Agartala: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the 72nd Plenary Session of Northeastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, Tripura on December 21. In his address, Union Home Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the past 10 years have been very important for the Northeast Region. He said that the way Prime Minister Modi has brought this region into the focus of the world is transformative for the entire Northeast. Shah said that for a long time this region was merely an issue of speeches for Delhi, but Prime Minister Modi has brought this area into the focus of development with his vision and sensitivity.
He said that 10 years ago, more than 200 tribal groups and more than 195 dialects and languages of the region had become our weakness in a way, causing different kinds of conflicts. Shah said that today, when we look back, it is Prime Minister Modi ji who has done the work of converting that weakness into strength and power.He said that today, more than 200 tribal groups, due to their cultural diversity, have become the center of attraction for the entire world, and over 195 dialects and languages have contributed to making the Northeast one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. The Union Home Minister said that there are more than 7,500 species of flowers in the Northeast alone, along with various types of wildlife and water resources. The Modi government has made significant efforts over the past 10 years to preserve these natural diversities and transform the region into a preferred tourist destination.
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Modi government has accomplished the most important task of establishing peace in the Northeast. He also mentioned the entire country and the world are now accepting Modi ji’s concept of ‘Ashtalakshmi’. The Union Home Minister said that today the entire country wants the prosperity for every individual and states of the Northeast so that the Northeast continues to contribute to the development of the country. Modi Ji urged the entire Cabinet to visit the Northeast and stay overnight there, resulting in central ministers’ spending over 700 nights in the region. He added that Prime Minister Modi himself has visited the Northeast 65 times, and during each visit, he has brought developmental gifts for the region. He added that the NEC has been responsible for formulating development plans, connecting various tribal groups with development, and outlining the development of the Northeast by viewing the entire region from a unique perspective.
Amit Shah said that it is crucial for the Northeast region to attract industrial investment, and efforts to accelerate this need to be intensified. He mentioned that the Northeast cannot remain peaceful solely through the development of the region and states; there needs to be a balance in the development of individuals, villages, and states. He emphasized that for the development of individuals, the development of villages must be ensured, and to achieve this, along with industrial development, the region must become self-reliant in the production of milk, vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat. Amit Shah said that every type of connectivity in the Northeast is a priority for the Modi government. In the last 10 years, violent incidents in the Northeast have reduced by 71 per cent, and civilian deaths have reduced by 86 per cent.
He added that nearly 10,574 insurgents have surrendered, and due to several peace agreements, the Government of India has succeeded in establishing peace throughout the Northeast. Amit Shah said that the allocation for the PM-DevINE scheme was approximately Rs 6600 crore, but it will soon be increased to Rs 9000 crore. He mentioned that for the development of the Northeast, there are more than 111 projects, including roads, power, education, healthcare services, sports infrastructure, and tourism projects. He added that from 2014-15, the budget for the Northeast has increased by 153 per cent, and through the Bamboo Mission, the government has set an ambitious goal to make the entire Northeast prosperous. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that plans worth Rs 81,000 crore have been made for rail connectivity and Rs 41,000 crore for road connectivity. He mentioned that 64 new air routes have been launched, and the remaining work will be completed in the next three years. Shah emphasised that the states of the Northeast should make the most use of NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre).
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