Nagaland outranks rich states in health, gender equity, but jobs a concern

Almost all or 97% of households in Nagaland have access to electricity, above the national average of 88.2%

Business Standard News : After a decade of precarious peace, Nagaland, India’s once troubled north-eastern state, now rivals and even outperforms India’s richest states on a number of development outcomes, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 10 states on 20 socio-economic and health indicators.

However, poor infrastructure and a fragile peace continue to be problem areas as the state–formed on December 1, 1963–heads to the polls on February 27, 2018.

Perched on India’s eastern edge bordering Myanmar, Nagaland is roughly the size of Kuwait and has 2 million people, the same as the central Indian city of Indore. There are 16 major tribes and 20 sub-tribes, each marked by distinct clothing and jewellery; 87.93% of its population is Christian. English may be the official language, but over 30 languages and dialects are spoken.

With a per capita income of Rs 78,367, Nagaland ranks 22nd in India, below the national average of Rs 86,454, though ahead of low-income states such as Chhattisgarh (Rs 78,001) and Rajasthan (Rs 75,201). It is also ahead of other north-eastern states such ase Meghalaya (Rs 64,638) and Assam (Rs 52,895), according to the India Economic Survey 2016-17.

For the first time since Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads the ruling alliance at the Centre, is seeking to expand its presence in the state and in the rest of the north-east. Along with the Naga People’s Front (NPF), the BJP has been a part of the ruling coalition here, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland.

However, earlier this month, the BJP broke away from the incumbent NPF government over seat-sharing issues. It has now instead joined forces with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which includes many former leaders of the NPF, agreeing to a 20:40 seat-sharing arrangement.

Meghalaya Assembly Election 2018: Explosion at Tizit, top developments

Voting underway in Meghalaya and Nagaland Assembly elections 2018; BJP and Congress slug it out for the Northeast.

Business Standard News : The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on Saturday, March 3.

Here are the top developments in the crucial Meghalaya and Nagaland Assembly polls:

1) Bomb blast at Nagaland polling station: One person was injured in a bomb blast at a polling station in Mon District’s Tizit, in Nagaland.

2) Voting underway in both states: Amid tight security, voting for the Meghalaya Assembly elections 2018 began on Tuesday, an official said. “Men and women in large numbers queued up in front of many polling stations well before polling opened at 7 am in the entire state. Polling ends at 4 pm,” Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said.

3) Voting only in 59 constituencies in both states: While the two states have a 60-member House each, voting will be held for only 59 constituencies each.

4) Webcasting at 193 polling stations; restrictions on exit polls: Webcasting will be done at 193 polling stations. Further, 312 micro observers have been deployed.

5) BJP leaving no stone unturned to push Congress out: This time around, the BJP appears to be leaving no stone unturned to push the Congress out of power and add Meghalaya to its kitty. The BJP’s push in the north-east, which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold with the saffron party being a marginal player, is being keenly watched by political observers.