THE North-Eastern Council (NEC) has been successfully giving a push to development of the North-Eastern Region. It is already working on a massive plan for the period from 2022-23 to 2025-26. But it is not content at that. Aligning with the ‘Amrit Kaal’ (from 75th year to the centenary of Indian Independence), the NEC also is formulating the ‘Vision 2047’ for the development of the North-Eastern Region. For the ongoing plan for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26, budget of Rs 3,202.70 crore has been allocated for new projects as well as to meet the committed liabilities. This particular plan is fully funded by Central Government. But, some kind of fiscal prudence also is being exercised. No fund is being released for projects that are more than three years old and for projects identified as ‘stalled or not likely to be completed in foreseeable future’. However, this does not mean that such projects will be abandoned. Rather, the respective States in the North-Eastern Region may complete such projects from their own resources.

 

While setting the expenditure priorities, it has been decided that the total amount sanctioned from 2022-23 to 2025-26 ‘shall not be’ more than approved outlay, minus the committed liabilities for old projects. Also, there shall be front-loading of the sanctioned expenditure under the scheme. And, one norm is being strictly followed – no new projects to be sanctioned in 2025-26 – that is, the last year of the ongoing plan. For, the NEC wishes to focus its attention on completion of already sanctioned projects. This does not mean that there is no work going on for development of the North-Eastern Region after 2025-26. “We are already working on preparing ‘Vision 2047’ for the North-East. In fact, the draft of our vision document will be ready by February 2024,” K Moses Chalai, Secretary, NEC, told ‘The Hitavada’ during an interaction at NEC Secretariat at Shillong.

 

Asked about focus areas of the upcoming vision document, he replied that the focus would be on technology, tourism, service sector, sports, and ensuring 24x7 power availability. According to him, younger generation is very active in technology and service sector, and the North-Eastern Region has immense sports talent as has been shown over the years. These areas need to be supported and given a boost to make those positive contributing factors in development of the North-Eastern Region, he added. To a question regarding the challenges in development of the North-East, the NEC Secretary listed hilly terrain as a major challenge in road development, regional divisions of demography and ethno-cultural diversity as factors requiring deeper thinking while executing a development project. Besides, the North-Eastern Region is surrounded by a major economic power like China, and fast-growing ASEAN countries. “This is very unique for the region. It has not only inter-State boundaries, but also international boundaries,” he said.

 

The diversity has beauty but also poses some challenges, Chalai observed, because of agendas, beliefs, languages, customs etc. But, he added, once the diversity was ‘balanced well’, development gets a boost. In the past 10 years, this process has gained quite a momentum. There has been economic transformation, but it is not enough. There is migration of youths to other States of the country due to lack of availability of jobs locally. “We need to focus on economic development and job creation in the North-East. The push in tourism and infrastructure must continue. At the same time, we need to focus our attention on high-value investment and Information Technology and other sunrise sectors. Our effort while formulating vision for 2047 is to incorporate such ideas. For, we wish to see a developed North-East,” Chalai concluded, with a smile and confidence in eyes.