Dr Jitendra announces Hill Area Development Scheme
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, June 05 2017: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Dr Jitendra Singh today announced the Hill Area Development Programme in the State during the entrepreneurs meet cum exhibition for entrepreneurs.

The event organised by North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd was held at Hotel Imphal, this evening.

Announcing the programme, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "We are as good or perhaps better than any other part of the country.

The only thing is that we have remained unexplored and now fortunately we have a Government to ensure that we are at par with rest of the country." He continued the announcement of the programme from Manipur itself will carry a message.

He said the proposal for the Hill Area Development Scheme was made during a meeting of all Chief Secretaries, Planning Secretaries on May 30.

Dr Jitendra announces Hill Area Development Scheme

He said that the scheme may be initially implemented on a pilot basis in the hill districts of Manipur.

The Union Minister also elaborated on the Composite District Infrastructure Index and said out of 80 districts of North Eastern Region (NER), three hill districts of Manipur -Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur- ranked lowest in the Composite District Infrastructure Index 2009 .

He said regarding investment and generation of employment, any responsible Government will focus more on the employability rather than on employment and that is precisely what the present Government under Narendra Modi is trying to achieve in the last three years.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, "Entrepreneur development is the key to successful enterprises which will contribute towards economic development in the region.

NEDFI has been playing an active role in nurturing, financing and promoting the development of entrepreneurs and enterprises in the North East region of India" .

Expressing happiness that NEDFI is organising the entrepreneurs meet cum exhibition for entrepreneurs in the State, the Chief Minister said the event will enable information sharing on the schemes and products with lower cost of fund extended to new and existing business enterprises operating in the State.

Manipur is poised to catapult to a high growth direction in the coming decades because of various factors which include favourable demographics, agro-climatic conditions, rich culture and traditions, hospitality, rapid urbanisation, improvements in connectivity, formation of a new Government with an agenda for development and reforms, growing trend of entrepreneurship and self-employment, the Chief Minister added.

Commerce and Industries Minister Th Biswajit Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a dream of building a stronger, more prosperous and self reliant country.

He said, "India is primarily an agricultural country whose backbone is not just large industries but farmers who toil in the sun and the small scale household industries which make up the dreams of the lower and middle economic classes, where value addition goes hand in hand with production.

The Minister added Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement "Beej se Bazaar tak" corresponds more with a State like Manipur where there are tremendous scopes for growth in the agricultural, horticultural and tourism sectors as well as in the value addition sector.

He added, "However, in the absence of any production plan based on "critical volume factor", maketing linkage with buy-back arrangement, processing facility for value addition and storage facility, the economy is not thriving despite achieving a lot in agriculture, horticulture and forest" .

He continued the need of the hour in the State is schemes and programmes which not only utilise the land resources to the fullest but also introduce the tradition of value addition in the agricultural sector.

The Minister also said the main aim is to generate employment to eradicate employment from the State and to achieve that aim, we have made a comprehensive program to provide employment to 1.5 lakh unemployed youth this year.

He said with that aim, the Commerce and Industry department has launched the "State mission on employment generation" which is an integrated program having three part approach.

Minister Biswajit also spoke at length about several high value crops like the Stevia, Dragon-fruit, Citronella, Large Cardamon, Lemon Grass, Turmeric and Ginger which are suitable to Manipur.

He further observed that nine Liveli hoodbusiness Incubators have already been established in the country, but there is need of financial asistance to upgrade their infrastructure for them to operate at their optimal level.

He continued these LBIs will also be reinforced with the nine Industrial Estates, a well equipped food park, SEZ (Special Economic Zone) and Trade Centre which have all been initiated with pilot testing successful.