Nagaland
Area: 16,579 sq km
Capital: Kohima
Languages: English, Ao, Konyak, Angami, Seema and Lotha
Districts: 8
Physiography: The State of Nagaland is a narrow strip of mountainous territory between the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam and Myanmar. On the east it shares India's international boundary with Burma. On all other sides it is bounded by Indian territory – Manipur on the south, Assam on the west and north, and Arunachal Pradesh on the north east. Capital: Kohima
Languages: English, Ao, Konyak, Angami, Seema and Lotha
Districts: 8
Saramati, the highest peak, is 3841 m high and Kohima, the capital, is 1444.12 m above sea level. The main rivers that flow through the state are Dhansiri, Doyang, Dikhu and Jhanji. The population of Nagaland is entirely tribal. There are many tribes and sub-tribes among the Nagas with their own languages and cultural features. Kohima district is the home of the Angamis, Zeliangs, Rengmas, Kukis, Semas and other minor groups. Mokokchung is the home of Aos, Wokha district of the Lothas and Zunheboto district of the Semas. Tuensang district is the home of the Chang, the Sangtam, the Khemnungan, the Yimchunger, the Phom and other minor groups. Mon district is the home of the Konyaks. It is these people who chiefly practise Jhum cultivation.
History: The Nagaland State comprises the former Naga Hills district of Assam and the former Tuensang Frontier division of the North East Frontier Agency. These had been made a Centrally Administered Area in 1957, administered by the President through the Governor of Assam. In January 1961 the Government of India conferred the status of a State on Nagaland. The State of Nagaland was officially inaugurated on 1st Dec. 1963.Each Village of Nagaland is an epitome of the ancient Greek city states with its own definitive population, area and administration. No wonder Nagaland is sometimes described as a conglomeration of 'Village Republics'. Village-level institutions have been strong. By 1980, the Village Development Boards (VDB) were given administrative and local mandate. These VDBs are the Naga version of Panchayati raj system, and true catalysis for rural development.
Administration: The State has a unicameral legislature – the Legislative Assembly. Originally the state was divided into 8 districts. In Dec. 1973, the districts were reconstituted
Districts
- Kohima
- Phek
- Mokokchung
- Zunheboto
- Wokha
- Tuensang
- Mon
- Dimpapur
The state GDP is barely sufficient for the average Naga household to subsist upon.But now the Govt. is encouraging terraced cultivation, farm forestry, orchard plantation, cash crop plantation and contour bunding so as to discourage jhum cultivation which leads to soil erosion as well as loss of fertility. These programmes are positively accepted by the people. The area under jhum cultivation is 87,339 hectares and under terraced cultivation 62,091 hectares.
Nagaland's infrastructure is poor but mineral wealth is immense, though unexplored yet. Along the eastern belt runs a rich vein of coal, limestone, iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium and marble.The requirement of power for the entire state is 45 MW, but only 3 to 5 MW of this is generated indigenously.Nagas have an artistic sense in many crafts. They carve beautiful designs with their simple equipment like dao. They use home-made colours and pieces of bamboo to make beautiful decorative materials.
Nagaland has achieved remarkable progress in small and medium industries. Big industries are being planned. When Nagaland came into being in 1963, industry was almost non-existent. Today the state has 30 industrial units, and over 300 small-scale industries.Total road length is 9,315 km. Dimapur is the only place where rail and air services are available.
University:
- Nagaland University, Kohima, Pin: 797 001
- Nehu-North Eastern Hill University-has campus in Kohima.
- An act has been enacted to set up Nagaland Central University at Lumamii. It will function from Medziphema, 50 km from Kohima.
