(a) whether the Government has prepared any action plan to operationalise the North-Eastern Region Vision Document 2020;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the details of the funds allocated during the Twelfth Five Year Plan to the region; and
(d) the action taken by the Government in consultation with other Ministries concerned for taking up socio-economic projects in the region?
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b) The North Eastern Region Vision 2020 Document was unveiled by the Government in July, 2008. The Vision Document 2020 provides an overarching roadmap to all stakeholders such as concerned Ministries/ Departments of Government of India, North Eastern Council and State Governments for formulation of an integrated plan for the development of North Eastern Region from 2008-09 to 2019-20. It laid down goals, identified challenges and suggested broad implementation strategies for comprehensive development in various sectors. A six-fold overall strategy has been suggested in the Vision 2020 Document to achieve the development goals including for empowerment of people, creation of development opportunities, developing sectors with comparative advantages, capacity building of people and institutions, creating a hospitable investment climate and for ensuring significant investment in both public and private sectors for strengthening physical and social infrastructure. Seventeen Thematic Groups were constituted by the Ministry to operationalize the Vision 2020 Document.
The Groups presented their findings by identifying lists of thrust areas and projects for development of North Eastern Region in a meeting held in Shillong on 3rd & 4th December, 2008.
(c) Funds allocated in the four years of the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17), viz., 2012-13 (RE), 2013-14 (RE), 2014-15 (RE) and 2015-16 (BE) for the North Eastern Region is Rs.1,48,950.89 crore. This includes allocations of Central Ministries/ Departments for NE Region and Central assistance for the Annual Plans of the North Eastern States.
(d) The identified thrust areas and projects which emerged from the findings of the Thematic Groups have been incorporated in the respective Annual Plans and Five Year Plans of all concerned stakeholders such as the Central Ministries/Departments, Planning Commission and the North Eastern Council. The 12th Five Year Plan (2012- 17) Document of Planning Commission has observed that larger plan investment and focus on infrastructure development has resulted in average growth of gross domestic product in North Eastern States at 9.8% which was higher than the national average of 8% during the 111n Five Year Plan (2007-2012) period.