Lok Sabha Question No. 5433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Samriddhi Northeast 2026
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA

## Unstarred Question No. † 5433

To be answered on

Wednesday, March 25, 2026/Chaitra 04, 1948 (Saka)

## QUESTION

## Samriddhi Northeast 2026

†5433. Smt. Kamlesh Jangde:

Shri Dilip Saikia:

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

- (a) whether direct business-to-business (B-to-B) linkages have been established for over  500  startups  and  artisans  in  the  region  through  the  Samriddhi  Northeast  2026Entrepreneurs Summit;
- (b) the  manner  in  which  the  "Ashtalakshmi  Darshan'  youth  exchange  programme has promoted cultural integration among students from eight North-Eastern States;
- (c) the specific milestones achieved under the Advanced Management Development Programme for Handloom Sector held in February 2026;
- (d) whether  the  new  ginger  processing  unit  set  up  in  Mizoram  has  succeeded  in doubling the income of local spice farmers;
- (e) if so, the details thereof along with the comparative figures for the last five years; and
- (f) the  manner  in  which  over  87,000  footballs  have  been  distributed  to  promote sports at the grassroots in the region under the 'Football for Schools' initiative?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) 'Samriddhi  Northeast  2026'  was  organized  as  a  two-day  summit  at  North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) Ltd., Guwahati, in  collaboration  with  TIDE  (UK  based  organization),  Foundation  for  MSME Clusters (FMC), and Pahle India Foundation (PIF). A total of 15 sellers, primarily from the handicrafts sector, participated in the B2B component. These sellers were mobilized and facilitated  by  FMC.  Buyer  participation  included  representatives  from  established organizations such as Reliance, Flipkart, and Postcard Hotels, among others.

(b) The  Ashtalakshmi  Darshan  Youth  Exchange  Programme,  implemented  by  the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has been  instrumental  in  strengthening  people-to-people  ties  between  the  North  Eastern Region and the rest of India. The programme is designed as a 14-day immersive youth exchange  initiative  involving  academic  sessions,  cultural  interactions,  heritage  visits, and community engagements in the North Eastern States. It provides young participants from  across  the  country with first-hand  exposure  to  the  culture, traditions,  and developmental aspirations of the region, thereby promoting mutual understanding and national  integration.  The  programme  envisages  participation  of  about  1,280  students from 28 States and Union Territories in multiple batches, who visit and experience the eight  North  Eastern  States.  Through  structured  activities  such  as  field  visits,  lectures and  interactions  with  local  communities  and  institutions,  participants  gain  a  deeper appreciation of the region's cultural diversity and develop lasting interpersonal connections.  As  on  17.03.2026,  12  batches  with  471  students  have  successfully completed the programme.

(c) Advanced  Management  Development  Programme  (AMDP)  for  the  handloom sector was conducted by NEHHDC in collaboration with the National Institute of Design (NID), Jorhat as the academic and design partner. The programme was designed as a six-day residential capacity-building intervention, comprising structured sessions and an exposure  visit.The  AMDP  resulted  in  strengthened  managerial,  design,  and  market capabilities among participants across the handloom and handicrafts sectors, enabling transition towards more structured, scalable, and market-ready enterprises.

(d)  &  (e)  No  such  project  has  been  sanctioned  by  Ministry  of  Development  of  North Eastern Region.

(f) Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of  India  in  collaboration  with  All  India  Football  Federation  (AIFF)  and  Fédération Internationale  de  Football  Association  (FIFA)  has  launched  the  ambitious  Football  for Schools  (F4S)  programme  of  FIFA  for  school  students  across  the  country.  The programme  aims  to  significantly  broaden  the  accessibility  of  football  for  students, regardless of gender, within the school setting. Under the programme, around 9.80 lakh FIFA footballs are set to be distributed pan India in more than 1.5 lakh schools. In North Eastern Region, distribution of more than 59,000 footballs, have been initiated through nodal institution - Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) in nearly 11,000 eligible schools from various management in the region.

*****