Center has gone beyond the conversion of ‘Look East’ policy to ‘Act East’, and now its policy is ‘Act Fast for Northeast’ and ‘Act First for Northeast,’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he addressed the meeting that marked the North Eastern Council (NEC) Golden Jubilee celebration in Shillong on Sunday.
Modi said that this golden jubilee celebration of the NEC, which was inaugurated in 1972 for the development of the Northeast region, coincides with the ongoing Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Terming the eight NE states as eight foundation pillars for the development of the Northeast region, he said the government should work on these foundation pillars for development, viz. Peace, Power, Tourism, 5G connectivity, Culture, Natural farming, Sports, and Potential.
With Northeast as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and realizing the potential of the region, work is going on the projects like Indian-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway and the Agartala-Akhaura rail project, Modi said.
“The government has gone beyond the conversion of the ‘Look East’ policy to ‘Act East’, and now its policy is ‘Act Fast for Northeast’ and ‘Act First for Northeast’,” he said.
Highlighting the success of peace initiatives in the region, he said that many peace agreements have been signed, inter-state boundary agreements have been done and there has been a marked reduction in instances of extremism.
Stressing India’s commitment towards net zero, Prime Minister said the Northeast can become a powerhouse of hydropower. This will make the states of the region a power surplus, help in the expansion of industries, and generate a large number of jobs.
Discussing the tourism potential of the region, he said that both culture and nature of the region are attracting tourists from across the world. He added that tourism circuits are being identified and developed in the region also.
He also discussed sending students from 100 universities to the Northeast, which will help bring people from different regions closer. These students can then become ambassadors of the region.
Talking about boosting connectivity in the region, Prime Minister said that iconic bridge projects which were pending for several decades have now been completed. In the last eight years, the number of airports in the region has jumped from 9 to 16, and the number of flights has increased from about 900 before 2014 to around 1900, he said.
Many Northeastern states have come to the Railway map for the first time and efforts are being done to expand the waterways also. The length of national highways has increased by 50% since 2014 in the region. He said that with the launch of the PM-DevINE scheme, the infrastructure projects in the Northeast have gained more momentum.
Modi further said the government is working on improving digital connectivity in the Northeast by increasing the optical fiber network. Talking about the development of Aatmanirbhar’s 5G infrastructure, he said that 5G will help further the development of the startup ecosystem and service sector among others in the region. He said that the government is committed to making the Northeast not only a center of economic growth but also of cultural growth.
Speaking about the agricultural potential of the region, Prime Minister underlined the scope of natural farming, in which the Northeast can play a leading role. He said that through Krishi UDAN, farmers of the region are able to send their products across the country and different parts of the world as well.
Modi urged the Northeastern states to participate in the ongoing National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm. He also spoke about how drones can help farmers overcome geographical challenges and help their products reach the market.
Discussing the contribution of the region to the field of sports, he said that the government is working towards providing support to sportspersons of the region through the development of India’s first sports university in the Northeast.
Also, more than 200 Khelo India Centres have been approved in the 8 states in the region, and many athletes of the region are getting benefits under the TOPS scheme, he informed.
The Prime Minister also discussed India’s G20 Presidency and said that its meetings would witness people from all over the world coming to the Northeast. This will be an apt opportunity to showcase the nature, culture, and potential of the region, he added, according to a statement issued by the PMO.