Kohima, Nagaland, November 10, 2025: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasized the need to provide greater opportunities for the people of India’s North Eastern region, highlighting their vibrant spirit, industrious nature, and immense potential. Speaking at the 22nd Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Zone III, hosted in Nagaland’s capital Kohima, Birla underlined the importance of creating an environment where the region’s citizens can fully realize their abilities and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.

CPA Zone III comprises eight North Eastern states—Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and Sikkim—and has been recognized as one of the most active zones, regularly convening to discuss matters related to governance, public expectations, and regional development. Addressing legislators and dignitaries from across the region, Birla lauded the assembly members for their consistent efforts to deliberate collectively on issues affecting the region, often in a spirit of unity and cooperation.

“The people of the North East are vibrant, industrious, and full of potential,” Birla said. “They deserve greater opportunities to harness their abilities and contribute to India’s progress.” He further highlighted that the theme of the conference, “Policy, Progress and People: The Legislature as a Catalyst for Change,” resonates deeply with India’s democratic philosophy and the foundational values of participatory governance. According to Birla, the legislative assemblies in the region serve as vital platforms for translating public aspirations into actionable policies that can drive social and economic development.

The Speaker praised the North Eastern state assemblies for embracing technology and modern governance tools, including the shift toward paperless working environments and the use of artificial intelligence in legislative processes. These advancements, he noted, not only enhance transparency and efficiency but also enable lawmakers to make informed, timely decisions that reflect the priorities and aspirations of the people. Birla urged legislators to continue leveraging such innovations to strengthen accountability, improve governance, and create responsive and inclusive policymaking frameworks.

Birla also stressed the critical link between infrastructure development and regional progress, noting that every step toward better connectivity, urban planning, and public services opens new avenues for economic growth. “Wherever infrastructure development takes place, new opportunities naturally emerge,” he said. He urged state assemblies to formulate policies that encourage industrial growth, support entrepreneurship, and promote local craftsmanship while ensuring that development is equitable and inclusive. He emphasized that policies should balance modernization with the preservation of local culture and traditions, creating platforms for regional art, handicrafts, and cultural expressions to gain both national and international recognition.

“The economic empowerment of the people should go hand in hand with cultural preservation,” Birla said. “Policies must be framed to provide opportunities for skill development, sustainable livelihoods, and economic participation, while also celebrating the cultural richness of this region.” He called upon the delegates at the CPA Zone III conference to engage in meaningful discussions on policy innovation, regional development, and the role of legislative institutions as catalysts for positive change. According to Birla, such deliberations are essential to chart a roadmap for the future that reflects the aspirations and needs of the people.

Highlighting the significance of the CPA Zone III, Birla recalled the history of parliamentary cooperation in the North East. He noted that Nagaland had hosted the first conference of CPA Zone III in 1997, and that this 22nd edition marks the third time the state has played host. “Nagaland has always played a vital role in fostering legislative dialogue and regional cooperation,” he said. “Its commitment to democratic values, cultural diversity, and participatory governance sets a benchmark for the region.”

Birla described Nagaland as “a land of valour, vibrant festivals, diverse art and culture, rich traditions, and breathtaking natural beauty.” He praised the state for maintaining strong democratic institutions and fostering a spirit of community engagement. According to the Speaker, the region’s natural resources, cultural heritage, and human capital offer enormous potential for development, provided there is a clear policy vision and sustained efforts to nurture talent and innovation.

He urged state legislatures to focus on inclusive growth, ensuring that the benefits of development reach every segment of society, including marginalized and remote communities. Policies, Birla emphasized, should aim not just at economic expansion but also at improving education, healthcare, and social infrastructure, enabling citizens to actively participate in governance and the decision-making process.

In his address, Birla also encouraged legislators to promote collaboration across states, sharing best practices, knowledge, and innovations in governance. He highlighted the CPA platform as an essential space for dialogue, learning, and policy exchange. “Meaningful discussions are the key to charting a path of progress that reflects the people’s aspirations,” he said, stressing that the conference should result in concrete recommendations to strengthen legislative efficiency and effectiveness in the region.

The Speaker also touched upon the importance of skill development and entrepreneurship as engines of growth for the North East. He highlighted the need to create opportunities for youth to develop professional expertise, participate in emerging industries, and contribute to local economic ecosystems. By fostering an environment where talent can flourish and innovative ideas are encouraged, Birla said, the North East can emerge as a hub of sustainable development and prosperity.

Recognizing the region’s cultural and ecological richness, Birla encouraged the state assemblies to incorporate local traditions and art forms into broader development strategies. This approach, he noted, would not only preserve the heritage of the region but also provide economic opportunities through tourism, handicrafts, and creative industries. “Development must harmonize with the unique cultural and environmental identity of the North East,” he remarked.

Birla concluded by reiterating that the North East has immense potential and that the people of the region deserve every possible opportunity to achieve their ambitions. “Legislators must work tirelessly to ensure that policies reflect the aspirations of the people, foster inclusive growth, and create platforms for talent and innovation to flourish,” he said. He expressed confidence that discussions at the CPA Zone III conference would result in actionable insights and strategies to make the legislative institutions in the region even more effective in driving social and economic progress.

The conference, which brings together lawmakers from all eight North Eastern states, aims to provide a forum for constructive debate on legislative practices, governance reforms, and policy innovation. Participants are expected to deliberate on topics ranging from technological integration in governance, public accountability, industrial and regional development, to the preservation of cultural heritage.

In closing, Speaker Birla acknowledged Nagaland’s role in hosting this important legislative forum and expressed hope that the deliberations would translate into tangible outcomes for the region. “The North East has always been a land of potential and promise,” he said. “With the right policies, collaboration, and vision, its people can achieve extraordinary progress, while remaining rooted in their rich traditions and democratic values.”

The 22nd CPA Zone III conference in Nagaland thus serves as a platform to not only discuss legislative challenges and opportunities but also to celebrate the region’s diversity, culture, and commitment to democratic governance, setting the stage for a more prosperous and inclusive future for the people of North East India.