Lok Sabha Question No. 2932 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-06
Subject: Initiatives to promote North East India
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2932

To be answered on Wednesday, August 6, 2025/ Sravana 15, 1947 (Saka)

## Initiatives to promote North East India

## 2932.     Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant  Dalal :

Will  the  Minister  of  DEVELOPMENT  OF  NORTH  EASTERN  REGION  be pleased to State:

- (a) the  details  of  the  key  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  the development of North East India;
- (b) the funds allocated and support provided for the promotion and execution of these initiatives at the regional level in the North-East during the last five years;
- (c) the  data  on  number  of  people  benefiting  from  such  initiatives  in  this  time period, and provide details of any plans for expanding this support in the future; and
- (d) whether the Government has collaborated with any private entity/entities to boost  the  recognition  of  North  East  India`s  market  economy,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]

- (a) The Ministry is implementing following schemes covering various infrastructure, social and livelihood development projects across various sectors viz. Agriculture  &  Allied,  Roads,  Health,  Tourism,  Education,  Sports,  Handloom  & Handicraft, IT/ITeS, Power, etc.
- (i) North-East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) is a central  sector  scheme  fully  funded  by  the  Government  of  India  and  is bifurcated into two components:
- A.  NESIDS (Roads)
- B.  NESIDS (Other Than Road Infrastructure)
- (ii) Prime  Minister's  Development  Initiative  for  North  East  Region  (PMDevINE), was  announced as  a  new  central sector  scheme  in  the  Union Budget 2022-23 with an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for the four year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
- (iii) Schemes of NEC A Central Sector scheme named 'Schemes of North Eastern Council (NEC)', fully funded by the Government of India, is under implementation since Tenth Finance Commission period to fill up gaps in overall development of the Region.
- (iv) Special Development Packages The Special Packages of Assam i.e. Bodoland Territorial  Council  (BTC);  Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) & Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial Council (DHATC) are being administered by the Ministry of DoNER as per the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed with the MHA.

In addition to above, the Ministry, has undertaken the following activities to promote the development of North East India:

- (I)  Rising  North  East-Investors  Summit  2025  was  organized  on  23 rd    and  24 th May,  2025  in  New  Delhi.  The  Summit  was  intended  to  promote  trade  and investment in the North Eastern Region and provide a platform for an immersive dialogue between embassies, the business community, financial institutions, and relevant  government  stakeholders  for  forging  mutually  beneficial  partnerships. The  Summit  was  culmination  of  various  activities  i.e.  09  roadshows,  06  State roundtables,  02  Ambassadors'  Meet,  02  Bilateral  Chambers  roundtable,  MoU signing    ceremony etc. organized by MDoNER for attracting investment in the North  Eastern  Region.  The  Summit  witnessed  the  participation  from  industry leaders, investors etc. from across the country. The focus sectors of the Summit included  Tourism  and  Hospitality,  Agro-Food  Processing  and  allied  sectors; Textiles, Handloom, and Handicrafts; Healthcare; Education and Skill Development; Information  Technology or Information TechnologyEnabled Services;  Infrastructure  and  Logistics;  Energy;  and  Entertainment  and  Sports.

Key activities organized during the two day event included Ministerial sessions on focus sectors, Business-to-Government sessions, Business-to-Business meetings, startups and exhibitions of policy and related initiatives taken by  the State Government and Central Ministries for investment promotion in the North Eastern  Region.  The  summit  drew  investment  proposal  worth  Rs.    4.48  lakh crore,  through  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU),  letters  of  intent,  and qualified  leads  from  private  investors,  public  sector  undertakings,  and  major industrial conglomerates.

(II) Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav 2024 was organized from 6th -8th December 2024 at Bharat  Mandapam, New Delhi. The event witnessed participation  of  five  Chief Ministers  and  Ministers  from  three  other  NER  States.  The  event  featured  11 pavilions (8 State pavilions, Eri and Muga Silk pavilions and one GI pavilion) and included artisan exhibitions, buyer-seller meets (40 buyers, 70 sellers), Grameen Haat of 320 Vendors/stalls and 8 Technical sessions, including "Chief Ministers' Panel" on 'Catalyzing North East's progress for a Viksit Bharat."

(b& c) Statement showing scheme-wise expenditure of last five years is given below:

(Rs in Crore)

| Sl.   | Schemes                                                                    | 2020-21                     | 2020-21                     | 2021-22                     | 2021-22                     | 2022-23                     | 2022-23                     | 2023-24                     | 2023-24                     | 2024-25                     | 2024-25                     |
|-------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| No.   |                                                                            | RE                          | Exp                         | RE                          | Exp                         | RE                          | Exp                         | RE                          | Exp                         | RE                          | Exp                         |
| 1     | Schemes of North East Council                                              | 572.83 572.83               |                             | 520.21                      | 519.94                      | 666.87                      | 370.22                      | 825.00                      | 787.65                      | 800.00                      | 736.80                      |
| 2     | North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS)              | 1204.24                     | 1204.23                     | 1993.40                     | 1993.36                     | 1459.54                     | 486.94                      | 2489.94                     | 1040.25                     | 1500.00                     | 1462.39                     |
| 3     | Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM- DevINE) | -                           | -                           | -                           | -                           | 400.00                      | 121.19                      | 2174.46                     | 10.56                       | 1394.00                     | 1014.88                     |
| 4     | Special Development Package                                                | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package | Special Development Package |
| a.    | Territorial Council 0.00                                                   |                             | 0.00                        | 3.31                        | 3.31                        | 30.00                       | 6.42                        | 100.00                      | 14.96                       | 32.00                       | 7.76                        |
| b.    | Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC)                       | 21.55                       | 21.55                       | 67.44                       | 67.44                       | 40.00                       | 1.55                        | 100.00                      | 6.41                        | 100.00                      | 94.99                       |
| c.    | Dima Hasao Territorial Council (DHATC)                                     | 12.45                       | 12.45                       | 0.00                        | 0.00                        | 35.00                       | 5.96                        | 100.00                      | 25.08                       | 70.00                       | 29.73                       |
|       | Total                                                                      | 1811.07                     | 1811.06                     | 2584.36                     | 2584.05                     | 2631.41                     | 992.28                      | 5789.4                      | 1884.91                     | 3896                        | 3346.55                     |