Kohima, March 3 (IANS) Nagaland’s Tourism and Higher Education Minister Temjen Imna Along on Tuesday said that the iconic Hornbill Festival has significantly enhanced the state’s visibility not only across India but also internationally.

Participating in the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address on the second day of the ongoing session of the Nagaland Assembly, Along said that the extension of the festival to various districts has strengthened grassroots participation while upholding and showcasing the rich traditions, culture, and music of the Naga people.

He said this has reinforced the state’s cultural identity alongside its tourism growth. The 26th edition of the 10-day Hornbill Festival, held from December 1 to 10, 2025, at the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, near Kohima, attracted thousands of tourists from across the country and several foreign nations.

Along also congratulated the Department of Youth Resources and Sports for formulating and implementing robust policies aimed at encouraging young people to pursue sports as a professional career.

He noted that such initiatives are instrumental in nurturing talent, creating structured opportunities, and promoting a culture of excellence among the state’s youth.

MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu, taking part in the discussion on the motion of thanks, called for unity, constructive criticism, and collective responsibility. He also congratulated the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) on signing the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Government of India for the constitution of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

Nienu expressed hope that the agreement would usher in peace, unity, and accelerated development in Nagaland’s eastern region.

On February 5, in a significant step towards the administrative empowerment of Eastern Nagaland, a tripartite agreement was signed in New Delhi by the Centre, the Nagaland government, and the ENPO.

The pact, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, provides for the devolution of powers over 46 subjects to the six eastern districts.

The ENPO, an apex body representing eight recognised Naga tribes across six eastern districts, has been spearheading agitations for the past 15 years demanding a separate ‘Frontier Nagaland Territory’ or a separate state comprising Kiphire, Longleng, Mon, Noklak, Shamator and Tuensang districts.

These districts are inhabited by seven tribes — Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam, and Yimkhiung — categorised among the backward tribes.

MLA Ar. Jwenga, while participating in the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, appreciated the state government’s progress despite resource constraints.

He said Nagaland is steadily advancing towards Viksit Bharat @2047 and Viksit Nagaland @2047 under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

He congratulated the people of Eastern Nagaland on the signing of the MoA for the FNTA and said the proposed interim council should serve as a unifying force.

At the same time, he urged the government to address developmental disparities in central Nagaland through targeted programmes aimed at economically disadvantaged sections.

–IANS

sc/dan