The Road Show will coincide with the district tribal festivals and will be an annual feature. It is also learnt that there will be an established prize for the best performance which will be given during the Republic Day function in the state capital.

Apart from the cultural extravaganza, the main aim and objective of the road show would be the exhibition of state policies and achievements, from the state level to create awareness at the grass-roots level and to highlight the strength of the district including its production and the best practices including success stories for the information of the state level participants from the district level.

The other highlights of the festival include, music show and talent competition, food festival to highlight the cuisine of the tribes, fashion shows to showcase the textile, weaving and design aspects of the tribes.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio recently launched the Statewide Road Show 2009 at Longleng town public ground under Longleng district in a first ever mega event for the district that saw the participation of over thirty government departments putting up full scale exhibitions and displays in a bid to promote government to people interaction and also highlight the activities and schemes of their respective departments. The Road Show launch coincided with the 57th Phom Day celebrations of the native Phoms of the district.

Phom Day has been celebrated every year since 1953 to commemorate the day of denouncing and giving up the head hunting way of life by the Phom people way back in 1953. On this day the then APO (Assistant Political Officer) Ranjh called the elders of every Phom oath to stop head hunting.

Addressing a huge gathering under a warm and clear sky, Rio stated that launching the Statewide Roadshow at Longleng is auspicious and appropriate because it was fifty seven years ago that the Phom people took a big decision towards the path of peace and loyalty, the fruits of which the people are enjoying now. He said that if all the people of the state can make such a decision everywhere, there will be tremendous improvements.

Stating that the Nagas had prided themselves on being ‘free Nagas’, Rio reminded the people that freedom is not a free commodity. Stating that freedom is ‘free’ within the laid down rules and regulations, he called upon all civilized and educated people to propagate this message. Making a point against Naga brethren killing each other, he said that although Nagas had discarded the practice of head hunting, this modern practice of killing each other is a form of ‘improvised Naga head hunting’.

The Chief Minister said that the Road Shows are aimed at enhancing greater transparency in government policies and programmes and called upon the people to study and select which schemes and programmes would best suit them. He explained that the reason for clubbing the Road Show with tribal festivals or occasions is to showcase the specialities of the tribes, including their cuisines, traditional garments and crafts. He encouraged the leaders of the district to visit the other Road Shows in the other districts and study what can be done for their own district.

The Chief Minister also released the booklet ‘1 year of DAN’s 2nd Ministry’ - A record of achievements, published by the Department of Information & Public Relations.

Guest of honour, Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen, in his address lauded the vision of the Phom leaders who had ushered in the historic decisions taken fifty seven years ago to pursue a path of peace and loyalty with the government. He also donated a sum of Rupees one lakh towards the Phom Peoples Council.

Earlier the Chief Minister inaugurated the Longleng town road constructed under Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) under the Rural Development Department. Giving a brief address at the road junction after unveiling the inaugural plaque, Rio said that roads are the face of a place and expressed satisfaction at the quality of the road. On arrival at the public ground the Chief Minister also inaugurated the sports galleries constructed by the Department of Youth Resources & Sports at the Longleng town public ground. After the main inaugural function was over the Chief Minister also formally launched a project on provision of ‘Nutritional Support to Women Living with HIV/AIDS’, undertaken by the Women Development Department. The Longleng district Road Show was coordinated by the Rural Development and Transport & Communications Departments.