28 DEC,Delhi: 1. Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav (AKAM)
The ‘North East Festival’ was celebrated as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav (AKAM)’ from 28th April to 4th May, 2022. Various participative activities were held in all eight NE States in the spirit of Jan-Bhagidari. The valedictory function, on 4th May 2022 at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakhsetra in Guwahati, was graced by then His Excellency President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind and then the First Lady of India, Smt. Savita Kovind. Hon’ble Union Minister of DoNER, Culture & Tourism, Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Hon’ble MoS MDoNER & Cooperation, Shri B.L. Verma were gracious hosts.
Hon’ble Union Minister of Law & Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble MoS of Labour & Employment and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Rameshwar Teli, Hon’ble MoS of External Affairs and Education, Dr.R.K. Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble MoS of Social Justice & Empowerment, Sushri Pratima Bhoumik joined as special invitees. Other honourable dignitaries present were Hon’ble Governor of Assam Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Hon’ble Governor of Manipur Shri La. Ganesan, Hon’ble CM of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble CM of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu, Hon’ble CM of Manipur Shri N. Biren Singh, Hon’ble CM of Meghalaya Shri Conrad K. Sangma, Hon’ble CM of Tripura Shri Biplab Kumar Deb and Hon’ble CM of Sikkim Shri Prem Singh Tamang.
His Excellency the President enjoined upon all influential stakeholders – Central & State Governments and others – to work together to improve the ease of doing business parameters and to facilitate the flow of investments into the North East. He also focused on issues like climate change and in his address he said, “When climate change has emerged as the greatest challenge before humankind, careful planning would be needed in the years to come to preserve the rich ecological heritage of the region”.
2. District Level NER Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Index
MDoNER had launched the country’s first district level SDG Index for the eight North East Region States as a collaborative effort with NITI Aayog, with technical support from UNDP. This is a first of its kind progress tracking tool for the North Eastern Region, of critical significance to the Region’s development trajectory. The SDG NER index is aligned to the SDG India Index and is based on a north-east specific District Indicator Framework, comprising of 84 indicators to measure progress of NER across 15 SDGs. In furtherance to the first edition of the NER District SDG Index Report released on 26th August, 2021, Ministry of DoNER in collaboration with NITI Aayog and UNDP is in the progress to finalize the Second edition of District level NER SDG Index in 2022.
The adoption of the NER SDG District Index for goal-based planning, gap-based prioritization, and indices-based outcome targeting is needed for coordinated planning and monitoring in the entire region. This will ensure a targeted and optimal utilization of available resources as per felt needs in the region. The institutionalization of this data-driven framework will empower all stakeholders in their decision-making and policymaking.
A dashboard has also been made available by NITI Aayog where a visual representation of the progress made by the districts against the 15 SDGs can be easily monitored. NESAC has further augmented its own geoportal for visual representation of the progress made by the districts against all the 84 indicators of the Index. These visualizations provide valuable insights into the status across key parameters to provide deeper policy insights and actionable inputs.
The index is fostering a healthy competition at sub-national level for better outcomes. To help imbue the SDG Framework in the States’ planning and project prioritization in follow-up of the publication of the District-wise SDG Index, MDoNER is negotiating with the UNDP and NITI to set up related Planning Units in the States, with deployment of trained and expert manpower preferably by January-2023.
3. Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE)
As per its mandate, the Ministry of DoNER undertakes matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of developmental schemes and projects in NE Region. In light of the assessment that the NE Region has a significant developmental backlog – not only in infrastructure but also in social development, livelihood and community capacities sectors – requiring attention across the 8 NE States, a new scheme, Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE) has been initiated. Announced in Budget 2022-23 as a 100% Central Sector Scheme, it aims at rapid and holistic development of the Region by funding projects of significant impact.
Its objectives are – to fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti ; support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER States ; enable livelihood activities, particularly for youth and women ; and fill development gaps in various sectors – through initiatives of significant size and comprehensive reach / sub-activities. PM-DevINE is not a substitute for existing Central or State schemes. While the Central ministries may pose their candidate projects under PM-DevINE, priority will be given to those posed by the States. The projects will be implemented through the North Eastern Council (NEC) or the Ministries / Departments or Agencies.
