Northeast's Development Schemes

Govt approved Rs 12,882 crores to continue Northeast’s development schemes.

The Centre aims to connect all the Northeastern states through a network of roads by 2024.
The Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Ministry’s schemes with an outlay of Rs 12,882 crore for the rest of the term of the 15th Finance Commission till 2025-26.
The government has made the development of the Northeast a significant priority.
The Prime Minister has visited the region more than 50 times in the last eight years, while 74 ministers have also visited the Northeast more than 400 times.

Rail, Road and Air Connectivity
- There are now 15 air connection projects, 20 railway projects covering 2,011 km, and 4,000 km of highways under construction.
Waterways Connectivity
- National waterways on the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Barak rivers are under development to provide better connectivity.
  - National Waterways (NW)-1 on the Ganges, NW-2 on the Brahmaputra and NW-16 on Barak
- The riverine systems of India and Bangladesh can be used for all forms of transportation since travelling by water is the least expensive option compared to air, road, and rail networks.
- Assam is now developing the entire region between Sadiya and Dhubri along the Brahmaputra River for better connectivity.
- Guwahati is now building a multimodal hub with a ship repair port at Pandu, four tourist jetties, and 11 floating terminals on the Brahmaputra.
North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP)
- Enhancing Intra-State Transmission and Distribution networks (NERPSIP) is a significant step toward the North Eastern Region’s economic development.
- Additionally, the government is emphasising initiatives for 4G, internet connectivity, mobile networks, and power transmission and distribution.

Features
- The scheme was launched under the Ministry of Development of the North East Region on 15th December 2017.
- Additionally, the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme is central.
- The scheme’s tenure is from 2017-18 to 2019-20. But, the scheme is still active, and many projects are going on under the scheme.
- The scheme will cover projects under the following heads:
  - Physical Infrastructure: Projects relating to water supply, power, and connectivity.
  - Social Infrastructure: Primary and secondary education and health.
  - Furthermore, projects that promote tourism.
Monitoring of the scheme
- For the proper execution of projects approved under the NESIDS, the State Government of the concerned State would put a stern monitoring system in place.
- The mechanism should ideally be made up of representatives who are not directly involved in a particular project.
- Various field inspections by officers of the Ministry of DoNER will be used to monitor and evaluate the implementation status of a project.
- While in the project area, the Ministries of the Government of India may inspect the project with the aid of their representatives.

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)
- In 2001, the Department of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) was created.
- In addition, it was elevated to an entire ministry in 2004.
Tourism Promotion
- Swadesh Darshan Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.
North Eastern Region Vision 2020
- The paper offers a broad framework for the North-East region’s development to bring it up to par with other developed areas, under which many Ministries, notably the Ministry of DoNER, have launched numerous programmes.
Digital North East Vision 2022
- It emphasises the importance of utilising digital technologies to improve the quality of life for people in the country’s northeastern region.

In addition to creating jobs, infrastructure investment would significantly hinder secessionist activities in the Northeast region.
National and international infrastructure development will be the best option for inclusive development in India’s Northeast because it borders national and international borders.

Pic Courtesy: KNN India

Content Source: Indian Express

Northeast’s Development Schemes