Excelsior Correspondent
SHILLONG, Jan 2: Addressing the 63rd Plenary Meeting of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) here today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh assured the Chief Ministers and Governors of the Narendra Modi Government’s resolve to uplift North-Eastern region and appealed to overcome the barriers of coordination and communication between the States and the Centre.
The day-long meeting convened at NEC Headquarters, Nongrim Hills, Shillong at the initiative of Dr. Jitendra Singh was the first of its kind NEC meeting to be held in a North-Eastern capital city after 10 years, since most of the meetings during the intervening period had been held in the Union Capital New Delhi.
This was also the first NEC meeting to be held after the present Government took over. Among those who attended the meeting were, Dr. Mukul Sangma, CM of Meghalaya, T. R. Zeliang, CM of Nagaland, Pawan Chamling, CM of Sikkim, Nabam Tuki, CM of Arunachal Pradesh, Ibobi Singh, CM of Manipur, Pu Lal Thanwala, CM of Mizoram, Governor Meghalaya & Manipur K. K. Paul, Governor Arunachal Pradesh Lt. Gen. Nirbhay Sharma, Governor Sikkim Shriniwas Patil, Governor Nagaland, Tripura & Assam P.B. Acharya, Member NEC M.P. Bezbaruah and Secretary NEC A. Luikham. CM Assam Tarun Gogoi and CM Tripura personally spoke to Dr. Jitendra Singh and expressed their inability to reach Shillong but had sent their representatives for the meeting.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that ever since he took over the charge of DoNER Ministry barely a month ago, he has tried to establish personal rapport with each of the eight CMs and Governors of the North-Eastern States.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the Prime Minister’s special concern for the development of North-Eastern region had put an added onus on all of us to work tirelessly to bring North-East at par with rest of the country. He said he has already taken note of the peculiar problems related to air connectivity, railway and power transmission which will be duly attended in the months to come.
In a significant announcement, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that on behalf of DoNER Ministry, every alternative month there will be a two days camp office held in each of the State capitals by rotation where Secretary DoNER and other senior officers will be physically present for on the spot redressal of grievances.
Similarly, Dr. Jitendra Singh said a mechanism will be put in place wherein meetings of NEC can be held by rotation in each of the eight State capitals, and when required at the Union Capital. Another important decision taken by him was that in addition to NEC meetings, there will be a process of holding State-wise meetings with the DoNER Ministry and simultaneously also holding a series of meetings with DoNER and State Representatives on one side and different concerned Union Ministries on the other side which include primarily the Ministries of Tourism, Aviation, Railways, Telecommunication and Power.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, particular attention has to be made for empowerment of youth and to carry forward the Prime Minister’s initiative of setting up Sports University and Agricultural Colleges in the region. He said, an earlier plan of setting up of an All India Medical Institute will also be looked into in its proper perspective. Dr. Jitendra Singh said, in addition to physical upliftment of the region, it will be the joint endeavor of the States and the Centre to address the sensitivities of the region and to bring North-East closer to mainstream India.
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