Amit Shah highlights Northeast’s development at NEC Plenary in Agartala

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 22, 2024

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed the 72nd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, Tripura on December 21. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Governors, Chief Ministers of Northeastern states, and other dignitaries. Shah highlighted the transformative progress in the Northeast over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Shah stated that the region, once plagued by neglect, is now a priority for development. Infrastructure projects have significantly reduced physical and emotional distances between the Northeast and the rest of India. The government has prioritized peacebuilding, resulting in over 10,000 armed insurgents surrendering and a 71% reduction in violent incidents. He credited these changes to various peace agreements and efforts to bridge cultural and regional divides.

The Union Home Minister announced plans to fully implement three new criminal laws across the Northeast to ensure justice delivery within three years. He urged state governments to shift police priorities from combating insurgency to ensuring citizens’ constitutional rights, property protection, and family security. Addressing the drug trafficking issue, Shah highlighted the Northeast’s role as a key transit route and called for intensified efforts to combat the menace.

Shah highlighted the cultural diversity of the Northeast, with over 200 tribal groups and 195 languages, as a source of global interest and national pride. He emphasized the government’s efforts to preserve local languages, promote primary education in native dialects, and include more Northeastern languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Organic farming was also emphasized as a key driver of economic growth, with plans to set up organic certification labs in every state and agreements to link farmers with national cooperative bodies for global market access.

On the economic front, Shah revealed the establishment of three semiconductor units in the region, including a Rs 27,000 crore project in Assam, expected to generate 80,000 jobs. He also discussed the government’s Mission Palm Oil to enhance self-reliance in edible oil production and expand infrastructure for roads, railways, and air connectivity. He noted significant achievements, including 64 new air routes, projects worth Rs 81,000 crore for rail connectivity, and Rs 41,000 crore for road development.

Shah underscored the government’s focus on using technology to address challenges, including flood management and corruption reduction through Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). He also announced increased funding for the PM-DevINE scheme from Rs 6,600 crore to Rs 9,000 crore, supporting over 111 development projects in education, healthcare, tourism, and sports.

The Union Home Minister urged state governments to improve the investment ecosystem, highlighting that connectivity within and beyond the region is no longer a barrier. He mentioned that the exchange of Bangladesh enclaves had enhanced international connections, further strengthening the industrial and tourism prospects of the region.

Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to preserving the Northeast’s cultural and natural heritage while accelerating its economic growth. He expressed confidence that the region would become India’s most prosperous area by 2047, playing a pivotal role in the country’s journey toward development.