| Nagaland
Geographical Area : 16 579
Population in 2001 : 19 90 036
Estimated population in 2025 : 25 86 000
Provisional Numbers in Census 2011
Nagaland population as percentage of India : 0.16%
Population in 2011 : 19 80 602
Males 10 25 707
Females 9 54 895
Sex ratio : 931
Under 6 Sex ratio : 944
Number of Districts : 11
Number of habitated villages : 1,278
Capital
Kohima
Principal Languages
Angami, Ao, Chang, Konyak, Lotha, Sangtam, Sema and Chakhesang
History and Geography
Nagaland, the 16th state of the Indian Union, was established on
1 December 1963. It is bounded by Myanmar on the East, Arunachal
Pradesh on the North, Assam on the West, and Manipur on the South.
It lies between the parallels of 98 degree and 96 degree East longitude,
and 26.6 degree and 27.4 degree latitude North of the Equator.
The state of Nagaland has an area of 16.579 sq km with a population
of 19,88,636 as per the 2001 census. The state is mostly mountainous
except those areas bordering Assam valley. Mount Saramati is the
highest peak in Nagaland with a height of 3,840 metres, and its
range forms a natural barrier between Nagaland and Myanmar.
The Naga people belong to the Indo-Mongoloid group of people living
in the contiguous areas of the North Eastern hills of India and
the upper portion of Western Myanmar. The major-recognised tribes
of Nagaland are Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khiamniungan, Kuki,
Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sumi, Yimchungru
and Zeliang. The Naga languages differ from tribe to tribe, and
sometimes even from one village to another. They are, however, under
the Tibeto-Burma family.
In the 12th and 13th Centuries, gradual contacts with the Ahoms
of present day Assam was established, but this did not have any
significant impact on the traditional Naga way of life. However,
in the 19th Century, the British appeared on the scene and ultimately
the area was brought under British administration. After independence,
this territory was made a centrally administered area in 1957 administered
by the Governor of Assam. It was known as the Naga Hills Tuensang
Area. This failed to quell popular aspirations and unrest began.
Hence, in 1961, this was renamed as Nagaland and given the status
of State of the Indian Union, which was formally inaugurated on
1 December 1963.
Agriculture
Nagaland is basically a land of agriculture. About 70 per cent of
the population depends on agriculture. The contribution of agricultural
sector in the state is very significant. Rice is the staple food.
It occupies about 70 per cent of the total area under cultivation
and constitutes about 75 per cent of the total food production in
the state.
The major land use pattern is slash and burn cultivation locally
known as Jhum. Area under jhum cultivation is about 1,01,400 hectare
and under terraced cultivation. The total food production during
the year was 3,86,300 MT.
Out of the total land area of 16,57,587 hectares, forest area occupy
approximately 8,35,436. There are wild life sanctuaries and national
park, namely, Intanki and Puliebadze in Kohima District, Fakim in
Tuensang and Rangapahar in Dimapur.
Power
According to the 1981 census, Nagaland achieved cent per cent electrification
in the rural areas. Nagaland has so far achieved 100 per cent village
electrification reaching even the remotest village of the state.
Irrigation
There is no major or medium irrigation project so far constructed
in the State. The irrigation works are mostly meant to divert small
hill streamlets to irrigate valleys used for rice cultivation. The
total area under irrigation covers 93,231.43 hectares.
Transport
Roads: The total length of roads in Nagaland is 9,860 km, which
includes national highways, state highways, district and village
roads. More than 900 villages in the State are linked by roads.
Railways & Aviation: Dimapur is the only place in the State
from where air and train services are available. There is a tri-weekly
Indian Airlines service connecting Dimapur with Kolkata.
Festivals
Music and dances are an intrinsic part of Naga life. Folk songs
and ballads eulogising bravery, beauty, love, generosity, etc.,
are transmitted from generation to generation. Likewise, dancing
is an integral part of every festive occasion. Feasting, singing,
dancing and merrymaking invariably accompany festivals. Some of
the important festivals are Sekrenyi, Moatsu, Tokhu Emong and Tuluni.
Industries
The process of industrialisation in the state is in its infancy,
but the need to have more industries has been well recognised. Nagaland
Mechanised Bricks Co. Ltd., in Dimapur with one lakh capacity of
bricks per day has been commissioned. Handloom and handicrafts are
important cottage capacity industries, which are mainly being managed
by cooperative societies. The Nagaland Handloom and Handicrafts
Development Cooperation Ltd., in Dimapur is the state owned Corporation,
which is responsible for promotion and marketing of handloom and
handicraft products in the state.
The Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation is the premier
promotional organisation in providing guidance and capital assistance
to entrepreneurs. The 50 TPD Mini Cement Plant at Wazeho in Phek
district has commenced production. The fruits and vegetables processing
and cold storage plant at Dimapur has an installed capacity of processing
5 MT of fruits and vegetables per day and 300 MT cold storage facility.
Tourism
With the opening of the state to the international tourist by relaxation
of Restricted Area Permit (RAP), a good number of foreign tourists,
as well as domestic tourists visit Nagaland every year.
The HORNBILL festival conceived by the Tourism Department and held
in the first week of December, is an annual event where all tribes
of Nagaland come together to celebrate, exhibit and sell their traditional
wares, foodstuffs and crafts. Three traditional festivals, namely,
Sekrenyi at Touphema in Kohima district (February 26-27), Monyu
at Pongo in Longleng Sub-division (April 1-3) and Moatsu at Chuchuyimlang
in Mokokchung district (May 1-3) have been identified as festival
destinations.
There are wild life sanctuaries and national parks, namely, Intanki
and Puliebadze in Kohima District, Fakim in Tuensang and Rangapahar
in Dimapur
|
