Kohima, Dec 10: Nagaland received Rs 4.78 crore from the North Eastern Council (NEC) in November to support development initiatives in sectors such as youth and sports infrastructure, tourism, and indigenous cultural projects, according to an official statement.

The fund release is part of NEC’s monthly update on project sanctions and implementation across the eight northeastern states. In November, the council released a total of Rs 56.22 crore for infrastructure development, livelihood enhancement, cultural events, seminars, and research initiatives.

NEC’s support for Nagaland covers key areas including infrastructure, agriculture and allied activities, tourism, culture and heritage, education, skill development, livelihood promotion, and innovation. In addition to state-specific allocations, Rs 14.89 crore was disbursed to central agencies and cultural bodies for regional events and academic engagements.

Projects funded in November include community development for indigenous groups, animal feed production units, scientific pig-breeding facilities, piggery value-chain infrastructure, documentation of traditional medicinal knowledge, and expansion of tele-education through smart virtual classrooms.

The council also reported completion of rainwater reservoirs for fire safety and a skill training centre in Nagaland, initially sanctioned in March 2023. These include rainwater harvesting reservoirs in Dimapur and Khuzama, and infrastructure development at the skill training centre in Chiechama, aimed at strengthening fire-safety preparedness and providing training for youth pursuing employment in fire and emergency services, the Information and Public Relations department noted.