Major Achievements of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) during the calendar year 2020

    1. Earmarking of 30% of “Schemes of NEC” allocation for development of deprived areas; deprived neglected sections of Society

        a. Programmes for afforestation of denuded hills in NER. The plantation will involve tall growing trees other than bamboo.

        b. Programmes/projects for development of organic farming in NER.

        c. Commissioning of studies to look into problems of ethnic groups in NER like Bru, Chakma, etc. and possible solutions to the identified problems.

        d. Documentation of disputes between different States of North East for further action by MHA.

        e. Study of various languages/scripts of NE States and measures to revive the lost languages/scripts.

        f. Such other projects of importance for focussed development of deprived areas, vulnerable and neglected groups/sections of society and other emerging priority sectors.

    2. Digitization of MDoNER

With 100% implementation of E-Office in MDoNER by way of providing support infrastructure and enabling access to E-office through VPN to officials, there was no disruption in working of Ministry in post COVID period. This ensured full utilization of the funds allotted to Ministry in FY 2019-2020. This also ensured safety and protection of employees without loss of productivity.

    3. Development of Bamboo Sector in North Eastern Region

    a. Around 35%  area under bamboo is in North Eastern States.

    b. Government removed Bamboo from the classification of trees in Indian Forest Act 1927 through Indian Forest (Amendment) Act, 2017 and re-classified it as grass by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change thus removing the restrictions in movement of Bamboo.

    c. The decision is a game changer for development of Bamboo in the North Eastern Region as it would facilitate large scale cultivation and processing of bamboo. 

    d. Another major reform relates to increase in import duty on bamboo sticks from 10% to 25%.

    e. Three Bamboo Clusters will be developed in Jammu, Katra and Samba areas for making of Bamboo basketry, Agarbatti and Bamboo Charcoal which will provide direct employment opportunities to about 25,000 people.

    f. Apart from this a Mega Bamboo Industrial Park at Ghati near Jammu and Bamboo Technology Training Centre will also come up in the region within two years of the allotment of land by the UT of J&K administration.

    4. Destination North East: Focus of Destination North East 2020, held virtually in September, 2020 was on the theme “The Emerging Delightful Destinations”.

    5. Other achievements include

        a. Under Govt. Policy of earmarking at least 10% of GBS for development of NER, Rs. 53,374 Cr were provided to NE States at RE stage by 55 non-exempt departments.

        b. Railways allocated of Rs.4745 Cr in addition to GBS.

        c. Approved at a cost of Rs. 9265 Cr Indradhanush Gas Grid Project would be a 1656 km long North East Gas Pipeline Grid covering all eight States. This would provide clean energy to NER and boost industrial growth without pollution. This would greatly help in preserving NE environment in its pristine form.

        d. The work on Greenfield Hollongi Airport for capital connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh,has started. The project with an estimated cost of Rs.955.67 Cr.is likely to be completed by December, 2022.

        e. Railways has completed Belonia-Sabroom (39.12 Km) Railway-line for providing easy access to Southern Tripura and Chattogram Port in Bangladesh.

        f. In the roads sector, 35 National HighwaysProjects having a length of 536 Km, with an estimated cost of Rs.7707.17 Cr have been awarded. 3 projects (66 km length) have been completed in Arunachal Pradesh.

        g. Bulk cargo and container movement from Kolkata and Haldia Ports to Guwahati Terminal via Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) Route and NW2 (Brahmaputra) has started.

        h. Krishi Udaan Scheme launched in Union Budget 2020-21 has been operationalised and Transport of agricultural produce such as pineapple, ginger, kiwi, organic produce has commenced from Bagdogra, Guwahati and Agartala Airports.

        i. All impediments (legal, political and environmental) to Subansiri Hydro Power project in Arunachal Pradesh have been removed and the work on 2000 MW project (stalled since 2011) has started and is expected to be completed by 2023.

        j. On fighting COVID, apart from release of Rs.7923.78 Cr by Ministry of Finance and Rs.235.59 Cr by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Rs. 25 crores of untied funds have been provided by MDoNER/NEC.

        k. Dedicated Desk of Invest India for NER: The facilities that are proposed be extended to the NER are -

            i. Information provision

            ii. Targeting support

            iii. Facilitation support

            iv. State training and capacity building

            v. Creation and structuring of state investment teams

            vi. Advisory for states for their investment summits/roundtables

            vii. Investors targeting support

            viii. Website.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)