Union minister of state (independent charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh announced on November 25 that Northeast will be developed as the “organic capital” of India.
Presiding over the 5th meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of DoNER, which was attended among others by the Members of Parliament from Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh said that a number of path-breaking initiatives have been undertaken to address certain issues that had been pending for the last several years.
Citing an example, the Union minister said that the Northeast Road Sector Development Scheme had been introduced for the upkeep and maintenance of inter-connecting roads between the states which were lying most neglected because each of the two states expected the other state to bear the cost of maintenance, as a result of which these roads had earned the dubious nomenclature of “orphan” roads.
Between the last meeting of the consultative committee and the present one, Singh said that another achievement of pride has been the setting up of “Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis” at “Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management”, Shillong from 15th October this year. In addition to providing strategic policy support for development of handloom, handicraft, horticulture and tourism, the Centre is also the DoNER Ministry’s humble tribute to one of the greatest Indian scientists of our times who had breathed his last during a lecture visit to Shillong.
The airport in Sikkim is expected to become functional next year, said Dr Jitendra Singh, while the extension of runway at Umroi Airport at Shillong is under way. Among the very recent decisions taken include the revival of “Northeast Industrial Policy” and setting up of “Northeast Tourism Development Council”.
A big boost has been given to upgradation of the healthcare facility in the region, said Dr Jitendra Singh. He further disclosed that from this academic session, one seat each for cancer super-specialization in DM (Oncology) and MCh (Oncology) has been introduced in Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, while from February this year, DoNER Ministry has began sponsoring short-term cancer medicine and cancer surgery training from doctors from all the eight States of the region in country’s reputed Cancer Institutes.
The Members of Parliament present in the meeting furnished a number of specific suggestions in relation to the regional connectivity policy, bamboo promotion, upgradation of North Eastern Council etc.
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