Dr. Jitendra Singh Visits Wokha for Tribal Outreach

In a significant move to strengthen the Centre’s outreach to the Northeastern region, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh visited the Wokha district of Nagaland on Monday, engaging in an extensive dialogue with tribal leaders, village council members, and local forums. The visit, emblematic of the Modi Government’s development-focused approach, aimed to bridge governance with grassroots realities in one of India’s most culturally rich but remote regions.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, who holds multiple key portfolios including Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Space, Personnel, and Atomic Energy, highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to inclusive growth and deeper integration of tribal communities into the national development narrative. “Our outreach to the Northeast is not just symbolic. It is structural, strategic, and sustained,” said the Minister. He emphasized that over the past ten years, the region has seen a tangible shift in central attention—with enhanced road and rail connectivity, expanded scientific programs, and sustained support for rural livelihoods.

The Minister further reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent vision of treating the Northeast as a “growth engine” rather than a distant frontier. “Every visit here is to listen, understand and deliver on local aspirations. PM Modi’s approach has always been that of cooperative federalism where every region contributes and benefits equally,” he noted during the interactive session.

Present at the meeting were District Magistrate Vaneet Kumar and other senior state officials, who helped facilitate discussions that ranged from youth employment and education to localized innovation and the role of technology in tribal development. Particular focus was placed on enabling scientific outreach and technological interventions that can uplift the rural economy and provide sustainable development solutions.

Community members expressed their appreciation for the visit, stating that such high-level engagements provide much-needed visibility to their concerns. Tribal leaders viewed the interaction as a meaningful platform to present their perspectives on development, social welfare, and administrative inclusion. They urged the Centre to continue strengthening such dialogues and to tailor development schemes that respect the unique socio-cultural fabric of Nagaland.

Dr. Jitendra Singh assured that the Centre remains fully committed to ensuring last-mile delivery of services and that feedback received during these visits would play a pivotal role in shaping future initiatives. He said upcoming development plans under various central ministries would incorporate the insights gained from local representatives to ensure effectiveness and relevance.

The Wokha visit reflects a wider national initiative to establish ongoing, inclusive engagement with tribal and remote communities across India. As the government sharpens its focus on equitable governance, these outreach efforts are poised to become key pillars of policy—rooted in local needs, driven by dialogue, and strengthened through technology and transparency.

With more such interactions planned across the Northeast, the Centre is clearly signalling its intent to build a development framework that is responsive, regionally sensitive, and rooted in the ethos of collaborative nation-building.