64th Plenary meeting of NEC begins
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Info Centre

New Delhi, April 09 2015 : The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh chaired the two-day 64th Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) which kick started at SCOPE Auditorium, SCOPE Complex, Lodhi Road here today.

Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight North Eastern States (NER) and senior officers from State Governments, Central Ministries and organizations attended the meeting.

In his inaugural address, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that Central Government had announced in the Union Budget 2015-16 that manufacturing hubs would be set up through Indian private sector participation in South East Asian countries which would boost trade and commerce between the landlocked North East and neighbouring countries.

He also mentioned the decision to set up All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Assam, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Nagaland and Centre for Film Production, Animation and Gaming in Arunachal Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the development priorities for a particular State should be fixed in consultation with that State.

He said that politics should have no place in developmental activities and that there should be absolute coordination between the State Governments and the Central Ministries concerned.

The Chief Ministers and Governors of NE States

Rijiju observed that pilferage was not endemic to the North-Eastern Region (NER) and that corruption should be eradicated in implementation of development plans.

He said the NER had the potential to emerge as a trading hub and that the Union Government has the vision to "Look East through North East" .

It was followed by sector-wise discussions on the progress of major infrastructure projects in the North Eastern Region in which various Ministries gave power point presentations.

In the morning session, the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highway, Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Inland Waterways Authority of India gave power point presentations.

In the afternoon session, the Ministry of Home Affairs gave a presentation on border trade - status on integrated check-posts (ICPs), land custom stations, border haats, banks and visa facility.

The Department of Financial Services gave a presentation on financial inclusion and banking services issues in the NER including Low Credit Disbursal Ratio (CDR) and Agriculture Credit.

The Ministry of External Affairs gave presentation on Act East Policy.

Ministries of Power, Human Resource Development, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Department of Telecommunication and North East Space Application Centre, Shillong also presented the progress of their activities in NE region.

On Friday, the Governors and Chief Ministers of North Eastern States will give their presentations.

During the two-day meeting, the Annual Plan and the Gross Budgetary Support of the NEC for 2015-16 is also expected to be approved.

Dr Jitendra Singh would address a press conference at the concluding session of the 64th Plenary of the NEC tomorrow at 2.30 pm at SCOPE Auditorium.

Today's meeting was attended by Governor of Manipur Dr Krishan Kant Paul, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga, Additional Chief Secretary O Nabakishore Singh, Commissioner Planning Vineet Joshi, Secretary to Governor Th Chittaranjan Singh, Director /Planning Dr Th Munindro Singh, Joint Director/ Planning N Kulkarani Devi, Deputy Director/ Transport BK Sharma and OSD/ Education L Iboyaima Singh.