Year End Review of MoDNER

Context (PIB): Achievements of Ministry of Development of North–Eastern Region for the year 2023.

Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDNER)

It is responsible for the matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in the North-Eastern Region.
This is the only Ministry with territorial jurisdiction.

North Eastern Region (NER)

It consists of eight states — Assam, AP, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.

It accounts for 7.9% of the total geographical area of the country.
It shares its boundary with four countries viz, China, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
The western side of the North-East is connected to the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent by a narrow land corridor, sometimes referred to as the Siliguri Corridor or “Chicken’s Neck“.

North Eastern Council (NEC)

It is the nodal agency of MoDNER overseeing the economic and social development of the NER.
It is a statutory advisory body constituted under the NEC Act 1971.
The headquarters of the council is situated in Shillong.

Members

The Governors and the Chief Ministers of the eight-member States.
Chairman and three Members nominated by the President of India.

Functions

The council discusses any matter in which some or all of the States represented in the Council have a common interest and advises the Central and State governments concerned, particularly concerning:
1. Any matter of common interest in economic and social planning.
2. Any matter concerning inter-State Transport and Communications.
3. Any matter relating to Power or Flood-control projects of common interest.

MoDNER Schemes and Initiatives

North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme

NESIDS is a Central Sector Scheme (100% central funding to the State Governments) under the Ministry of Development of the northeast region that was approved by the GoI in 2017.
It’s for projects of Physical Infrastructure relating to water supply, power, connectivity, enhancing tourism, and social infrastructure (Education and Health).
The scheme was restructured in 2022-23 to include two components:
1. NESIDS-Road
2. NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure (OTRI)
The objective of NESIDS is to supplement the efforts of the different Central Ministries and departments for uncovered development/welfare activities in the NER.

NESIDS – Road

It subsumes the project sanctioned under its predecessor following schemes:
1. North-East Road Sector Development Schemes (NERSDS)
2. Road/ Bridges projects of NESIDS.
It aims to provide specific gap funding in the construction of roads:
1. To provide access to remote locations,
2. To provide access to markets,
3. From a security point of view.
Till date, 10 projects have been sanctioned and 3 projects have been selected for sanction.

NESIDS – Other Than Road Infrastructure

It subsumes the projects sanctioned under its predecessor following schemes:
1. Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)
2. North-East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes (NESIDS)
3. Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)
Total projects sanctioned are 1548, out of which 1098 projects are completed, and 450 projects are ongoing.

Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)

The scheme was announced as a 100% Central Sector Scheme in Budget 2022-23.
The scheme has an outlay of Rs. 6,600 crore for the four years from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
It is implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) through the North Eastern Council (NEC).

Objectives

Fund infrastructure convergently in the spirit of PM GatiShakti.
Support social development projects based on the felt needs of the North Eastern Region (NER).
Enable livelihood activities for youth and women.
Fill the development gaps in various sectors.

Achievements

Till 26.12.2023, 9 projects have been sanctioned and 14 projects have been recommended for sanction.
In addition, 12 projects have been recommended in principle (selected).

Special Development Packages

Bodoland Territorial Council

It is an autonomous district council in the state of Assam.
It was established under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule following the Bodo Accord in 2003.
It consists of four districts of Assam: Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang.
Through this council, the Bodo people have a self-governing body that seeks to preserve their political, cultural and language rights.

Areas covered

BTC has legislative, administrative, executive and financial powers over 40 subjects in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD).

Structure

BTC is governed by a council that comprises 46 members, of which 40 are elected representatives and the remaining 6 are nominated by the Governor from unrepresented communities of BTAD.

Key functions

It is entrusted with responsibilities related to town & country planning, land & revenue, forests & environment, and education among other subjects.

Achievements

Under the old package, 65 projects have been sanctioned, 54 projects are completed, and 11 projects are ongoing.

Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC)

It is a local governing body in Assam, created under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the IC
It covers the Karbi Anglong district and the West Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
It seeks to protect the social-cultural rights and autonomy of the Karbi people (also known as Mikir).
The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council emerged from the North-East Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation, 1945.
Over time, it was renamed as the Karbi Anglong district and governed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC).
KAAC is composed of 30 members, 26 of whom are elected, and 4 nominated by the governor from unrepresented classes.

Achievements

Under the old KAATC package, 26 projects have been sanctioned, 4 projects are completed, and 22 projects are ongoing. Also, 6 other projects have been in-principle approved under this package.
Under the new KAATC package, 3 projects have been in-principle approved.

Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link Project

The Project is funded by GoI under an Aid Grant to Bangladesh on the Bangladesh side and the Ministry of DoNER on the Indian side.
Objective: Extension of Maitree Express (running between Kolkata to Dhaka) up to Agartala, reducing the travel time from 38 hours to 16 hours.

Initiatives for Startup Ecosystem

North–East Venture Fund: MDoNER and North-Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) collaborated to establish the 1st dedicated venture fund for the North-East Region.
Manipur Startup Venture Fund an initiative for startups in Manipur in collaboration with the Government of Manipur.
NRL Ideation Angel Fund was established in association with Numaligarh Refinery Ltd, a subsidiary of Oil India Ltd.

Signing of MoUs

Between MoDNER and UNDP: UNDP would provide MDoNER with technical support on:
1. Fast-tracking progress on the SDGs;
2. Monitoring, evaluation, and capacity building;
3. Support Aspirational districts and blocks;
Between North–Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC), MDoNER and Department of Heritage & Tourism, Government of Haryana for bilateral, cross-cultural exchange & promotion of handicrafts, handlooms, textiles, crafts, culture, and cuisine of the state of Haryana and North-East India.

Advancing North East Portal

It is a digital platform and web-based initiative developed by NEC through the North-Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) which provides knowledge and guidance for the youth of NER.

Design Labs for Livelihood Generation

Objective: Train local youth in the identified areas to acquire the required Digital Skills to get gainful employment in the knowledge economy/digital economy.

Achievements of North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Ltd. (NERAMAC)

Procurement of Agri-horti Produce: Procurement of products like Pineapple, Avocado, Black Rice, Cashew nut, Large Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Black Pepper, etc. under its umbrella brand ‘NE Fresh’.
Branding and marketing of the locally processed products.
Launched Brand ‘NERAMAC Premium’ for marketing of G.I. tagged products.
Formation and Promotion of FPOs in NER: 205 FPOs have been formed across NER.

Achievements of North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Limited (NEHHDC)

Established Ashtlaxmi Haat & Experience Centre at Guwahati: It will provide market access to artisans of all Northeast states and provide accommodation to artisans from out station.
ERI silk spinning plant at Integrated Textile Park, Mushalpur, Baksa (Assam) envisioned to provide employment in the NER.
Providing market development by way of digitalization, authentication, and traceability covering 10,000 weavers across 7 states (except Sikkim) in NER.
Livelihood Business Incubators (LBI): The Corporation has received sanction for the establishment of Jewellery and Handicraft Incubation Centre under the ASPIRE Scheme of the Ministry of MSME.