Governor of Nagaland Nand Kishore Yadav on Friday flagged off Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and virtually inaugurated the Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Processing Unit at Thanamir in Kiphire district. Both initiatives were supported through the CSR programme of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), at a programme organised by the Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) in Dimapur.

In his address, the Governor said the two initiatives share a common purpose of improving the quality of life and creating opportunities for inclusive development. He described them as addressing two dimensions of development: “protecting lives and creating livelihoods.”

Commending IOCL for supporting emergency healthcare, he said Nagaland's mountainous terrain, scattered settlements and long distances make timely medical care difficult, particularly in emergencies. He said properly equipped BLS ambulances would strengthen emergency response and help in the safe and timely transport of patients from remote areas and health facilities to higher centres. He hoped the initiative would encourage other public and private organisations to take up CSR interventions that complement Government efforts.

On the Thanamir unit, the Governor said Nagaland has considerable agricultural and horticultural potential, and that the challenge is to move beyond selling raw produce towards processing, packaging, branding and market development. He called the unit a "good example of development that is locally rooted but market-oriented." He said Eastern Nagaland should be seen for its resources, talent and enterprise, and not only from the perspective of developmental needs.

He said farmers should be able to benefit from the processing, branding and marketing of products derived from their produce. For this, he said, a complete ecosystem was needed, including storage, processing facilities, quality standards, packaging, logistics, finance and reliable market access. He added that the State's progress could not be achieved by Government alone and would require sustained partnerships among Government, public sector organisations, private companies, financial institutions, entrepreneurs, communities and civil society.

The Governor said healthcare and emergency response, farmers' opportunities, youth skills and enterprise, women's participation in economic activity and wider market access for local products must be strengthened. He conveyed his best wishes for the successful implementation of both initiatives.