Minister Highlights the Strategic Significance and Cultural Richness of the Northeast

Agartala, Dec 20 (NationPress) Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar on Friday highlighted the strategic significance of the northeastern region, stating that it is not merely a geographically vital component of the nation but also a symbol of the nation's diversity and culture.

While addressing the pre-plenary technical session of the North Eastern Council (NEC), the Minister noted that the northeastern region’s unique geographical position at the intersection of India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal establishes it as a crucial link for regional connectivity, trade, and diplomacy.

He mentioned that DoNER has been pivotal in promoting the vision of balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth for the region.

The establishment of the DoNER Ministry marked a significant commitment from the Government of India towards the northeastern states, recognizing the necessity for a dedicated approach to tackle the unique challenges faced by this region, the Minister added.

The pre-plenary technical session of the NEC took place on Friday in preparation for the upcoming 72nd Plenary Meeting on Saturday, which will be chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with Governors, Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and senior officials from the Ministry, NEC, and all eight northeastern states participating in the day-long assembly.

Majumdar highlighted that the northeastern states have experienced a notable increase in focus and investment over recent years.

The Minister pointed out that during the past decade, there has been a strong emphasis on enhancing airways, railways, and waterways in the region.

“The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme allocates 100 percent central funding to the state governments of the northeastern region for projects related to physical infrastructure such as water supply, power, and connectivity, which also supports tourism and social infrastructure.

“The Government of India has initiated specific programs like SARDP-NE, Bharatmala-I, and the East-West Corridor program to enhance connectivity within the region and with the rest of India,” he stated.

The MoS DoNER explained that under the Prime Minister's guidance, it is planned for each northeastern state to host a visit from a Union Minister every 15 days to accelerate the development pace in the region and maximize the effectiveness of government-implemented projects.

He further stressed the central government's commitment to the region, stating, “I would like to mention that 74 Union Ministers have visited the region over 157 times from January 2023 to March 2024.

“These visits are instrumental in understanding the aspirations and sentiments of the local populace and ensuring effective implementation of government schemes in the area.”

Majumdar acknowledged the challenges still faced by the region, stating that issues like the development of border trade routes, establishing smart cities, enhancing digital infrastructure, promoting agriculture-based industries, improving market access, and implementing sustainable farming practices still need to be addressed for the region to realize its full potential.

NEC Secretary Angshuman Dey mentioned during the meeting that the DoNER Ministry is set to organize the North East Investor Summit in Delhi around April next year, and a bipartite MoU between the Ministry of DoNER and Invest India has been signed to bolster Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in the eight northeastern states.

Dey highlighted the region's crucial role in achieving Atmanirbharta in edible oil, noting that the potential for Oil Palm production spans across six northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, covering a vast area of 8.4 lakh hectares, representing 38 percent of the national potential.

Currently, over 30 nurseries have been established in the region, with the capacity to produce 30 lakh planting materials, he added.