The vision set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for our North East states is to be the most prosperous region in India. Many factors are embedded in his mind to achieve his aim for our North Eastern region to develop it into a flourishing economy. Some of them are described below:
Reduction of violence in North East – Factors involved and action taken are as under to establish peace:
a) Long-standing dispute for Karbianglong was solved having signed Karbianglong agreement/accord in 2021.
b) Peace between NLFT and ATTF in Tripura achieved.
c) Reduction of disturbed area under AFSPA 1958.
d) NLFT accord 2019.
e) BRG accord 2020.
f) Bodo accord 2020.
g) Adivasi peace accord for tea workers in Assam 2020.
h) ULFA peace process initiation.
i) NSCN(IM) agreement of 3rd August 2015.
j) Ceasefire agreement with NSCN(NR) and NSCN(R).
k) Ceasefire agreement with NSCN(Khango).
l) Ceasefire agreement with NSCN(Niki) group 2022.
m) Suspension of operation with ZUF on 27th December 2022.
n) Mass surrender with arms of ULFA, NDFB, KLO, RNLF, KLNLF, KLF, NLFB, UDLF, BRA.
o) Exchange of 162 enclaves with Bangladesh on 1st August 2015.
p) Free movement regime with Myanmar suspended in 2024.
q) Border fencing with Myanmar started in 2024.
Peace treaties with 10,000 armed youths allowed them to join the mainstream, and their families also participated with this initiative of the government, thus establishing peace in North East.
This government also brought North East nearer to Delhi capital by construction of long national highways, railway bridges, road tunnels, and airports as described below:
a) Longest tunnel Sela of 3,000 meters long.
b) Longest railway tunnel North East, Lumding to Silcher.
c) Dimapur – Kohima rail tunnel 6,610 meters – in pipeline.
d) Connection of various waterways.
e) Arunachal Frontier Highway.
f) Extending airports (now 17 numbers) with three international airports.
g) Greenfield airport at Silcher, Assam.
h) Greenfield airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
Modi government took extra care to upgrade infrastructure in road, rail, telecom, power, and waterways. One Doppler weather radar at Cherapunji, Meghalaya was erected to study weather forecasts. The railway ministry tried its best to connect North East to the country’s railway network. Three new bridges were constructed on River Brahmaputra. Planning was made to connect each district of North East with a national highway. Similarly, 10,000 crore worth power projects were sanctioned to provide 24 x 7 electricity to all 18,000 unelectrified villages in North East. Even a telecom plan for North East region with 5,000 crores was also sanctioned. Agartala/Tripura broad gauge railway line work is already over.
Solutions to long-pending interstate boundary disputes were solved amicably. Few are intimated below:
Assam – Arunachal Pradesh boundary dispute.
Assam – Meghalaya boundary dispute.
Assam – Nagaland long-standing boundary dispute.
Assam – Mizoram boundary dispute.
Solving these disputes has given a new horizon of peace to North East population. These boundary disputes settlement accord brought peace to the area. The best action which Modi government initiated for North East was its expansion of infrastructure and development of its economy. Few of such projects show the initiative of this government for NE to move forward in developing, cutting physical distance from national capital, and shortening the distance of hearts between Delhi and Eastern region population. The role of the North East Council and Ministry of DoNER, who executed all these development plans in a coordinating manner, is praiseworthy. They really thought about act east, act fast, and achieving the goal quickly.
Industrial investment in North East came as a bang.
North East Development Finance Corporation, Agartala grew faster.
Public sector banks made big profits.
Indian Banet Mudra Loan, Sva Nidhi Loan were distributed easily to all who applied. Exports of North East products, including bamboo products, started flowing outside of the country. Connectivity by 4G in all North Eastern states was established. 50,000 MW hydro power potential in River Brahmaputra planned to support all villages/industries to receive affordable electricity.
Apun Bahan scheme in Assam launched to help youths to start their businesses.
Svayem scheme introduced in Assam to provide financial assistance to job seekers.
National Rural Livelihood Mission started to cover rural households.
Gangtok in Sikkim selected as the organic food basket of India and it is prospering further.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna introduced on a mass scale in which four crore people received 2 lakh crores loan. Tourism in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Manipur opened more for outsiders. North East started leading in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in which Gangtok was declared the cleanest city.
Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd., Numaligarh Refinery Wax Unit provided employment to thousands of youths. Organized farming of exotic fruit production, exotic flower gardens, and lovely orchids flourished. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Mission introduced to provide economic, social, and basic developmental facilities.
There is potential in North East, and accelerating its progress is the main aim of PM Modi. He is the fulcrum to shorten the distance between the hearts of North East people and other Indians. He ensures that all North East people should enjoy their right to property, right of their honour, and right to protection of their families. His mantra covers every aspect of ecology, economy, and emotion.
He is very sure that future businesses of India will be through North East only. The greatest potential of India lies with North East, which is stored in the mind of PM Modi . So, he will not hesitate to remove any obstacle coming in the way of development and progress of our North East.
(PK Mishra is ADG (Retd), BSF)
