s strategic role as India’s gateway to ASEAN nations, the conference advocated for a targeted development program in collaboration with Southeast Asian countries to boost social, cultural, and economic advancement. The resolution underscored the need for enhanced regional cooperation in sectors like trade, healthcare, education, tourism, and cultural exchange.
The assembly also supported three specific infrastructure projects for Nagaland: upgrading Kohima Medical College to a central institute akin to AIIMS or RIMS Imphal; actualizing the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research or IIT initiative first announced in the 2015–16 Union Budget; and constructing Chiethu Airport in Kohima to improve connectivity.
Recognizing the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes and climate change, legislators committed to pursuing climate-resilient policies and developing state-level action plans. They proposed establishing a regional research center to assess the socio-economic impacts of global warming and to devise preventive strategies, along with initiatives to raise public awareness through legislative committees and community engagement.
The proclamation was signed by Sharingain Longkumer, chairman of CPA India Region Zone-III and Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, alongside Thomas A Sangma, vice-chairman and Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, and other presiding officers from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura.
In a separate resolution, the assembly condemned the bomb blast near the Red Fort in New Delhi on November 10, expressing condolences to the victims.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/nagaland/story/northeast-legislators-demand-20-year-development-roadmap-in-kohima-declaration-1302570-2025-11-11?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-11-11 23:19:00
