New Delhi: NITI Forum for North East has been constituted under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and co-chairmanship of Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. The members of the Forum include CEO, NITI Aayog, Chief Secretaries of North Eastern States, Secretaries of key Ministries/ Departments, retired bureaucrats, economists and academicians. The terms of reference of the Forum, inter alia, include identification of various constraints on the way for accelerated, inclusive but sustainable economic growth in the North East Region of the country and to recommend suitable interventions for addressing identified constraints.
Government has taken concerted efforts for up-gradation of infrastructure in the North Eastern Region. All Central Ministries, unless specifically exempted, are required to spend 10% of their Gross Budgetary Support in the North Eastern Region not only through their ongoing schemes, but also through dedicated schemes/projects for the North Eastern Region. Several initiatives have been taken by the Government of India for basic infrastructure development and providing road, rail, water, telecom and air connectivity in the North Eastern Region which, inter alia, include the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East, Broad Gauging & Capital Connectivity Rail Projects, Comprehensive Telecom Development Programme, Schemes for Strengthening of Transmission and Distribution system etc.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
