HOME MINISTRY'S
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSSES NORTH-EAST DEVELOPMENT
Shri L.K. Advani, Deputy Prime Minister chaired
the Consultative Committee Meeting for the Ministry of Home Affairs
held here today. Shri Arun Shourie, Minister for Department of
Development of North Eastern Region and both the Ministers of
State in the Home Ministry also participated. Secretary made a
presentation on the activities of the Department of Development
of North Eastern Region. He highlighted the various initiatives
taken by the Department. Under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources,
162 projects worth Rs.3093 crores had been approved and an amount
of Rs.1346.72 crores has been released. The procedure for releases
from Non-Lapsable Central Poll of Resources has been streamlined
and guidelines have been issued. During the IX Plan, North Eastern
Council has implemented various schemes at a cost of Rs.1923.72
crores. The North Eastern Region has also received central assistance
through state Plan amounting to Rs.23792.65 crores during the
same period. The expenditure of Central Ministries in the North
Eastern Region has increased from 6.61% during 1998-99 to 7.29%
during 2001-2002. There is focused attention by Central Ministries
for implementing Prime Minister’s agenda for socio-economic development
of North Eastern Region as announced in January, 2000.
Members of Parliament stressed the need for increased
fund flow and creating employment opportunities for the people
of North Eastern Region. Importance of accelerating infrastructure
development like roads, bridges, airports, communication, social
infrastructure like colleges and polytechnics was stressed. Members
of the Committee also spoke of sub-regional imbalances in the
region especially for District Council areas and direct fund flows
for these sub-regions. Concern was also expressed regarding change
in the demographic pattern of Assam and other North Eastern States
along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The security situation and the
inter-dependence of security and development was stressed by the
members. The members urged that the case issue should be undertaken
by Central Government and peace brought to the region.
Shri Arun Shourie informed that a vision for
North East is being developed. There has been a welcome change
in the atmosphere and the sensitivity in dealing with the State
Governments by Central Ministries on the issues related to the
North-East. Clearance of various projects by the Central Ministries
have been expedited. He stressed that there would be an emphasis
on execution and monitoring of projects rather than on mere release
of money. The Minister also described the overwhelming response
of participants in the North East Business Summit held at Mumbai
recently and stressed the need for more private sector participation
in the generation of employment and development of the Region.
Deputy prime Minister assured the Members that
Government is committed to the development of the North Eastern
Region and adequate policy measures would be taken in this regard.
He assured consideration of suggestions made by the members during
the discussion.
Those who attended the Meeting today are S/Shri
Ananda Mohan Biswas, S.K. Bwiswmuthiary, Holkhomang Haokip, G.M.
Banatwalla, Mohan S. Delkar, Madan Lal Khurana, Bishnu Pada Ray,
S.P. Singh Baghel, Rajbhar Babban, Rajkumar Wangcha, Shivraj V.
Patil, Saiduzzaman; Joyanta Rongpi; Avtar Singh Badhana; Anandicharan
Sahu; and Dr. C.P. Thakur all from the Lok Sabha and S/Shr Dina
Nath Mishra, Ram Gopal Yadav, S. Viduthalai Virumbi, Debabrata
Biswas, Dr. Karan Singh, Jayanta Bhattacharya, Arjun Singh, Balbir
K. Punj; and P.C. Alexander all from the Rajya Sabha.