The Union Cabinet eventually approved the PM-DevINE Scheme on 12.10.2022, with total outlay of ₹ 6,600 crore for remaining 15th Finance Commission Period from 2022-23 to 2025-26. Projects will be sanctioned during 2022-23 and 2023-24 and focused attention will be given on completion of Projects by 2025-26. Meetings of the Empowered Committee of PMDevINE Scheme and the projects’ sanction is already underway, in consultation with the North East Council, States of the Region, Central Ministries & partner Agencies. Two ongoing ropeway projects in Sikkim are targeted for completion by March-2023 ; while newer livelihood-oriented projects are planned to be launched within January-2023.
4. 10% Gross Budgetary Support for North Eastern Region
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) monitors and keeps track of expenditure by all non-exempted Central Ministries / Departments (currently 55) mandated to spend at least 10% of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes for NE Region.
This is to ensure a quantum jump in budgetary resource flows to the region to fill the backlog and gaps in basic minimum services and infrastructure. About Rs.3.64 lakh crore have been spent in NER since 2014-15 (upto 30.09.2022) under 10% GBS. The increase in expenditure under 10% GBS in NER is of around 186%, from Rs.24,819 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 70,874 crore in 2021-22. The BE allocation for the year 2022-23 for NER under 10% GBS is Rs 76,040 crore.
During 2021-22, the expenditure tracking was meticulously done, by grouping the Ministries / Departments into three broadly functional categories and upgraded reporting through PFMS. Resultantly, the expenditure increased by Rs. 22,311 crore (46%) over the 2020-21 level ; and exceeded the target (104%) for the first time ever.
Ministry of DoNER has also been delegated the powers to recommend reallocation of resources to those Ministries who have higher absorptive capacity for 10% GBS expenditure in NER to enable fuller utilization of allocated resources. Under re-appropriation mechanism, the requests received for seeking additional funds for North Eastern Region from 2 Ministries/Departments, namely Ministry of Civil Aviation and NIPER, Department of Pharmaceuticals respectively were sent to Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance during 2021-22.
For improved efficacy in meeting the objectives of the extant policy, specific reviews are being taken for Ministries / departments which have fallen short of the targets consistently. Moreover, the Ministries / Departments have been asked to report administrative and schematic expenditures separately. Possibility of tracking State-wise expenditure is also being explored.
5. Inter-Ministerial Task Force for Agriculture
As agriculture sector is primary employer in the NE Region, priority is being accorded for its planned development. Following a joint review of agriculture sector conducted by the Hon’ble Ministers of Development of North Eastern Region and Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, a Task Force was constituted to steer the growth of Agriculture Sector in NE Region.
The Task Force held consultations with active stakeholders including State Governments and Central Agencies and considered (a) modifications required in the existing schemes of Agriculture Sector; and (b) New Schemes / Projects for improved utilization of 10% GBS. In its recommendations – horticulture, organic, agro-forestry and plantation sub-sectors are identified to be focused upon.
Integrated value chains – across raw material, infrastructure, processing, marketing stages – are detailed for high market potential commodities, viz. Bamboo, Spices (Ginger, Turmeric, Chilli, Large-Cardamom), pineapple and agarwood. Various supports for raw material, value addition and marketing segments of each value chain are also identified for concerted focus and convergent action by concerned Ministries / Agencies consultatively through pooling of resources, aligning scheme guidelines etc.
6. Initiatives by MDoNER for development Tourism sector in NER
Promotion of tourism in the North Eastern Region (NER) is a high-priority focus sector of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Sustainable Tourism is emerging as a key driver of faster economic growth, as it does not suffer from the extra transportation costs and the resultant non-competitiveness of other economic activities in the NE Region. The natural beauty and environment, rich flora and fauna assets, distinctive lifestyles and adventure settings, diverse culture & tradition etc. are resources being tapped for boosting tourism with spin-offs for job creation, investment and trade, infrastructure development and social inclusion for women, youth and local communities etc.
Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), 80 projects have been sanctioned for Rs.2598.15 crore up to 31st March 2022, for tourism related infrastructure relating to connectivity, power and water supply in the Region. Moreover, 63 tourism development for Rs. 302.51 crore were sanctioned through NEC up to financial year 2021-22.
