Kohima: Nagaland residents face significant hurdles in employment, open spaces, and water supply. The state's Ease of Living Perception Index hit 50, pinning it in the medium category. This data follows a survey of 9,630 residents across 17 districts during February and March 2026. Public services fared best at 64, while economic ability bottomed out at 36.
Job availability is a crisis. Nearly 68% of respondents labeled job prospects poor. Open spaces and recreational facilities also drew sharp criticism. Many residents labeled public services and infrastructure as fair rather than good. Officials ranked job creation, open spaces, and recreation as the top three policy priorities. Niuland led the state with a score of 74. Tseminyu landed in last place with a 35.
Separately, administrative efforts to clean up voter rolls face mounting pressure. Uncollectable Enumeration Forms topped 153,457 as of September 12. This accounts for over 11% of the state's 1,357,208 registered electors. The number jumped by more than 32,000 in just three days. Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Kohima account for over half of these flagged forms.
Officials caution that a flagged form does not guarantee removal. "The term uncollectable does not, by itself, mean that an elector has been removed from the electoral roll or found ineligible," noted the report. Reasons for the uncollected status range from death to migration. The draft electoral roll goes public on September 20. Residents have until October 20 to file claims and objections. Final rolls will hit the public on November 22.
Updated at 13th September 2026 at 2:02pm
A fresh crisis hit Tuensang on September 12 as at least nine people died after drinking suspected spurious liquor, identified as MC Rum. Deaths occurred at the local Civil Hospital, sparking a state police probe. Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma issued an urgent advisory warning residents to steer clear of liquor entirely.
The police hold specific concern for Mon, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator, and Noklak districts. Officials have ordered all residents across the state to abstain from alcohol while the investigation into the tainted supply continues.
Updated at 14th September 2026 at 1:48am
The victims, who perished on September 10 and 11, included three members of a single family, a couple, and a police officer assigned to an MLA’s security detail. Investigators believe the family members were linked to the premises where the illicit alcohol was allegedly purchased. One of these deaths is currently being treated as a suspected suicide.
Police struggle to pinpoint a definitive cause of death, as most remains were buried before authorities could perform autopsies. Forensic teams are now scrambling to analyze samples to verify the chemical source of the poison. In a series of aggressive raids across Tuensang town and the Chendang Saddle area, officers seized 470 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and beer.
Political pressure is mounting. The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee and its youth wing have slammed the government, demanding a full audit of why illegal alcohol remains rampant despite the state's total prohibition regime. Opposition leaders are pushing for ex-gratia payments to victim families and an investigation into potential complicity by the Excise and Prohibition Department.
Updated at 14th September 2026 at 9:47am
Victims suffered from distinct symptoms including blurred vision, severe headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting before death. While the police confirmed the deceased included three family members, a couple, and a security guard for an MLA, they clarified that one of the nine deaths is currently being handled as a separate suicide investigation involving a family member of the liquor seller.
The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee and the Nagaland Pradesh Youth Congress have demanded that the government provide ex-gratia compensation to the families of the deceased. They are pushing for a public disclosure of all forensic findings and a formal inquiry into potential negligence or complicity by the Excise and Prohibition Department, police, and other enforcement agencies regarding the ongoing availability of illicit alcohol despite the 1989 prohibition laws.
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