Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 21: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has proposed to bring in a comprehensive legislation to reorient “North Eastern Council” (NEC) with functional and structural changes in order to develop it as a state-of-the-art resource centre for all the stakeholder eight States of the North-Eastern region.
As a follow-up to this decision, Dr Jitendra Singh today sought the permission of Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) to withdraw the earlier “North-Eastern Council Amendment Bill 2013” which had been moved by his predecessor in his capacity as the then Minister of Northeast (DoNER) in the erstwhile UPA Government. With the Rajya Sabha giving its nod today for the withdrawal of the “North-Eastern Council Amendment Bill 2013” by Dr Jitendra Singh, the decks have now been cleared to move a new and more comprehensive “North-Eastern Council Amendment Bill” which would redefine and revisit the role of “North Eastern Council”.
Pertinent to mention that the “North Eastern Council” (NEC) was established during the Indira Gandhi regime through “North Eastern Council Act 1971”. At that time, the Ministry of Northeast (DoNER) did not exist. The same Act was however, amended in December 2002 and Sikkim was added as eighth member State of the Council.
Meanwhile, a separate department for the development of North-Eastern region was set up in 2001 and an exclusive Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) was established in 2004 with Arun Shourie as the first DoNER Minister.
Speaking to media about the idea behind the decision to withdraw the earlier bill and bring in a fresh amendment bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi Government accords a very high priority to the North Eastern region and in the last three years, there has been a sea – change in the entire scenario which is being acknowledged and appreciated by all sections of society. Therefore, he said, in order to keep pace with the fast development process and to bring the North-Eastern States at par with the more developed States of India, it is important to give “North Eastern Council” a wider role, wherein it could conceptualize, innovate and draw future road – map depending upon the aspirations of the region and at the same time by taking cognizance of contradictions and diversities within the region.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled thatduring his visit to Shillong in May 2016 to participate in the NEC Plenary Meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested reorientation of the Council to give it a more crucial role by involving all stakeholders, including the governments of the North-Eastern States.
It is primarily due to constant inspiration and continued patronage from Prime Minister Modi that the Ministry of DoNER and “North Eastern Council” are feeling encouraged to assume a larger role to live up to their avowed objectives.
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