(a) whether the Government has undertaken any study to assess the extent of compliance with the Vision Document 2020;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) the details of other steps taken by the Government to operationalize the Vision Document and to realize the goals enumerated therein in a time bound manner?
The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
(a) to (c) The North Eastern Region Vision 2020 Document was unveiled by the Government in July, 2008. Subsequently, seventeen thematic groups incorporating sector experts were constituted by this Ministry to develop specific action plans to operationalize the Vision 2020 Document. These sectors were:
1) Major Road connectivity; 2) Inland Waterways; 3) Air connectivity; 4) Railways; 5) Power; 6) Panchayati Raj and Local Self Government; 7) Poverty Eradication; 8) Human Resource Development; 9) Industry; 10) Rural Roads; 11) Tourism; 12) IT-enabled services and Cyber connectivity; 13) Health; 14) Rural sector; 15) Financial Services; 16) Sports, Art & culture; and 17) Look East Policy.These Groups identified broad intervention areas and mechanisms for development of the North Eastern Region during a meeting held in Shillong on 3-4 December, 2008. Action areas suggested by the thematic groups were referred for implementation by the concerned Ministries. Following this, the Ministry has been urging concerned Central Ministries/Departments to formulate relevant socio-economic programmes and projects in the region. Ministries are also invited to spell out their development plans, achievements and ongoing activities in the North Eastern Region during routine meetings of the North Eastern Council and other review meetings. Although detailed quantification of progress made in respect of implementation of NER Vision 2020 is not possible, major infrastructure projects in roads, railways, airways and power have been implemented and telecom connectivity has also improved considerably. 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 NE States at 9.8% which was higher than the national average of 8% during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) period.