The Centre has approved the continuation of schemes of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) with an outlay of ₹12,882 crore for the stability duration of the 15th Finance Commission (2022-23 to 2025-26).
Addressing a press conference, Minister for DoNER G. Kishan Reddy stated the decision to extend the approved schemes for the balance period of the fifteenth Finance Commission was taken at a assembly of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
This could allow better planning for the implementation of the schemes in terms of project selection and front-loading of projects during the scheme period, he stated.
Mr. Reddy stated efforts will be made to conclude the most number of projects by 2025-26 so that there are minimal committed liabilities beyond that 12 months.
The minister stated based at the Expenditure Finance Committee’s (EFC) recommendations, the outlay for the North East Special Infrastructure Scheme (NESIDS) will be ₹8,139.five crore, inclusive of the dedicated liabilities of the continuing initiatives.
The outlay for the “Schemes of NEC” will be ₹3,202.7 crore, including the committed liabilities of the continuing initiatives, the outlay for special programs for the Bodoland Territorial Council, the Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC) and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) in Assam is ₹1,540 crore, inclusive of the dedicated liabilities of the continuing initiatives.
The NESIDS, a central sector scheme with 100cr funding, has been restructured having components – NESIDS (Roads) and NESIDS (other than road infrastructure).
Mr. Reddy stated the development of the Northeast is a major priority for the Centre, while pointing out that the prime minister has visited the region more than 50 times and Union ministers have visited it extra than 400 times in the remaining 8 years.
The Northeast was previously known for unrest, bombings, bandhs etc. but in the remaining 8 years, peace has been established in the region under Modi’s leadership, he stated.
The minister stated the targets of the schemes of the MDoNER is to complement the efforts of the extraordinary Central ministries and departments on one hand and to deal with the wishes of the northeastern States at the other, for exposed improvement and welfare activities.
The Ministry of DoNER schemes help provide gap-filling aid to the 8 States of the vicinity according with their felt wishes by taking on initiatives, such as those for growing infrastructure to mitigate connectivity and social region deficits and improving livelihood and employment opportunities in the vicinity, he stated.
The 5 pillars of the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” for a self-reliant India – economy, infrastructure, system, vibrant demography and demand – will get a push through the schemes, Mr. Reddy added.
According to an official announcement, the actual expenditure in the remaining 4 years under the DoNER schemes was ₹7,534.46 crore, while the fund available for expenditure in the next 4 years till 2025-26 is ₹19,482.2 crore.
Massive efforts were undertaken for infrastructure improvement in the region and improving connectivity has been the prime focus, the statement stated.
For enhancing railway connectivity, ₹51,019 crore were spent given that 2014. A general of 19 new projects worth ₹77,930 crore were sanctioned.
In comparison to the common annual finances allocation of ₹2,122 crore during 2009-14, in the last 8 years, there was a 370% increase in the average annual budget allocation, totaling ₹9,970 crore, the statement stated.
For improving street connectivity, 375 initiatives worth ₹1.05 lakh crore are underway. In the following 3 years, the authorities will lay 9,476 kilometres of roads under 209 initiatives and the Centre is spending ₹1,06,004 crore for this.
Air connectivity has also improved massively. In 68 years, the Northeast had best 9 airports. The quantity jumped to 17 in a quick span of 8 years.
Air traffic movement in the Northeast has accelerated by 113% since 2014 (year on year) to similarly give a boost to air connectivity and an amount of ₹2,000 crore may be invested in civil aviation in the region, the statement stated.
For enhancing telecom connectivity, ₹3,466 crore were spent given that 2014. The Cabinet has also approved 4G connectivity in 4,525 villages of the region and the Centre has set a goal of 500 days to offer entire telecom connectivity in the vicinity by the end of 2023.
Waterways are imperative to the existence and culture of the Northeast and the authorities is undertaking all efforts to develop this crucial region in the region. Before 2014, there has been best one national waterway in the Northeast but now, the number has gone up to 18. Recently, an amount of ₹6,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the National Waterway 2 and the National Waterway 16.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were promoted under diverse schemes to enhance entrepreneurship improvement and ₹645.07 crore were spent to installation and aid 978 units.
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), 3,865 startups are registered from the Northeast.
Improving the fitness infrastructure has been a key recognition during the last 8 years and the government has spent ₹31,793.86 crore in the fitness sector since 2014-15.
A total of 19 State cancer institutes and 20 tertiaries cares most cancers centers were approved under the strengthening of the tertiary care of cancer scheme, the announcement stated.
