(a) whether the Government has prepared any perspective plan for the all round development
of the NER;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the overall development of NER is not upto the mark;
(d) if so, the salient features and major thrust area of the said plan for optimum
development of the region; and
(e) the time by which it is likely to be implemented?
MINISTER, MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION(SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR)
(a) & (b) With a view to providing an integrated, holistic and regional perspective
to the development of the North Eastern Region, the North Eastern Council, Shillong have
entrusted the task of preparing a draft Vision 2020 document to the National Institute of
Public Finance & Policy, New Delhi based on the earlier study undertaken through nearly
40,000 respondents of NER. The preparation of the draft Vision document is in the final
stages and the draft will be submitted for consideration to the next Plenary meeting of
the NEC, scheduled for 10-11 December, 2007.
(c) While the overall development of NER has, indeed, been lower than the national
average, it is to be noted that the pace of economic development expressed in terms of
the growth of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) over a period of time in the North
Eastern Region has varied from State to State and year to year. The per capita GSDP
2004-05, in respect of three States, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram, was more than the
national average. A statement showing the per capita GSDP 2004-05 and various other
development indices for each State is annexed.
(d) NER Vision 2020 document is being finalised. The major thrust sectors are
connectivity (road, rail, air, inland waterways, and telecommunication), agriculture
and allied sectors, power, health, education and tourism. Participatory development
is seen as the key to inclusive growth.
(e) Development is a continuous process. Development works are going on in all the
important sectors. Vision-2020, as the name implies, will have a time- frame covering
the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans and the first 3 years of the 13th Plan.