FILE PHOTO: Angry villagers burn vehicles belonging to security personnel at Oting village under Mon district of Nagaland, Saturday night, Dec. 4, 2021. (PTI Photo)
Started with inauguration of one new district, ended with three new ones
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | December 30
The redux of an ‘Opposition-less Government,’ COVID-19, creation of new districts and the ‘Oting Yatong massacre’ capped an eventful 2021 for Nagaland, some of which, will continue to impact the State in the New Year.
2021 started with Nagaland successfully conducting a dry run for COVID-19 vaccination at 3 sites in Dimapur on January 2 before the launch of the nationwide campaign on January 16.
Dr Sendimeren Aonok, consultant and in-charge of the critical care department at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) became the first recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nagaland on January 16.
The Second wave also hit the State hard, compelling another extended lockdown starting May 14.
On January 11, the Dzükou forest fire which had been raging since December 29, 2020 was finally extinguished.
Meanwhile, three years after it was created on December 21, 2017 and re-notified on July 30, 2020, Noklak was officially inaugurated as the 12th district of Nagaland on January 20.
The State also lost its top bureaucrat on January 28 with the death of Chief Secretary Tali Temjen Toy in Kohima after a prolonged illness.
During the budget session of the NLA on February 17, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on February 18 presented the State Budget with the estimated deficit for the current fiscal 2021-22 at Rs 2679.46 crore.
Fixation of State Developmental Outlay for 2021-22 at Rs 700 crore, introduction of ‘Iconic Projects’; plans for starting of academic session at Kohima Medical College from 2022-23 were some of the key features of the budget session.
Meanwhile, following a fall in COVID-19 cases, regular classes from Class 6 to 12 opened from February 8 while universities, colleges and technical institutions started from February 24.
On February 22, the State Government also announced reduction of the taxes on fuel, the first of two such announcements in 2021.
Regular classes for grades 1 to 5 in schools were permitted from March 22.
On March 22, violence claimed 3 lives at Lamhainamdi, at the Dimapur-Peren district boundary and the State Government instituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the violence.
In April, the bye election to 51-Noksen (ST) seat, left vacant by the demise of Minister and former MP, CM Chang was announced for April 17. H Chuba Chang of NDPP was elected unopposed.
A consultative meeting on the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN) on April 17 decided to form a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) to conduct more consultations on the issue.
On April 13, the long-awaited the RCC T beam structure replacing an old British era Bailley bridge connecting the erstwhile Kohima Road with Purana Bazaar was inaugurated.
Hornbill TV, described as Nagaland’s only ‘Satellite Channel,’ began uplink from ‘Direct To Home’ platform via TataSky.
Meanwhile, after a lull, COVID-19 case detection made a steady climb in Nagaland from the middle of April and crossed 385 in the week ending April 24.
The Agri & Allied Departments also informed that Nagaland was facing a ‘drought-like situation’ due to shortage of water and rain. With COVID cases surging, the State Government announced a return to lockdown from May 14, which was later extended till June 30.
On May 17, Nagaland got its first PSA oxygen generation plant at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima.
On June 10, the Chief Minister launched the ‘Nagaland COVID-19 Information App’ at the State ‘COVID-19 War Room.’
On June 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision of the Government of India to provide free vaccines to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age.
Meanwhile, petrol prices breached the Rs 100-a-litre mark in Kiphire and Tuensang on June 27.
After a ‘lockdown’ for nearly one and a half months, the Nagaland Government began a 10-day unlock period from July 1.
On July 1, however, people were shocked to hear the demise of MLA and Advisor, Toshi Wungtung in New Delhi.
The month of July saw the birth of a new party – the Rising People’s Party promising ‘good governance, contesting sans money power.’
Petrol price also reached record high in Nagaland and crossed Rs 100 a-litre across the State on July 15.
On July 20, the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) declared the results of Classes 10 and 12 exams with girls edging the boys again. In August, the Naga political issue and the Assam-Nagaland border issue took center stage during the 8th session of the 13th NLA. On the latter, the House adopted a 3-point resolution including the formation of a ‘Select Committee.’
In a major change, the State Government proposed to enhance the deadline of filling up vacancy in the office of the Nagaland Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta from ‘not later than six months’ to one year.
The State Government also maintained that the Banuo committee report on RIIN would be made public ‘at the right time’
On August 17, the Chief Minister brought out the 'Nagaland SDG Vision 2030.’
On September 14, Naga Cucumber became the third agricultural products and fourth overall to be granted the Geographical Indications (GI) tag from Nagaland.
The NSCN-K (Niki group) joined the Indo-Naga peace process signing a Ceasefire with the Government of India with effect from September 8, 2021 to September 7, 2022.
The ranking of Nagaland University (NU), the sole central university of the State, slipped further to the 151-200 band at the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) released on September 9.
On September 10, the State Government gave administrative approval of Rs 20 crore for emergency works on the Foothill Road.
During the same month, Nagaland Governor, RN Ravi was replaced as Governor of Nagaland. On September 17, Professor Jagdish Mukhi was sworn in as the 20th Governor of Nagaland.
After much suspense, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF) and Independent members of the NLA unanimously resolved to adopt the nomenclature of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for an opposition-less government.
In October, S Keoshu Yimchunger, the official NDPP candidate was elected uncontested to fill the vacancy caused in the NLA by the demise of Toshi Wungtung.
Prices of diesel breached the Rs 100-a-litre mark in three districts of Nagaland on October 20.
In some good news, the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin informed that Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Nagaland decreased in 2019, and showed the best performance among States and Union Territories (UTs).
On October 31, diesel price joined the ‘Rs 100-a-litre’ club across Nagaland.
However, on November 4, petrol and diesel rates fell sharply following cut in excise duty announced by the Centre, with the State also cutting additional Rs 7 Value Added Tax (VAT) on November 5.
On November 18, the Rengma Selo Zi (RSZ) organized a motor rally in solidarity with the long-standing aspiration for a Tseminyu district. The same day, the government issued guidelines to nominate Urban Local Bodies.
In the same month, there was a split with the NSCN (Reformation) with former Vice President of the undivided NSCN (R), Akato Chophi, “unanimously elected as the President of the new NSCN (R) group” and declaring a “unilateral ceasefire” with the GoI.
On November 29, Nagaland Police launched the ‘Call Your Cop’ app to enhance communication between the police and citizens. On the same day, Nagaland got its first four-lane arch bridge (Sanuorü).
After a year’s gap, the 22nd Hornbill Festival got underway at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama on December 1.
However, with the ensuing events 3 days after, it was called off on the sixth day. The incident pertained to killing of 14 civilians and injury to many on December 4 and 5 by security forces in Mon.
Following this, the demand for revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act grew louder, including a special NLA resolution on December 20.
On December 20, the Governor issued official notice on creation of 3 new districts of Tseminyu, Niuland and Chümoukedima as the 13th, 14th and 15th districts of Nagaland.
