Lok Sabha Question No. 2848 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Implementation of North East Vision 2020
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2848

## TO BE ANSWERED ON

Wednesday, May 11, 2016/Vaisakha 21, 1938 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NORTH EAST VISION 2020

## 2848.  SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

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

- (a) the details of steps taken by his Ministry during the last two years under the objectives of North East Vision 2020;
- (b) the  details  of  objectives  that  were  altered  or  removed  and  the  reasons therefor;
- (c) whether his Ministry is cognitive about economic, opportunity and connectivity  backwardness  of  the  North  Eastern  Region  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) the steps taken by his Ministry to bridge the above gap; and
- (e) whether the  Government  proposes to introduce similar  terrain  and  issue centric hilly States like Himachal and Uttarakhand under the same benefits and special focus as of North Eastern States and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Dr. Jitendra Singh]

(a)  to    (d):    The  North  East  Region  Vision  2020  provides  overarching  development vision for the North Eastern Region and envisages regional development in the North East at  par  with  other  more  developed  regions  of  the country.  Key  focus  areas  were also  identified  to  put  the  region  on  an  accelerated,  sustainable  and  inclusive  growth path  and  inter-  alia  included  agriculture  and  allied  activities  including  horticulture,

floriculture,  plantation,  medicinal  and  aromatic  plants,  improving  infrastructure  for connectivity, entrepreneurship development, capacity and skill building, border connectivity and infrastructure to harness the potential of the Act East Policy.

In  agriculture  and  allied  activities,  the  Ministry  of  DoNER  conceptualised  a scheme for organic farming which has been implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and  Farmers Welfare  as  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  for  the  North  Eastern  Region (NER).  In  development  of  connectivity  infrastructure,  the  Ministry  has  launched  the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) for construction of neglected but critical inter-State roads through the newly created National Highway Infrastructure Development  Corporation  Ltd.  (NHIDCL)  of  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways. The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) has sanctioned 971 projects amounting to Rs.769 crore during the last 2 years, providing impetus  to  entrepreneurship  development  and  growth  of  micro,  small  and  medium enterprises in NER.

The North Eastern Council (NEC) has been implementing projects based on the strategy  identified  in  the  Vision  2020  within  the  region  and  as  in  March,  2016, implemented  113  projects  in  the  agriculture  and  allied  sector,  46  projects  in  the industries  and  74  projects  in  the  tourism  sector,  86  projects  in  Education  and  75 projects in Science and technology sector respectively. Likewise a number of projects in economic  and  infrastructure  sectors  have  been  taken  up  under  the  Non-Lapsable Central  Pool  of  Resources  (NLCPR)  scheme,  Social  and  Infrastructure  Development Fund (SIDF), Livelihood and Skill Development Initiatives of the Ministry.

The objectives of North East Vision 2020 have not been altered or removed.

The  Ministry  has  taken  initiatives  to  address  the  issues  of  connectivity  and  to exploit the competitive strengths of the region.

(e) In the funding pattern of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs), the eight North Eastern  States  and  three  Himalayan  States  have  been  granted  more  liberal  Central share. In case of CSSs where funding pattern are in 60:40 sharing between Centre and States,  it  has  been  made  90:10  sharing  for  the  eight  North  Eastern  and  the  three Himalayan States.  In case of CSSs where funding pattern are in 50:50 sharing between Centre and States, it has been made 80:20 sharing for the eight North Eastern and the three Himalayan States.

***