Kohima: Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav descended on Zunheboto on September 28 to grill local officials on service delivery. He met with department heads at the Multipurpose Hall to track progress. The Governor wants results, not just paperwork. He made it clear that administrative milestones mean little if the lives of residents do not improve.
Yadav told the crowd, "The real question should be: What has changed on the ground because of the government intervention?" He argued that the district administration acts as the primary face of the state for villagers. He demanded that health centres stock proper medicine and equipment. He also ordered the Education Department to rank schools by urgent need rather than relying on budgets alone.
Agriculture needs a major pivot. The Governor wants farmers linked to markets instead of just chasing subsidies. He highlighted potential in horticulture, spices, and vegetables. He also pointed to tourism opportunities at the Satoi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Ghosü Wildlife Bird Sanctuary. He suggested using local youth and homestays to drive the economy.
Infrastructure remains a top priority. Roads must connect patients to hospitals and students to schools. He also pushed for better electricity, water, and digital tools. He warned that digital systems must not lock out citizens who lack access. He proposed new dashboards to track bottlenecks and pending works.
MLA and Advisor K. Tokugha Sukhalu noted that the district, established in 1973, suffered long delays due to past violence. He credited current leadership with transforming the region from the land of warriors into the land of peace. Development is now visible in areas like Suruhuto, Satakha, Akuluto, Atoizu, and Pughoboto. Zunheboto Deputy Commissioner Dharam Raj chaired the session, which included input from local tribal bodies and civil society groups.
Yadav ended with a blunt warning. Officers must remain accessible and accountable to the people they serve. He urged them to stop working in silos. He wants them to fix timelines and monitor outcomes as a team.
Updated at 29th September 2026 at 5:49pm
Beyond departmental talk, the Sumi Hoho presented the Governor with a formal list of demands. The tribal apex body pressed for a final, honourable conclusion to the long-standing Naga political issue, citing both the 2015 Framework Agreement and the 2017 Agreed Position. They also signaled unease regarding the use of Vande Mataram in official protocols, noting that certain stanzas contain religious imagery that conflicts with the conscience of local Christian communities. While they pledged respect for national symbols, they asked that future protocols account for these faith sensitivities.
Infrastructure and social gaps also took center stage. The Sumi Hoho pushed for the expansion of Hezukhu Memorial District Hospital from 75 to 100 beds, demanding more medical staff and better diagnostic gear. They also lobbied for the Showuba-Pangsha East-West Corridor, a stalled road project meant to link western, central, and eastern Nagaland. Meanwhile, the Sumi Kukami Hoho reminded officials that development must not trample on traditional village customs, demanding a seat at the table for all policy decisions affecting their customary rights.
Local groups warned that youth unemployment and substance abuse are rotting the district from within. The Zunheboto Area Public Organisation called for a war chest of new investment in sports, skill training, and vocational coaching to keep young people off the streets. They also pointed to the Tizu river basin, demanding better irrigation and cold storage facilities to help farmers move real product, not just empty promises.
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