In accordance with the recommendations of the Consultative Committee for MDoNER, held on 29th September, 2022 on the subject “Development of Tourism in the NER”, inter-alia for a Task Force and for a regional tourism development plan for NE Region – a Regional action plan is being drawn up, for development of tourism in consultation with States and active stakeholders ; across Eco/Wildlife, Cultural and Heritage, Rural Homestays and Adventure, MICE and Education/Medical Tourism sub-sectors, through an appropriate inter-Ministerial Task Force.
North Eastern Handicrafts & Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) under MDoNER, organizes tour guide course for SC & ST youth of the Region for self-employment generation. NEHHDC, with Department of Travel and Tourism Management of Sonapur College Assam, is promoting research and development on Craft Tourism and allied activities – like Nature Tourism, Rural & Agri Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Community-Based Tourism, etc. It is also pursuing development of Craft Tourism on PPP model.
7. World Expo Dubai 2020- NE participation (4th to 17th March, 2022)
States from North Eastern Region, related Agencies and private entrepreneurs / start-ups were supported to participate in the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. The participant States and Agencies made presentations followed by short films showcasing the opportunities in the region. Potential investors from skilling, agri-horticulture, tourism etc. sectors including Tour operators and School Principals attended. NE State officials presented various initiatives taken up for skilling the youth and their willingness to collaborate with companies and HR recruitment firms. One-on-One interactions between the State officials and potential investors were held on 7th and 10th March 2022.
Key points of discussion in B2G meetings inter alia included – Tie ups with States’ Tourism Department to be explored for promoting North East in Middle East ; MoU with Tour Operator Association ; Keen interest in NE products ; exploring the possibility of bridging logistic gaps with the support of the State & Central Governments ; exploring collaborative opportunity with NE states to attract tourists from UAE and other GCC country into the region; NE States to connect the exports of products to UAE ; Providing cold storage facilities e.g. to transport fish from Meghalaya to Gulf countries.
Key outcomes of the event are better networking with North-Eastern State officials ; Generating awareness and interest for the North East region of India ; Exposure to global market for North-eastern products (exporters and entrepreneurs) ; Inspire focused effort among the officials for promoting investment in the region ; Improve the presentation/pitching skills among the officials ; Encourage identification of investible projects etc.
A Team from Grand Hyper Market, Dubai visited Meghalaya, Assam and Manipur as a follow-up of their meetings in Dubai. They have expressed interest in procuring Agri- Produces like Tea, Jack Fruit, Ginger, Turmeric, Chilli, Pineapples, Assam. Grand Hyper Mart has also expressed interest in recruiting retail workers from North East.
8. Mission mode program for Saturation of Model Blocks & Villages
The need for resilient communities is particularly critical in the North-East region, given the status of its infrastructure, limited resources, ecological profile and the vagaries of nature. To address this, a Mission mode program for Saturation of Model Blocks & Villages (SAMBHAV) was conceptualized to enable the most backward and isolated communities to achieve their full potential and become “Atmanirbhar” through equal access to basic services and opportunities.
This pilot program targets to saturate identified 15 basic services in the 75 GPs / Villages spread across 40 Districts in the North-East Region. The services selected for saturation are based on National Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (NMPI) ; and are identified for their potential to afford ease of living to the villagers. Progress on SAMBHAV is sought to be achieved in convergence within the existing schemes of the Government. These are to be monitored on the KPIs against about 20 flagship Schemes of 12 Central Ministries / Departments.
The SAMBHAV programme will thus help these communities in the remote villages of the NE Region seek better governance from the line Ministries and State Governments, through prioritized implementation of their flagship schemes in NER. In doing so, the exposure to the best practices and case studies of the other parts of the country will also be tapped into.
Appropriate information systems would be essential to help figure out the baseline status on the various services’ related Key Performance Indicators ; and track the progress thereafter on these KPIs. The optimized achievement on these dimensions would be pursued through alternate implementation approaches and innovative technologies needed for sustainable service delivery ; arrived at by ideation with local communities and non-state players with local presence apart from the local machinery of the State Governments.