Question : Implementation of North East Vision 2020

(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?

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.