NEW DELHI, Jul 28 (PIB): The Government has taken several initiatives for development of industries in the North Eastern region. Policies and programmes are directed towards development of infrastructure, entrepreneur-ship skills, markets and providing flow of credits to the entrepreneurs.
This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Dr Sanjay Sinha in the Rajya Sabha today.
The orientations of the programmes are focused to a large extent on cluster-based approach to industry, industries based on local resources within the region, and encouraging the industries in the medium and small-scale sectors.
The Ministry has, through the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi), undertaken techno-economic studies and resources mapping for the development of industries in the North Eastern region. The areas so far covered in the study include inter-alia, medicinal and aromatic plants, agriculture, livestock and poultry development, tourism, software development, handloom and handicrafts and food processing.
The focus of the Government has been to upgrade the infrastructure in the North Eastern Region. Government has taken up several projects for improvement in road, rail, air, communication, waterways and telecom network in the region.
Government has set up National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in 2014, which is now fast tracking road building activity.
NHIDCL has also undertaken upgradation of neglected, but critical inter-State roads, a new scheme launched by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
The North East is now better connected with broad gauging of the major rail networks in the entire region, the last being from Silchar to Agartala. Heavy investment has been made in power transmission with two projects covering all the 8 states sanctioned the total cost of Rs 9865 crore in order to transmit power to more areas.
The Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan with a budget of Rs 5336 crore has enabled better mobile connectivity with new nodes at district, block and gram panchayat levels. Internet services got a boost with the recent launch of international internet gateway from Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh to Agartala, making it the third in the country after Mumbai and Chennai.
Thrust has been given for promotion of Handlooms & Handicrafts in the North Eastern Region. Under the North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme, an amount of Rs 286 crore has been spent during the last two years.
The DoNER Ministry organised a mega-event “Destination North East-2016” from February 12 -14 , 2016 at Pragati Maidan, ITPO, New Delhi to showcase the inherent economic, social and cultural strength, potential and opportunities in the North East Region.
The North East-ASEAN Business Summit was organized during April 7-9, 2016 at Imphal. A meeting on “Economic Cooperation Dialogue in Eastern South Asia : Transport Corridors and Border Special Development Zones” was jointly organized by UNESCAP, Government of Meghalaya and North Eastern Council at Shillong during, April 25 -26, 2016.
Govt is implementing various schemes/programmes for promotion, upgradation and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises throughout the country including NER region.
The major schemes/programmes include Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee scheme, Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme, Cluster Development Programme, International Cooperation Scheme etc. Efforts have been taken up to motivate entrepreneurs to invest in sectors like plastics and polymers, tourism and hospitality, information technology, food processing, aromatic and medicinal plants, sericulture, horticulture and floriculture, handlooms and handicrafts and bamboo processing etc. Some entrepreneurs have set up their venture and taken assistance from NEDFi. In addition, North Eastern Council has supported a number of projects posed by State Governments relating to development of work-sheds and marketing of produce.
