The District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting of Kohima district was held on August 25, 2025 at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, Kohima, under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner & Member Secretary, Kohima, B. Henok Buchem, NCS, and in the presence of Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) & Chairperson, DISHA, Kohima, S. Supongmeren.
In his address, MP Supongmeren said the meeting serves as a platform to review not only schemes but also to strengthen coordination among departments for more effective service delivery. He urged officials and nominated members to work collectively, ensuring that schemes are properly implemented for the benefit of grassroots communities. Acknowledging the challenges faced in Kohima district, he assured that genuine concerns raised during the meeting will be pursued at higher forums, including with the concerned Ministries. He also urged elected representatives and nominated members to actively participate in monitoring, so that loopholes can be addressed promptly.
Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Henok Buchem, welcomed the members and called for meaningful collective efforts to ensure that developmental programmes bear tangible results.
It was followed by presentations from different departments. The department of Social Welfare highlighted welfare schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which covers senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. In 2023–24, 6,416 senior citizens (aged 60–79) and 718 citizens (80 years and above) benefitted under IGNOAPS, while 497 widows and 165 persons with disabilities received pensions under respective schemes. The National Family Benefit Scheme supported 30 bereaved families with financial assistance. It was also reported that 830 Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards had been issued till May 2025, enabling PwDs to access government benefits.
It was informed that under the Mission Vatsalya, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) handled 161 cases through Childline (1098) during 2024–25, including cases of missing children, abuse, neglect, trafficking, and child labour. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) dealt with 94 cases, while the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) registered two cases involving children in conflict with the law.
Kohima district currently has 348 Anganwadi Centres across four ICDS projects, catering to over 12,291 beneficiaries. Services include supplementary nutrition, preschool education, health check-ups, and referrals. As of August 2025, Aadhaar verification of beneficiaries stood at 93%, while mobile verification reached 72%.
The District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW) reported that 409 children are enrolled under PALNA (Anganwadi Centre-cum-Creche) across 28 centres. Under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), 1,938 women benefitted with over ₹67.89 lakh disbursed between April 2023 and August 2025. The Sakhi-One Stop Centre, Kohima, has assisted 175 women since 2016, while Shakti Sadan provides rehabilitation support to women in distress.
The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) informed the gathering that 88% of villages in Kohima have been declared ODF Plus under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) 2.0. Plastic Waste Management Units have been installed in three blocks, with ongoing efforts to improve waste segregation and sustainability. Under Jal Jeevan Mission, 91% of households in the district now have functional tap water connections, with full coverage targeted by December 2025.
The Rural Development Department highlighted that under the MGNREGA, the district generated 1.66 lakh person-days in FY 2025–26, achieving 13.5% of the approved labour budget, while Aadhaar seeding of job cards stood at 90.14%. The Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) has promoted 240 entrepreneurs in Botsa and Chiephobozou blocks under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme. Progress under PMAY-G (2023–24) showed that out of a district target of 689 houses, 455 were completed, while 234 are under construction.
The meeting concluded with the announcement that the next session will feature presentations from the Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterinary Departments.
(Molungnenla, IA Kohima)
