Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 12: An All-Party delegation of Northeast MPs, led by former Speaker P A Sangma, today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed over a memorandum to him in the presence of Union Minister for Development of Northeast Region (DoNER), Dr. Jitendra Singh who later briefed them about some of the new initiatives undertaken by DoNER ministry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is taking a personal interest in the development of Northeastern region, gave a patient hearing to the delegation and enquired about the observations made by the MPs on a wide range of issues.
Union DoNER Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Northeast is a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India vision and enjoys high priority for the present Government. He referred to PM’s recent visits to Northeast during which he inaugurated the first ever rail link to Meghalaya and also declared the launch of high power hydro-electric projects. Recognizing the aspirations of the youth of Northeast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced a Sports University for Manipur and six Agricultural Colleges, he added.
Prime Minister Modi is keen to bring Northeast at par with the rest of India, said Dr. Jitendra Singh and informed that under PM’s directions, Government of India has prepared a roster wherein eight Union Ministers will be travelling to different Northeast States every fortnight which, in other words, means that there will be one Union Minister in each of the Northeast States in every fortnight. The PM has also emphasized on specialized areas like organic farming, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also referred to the recently introduced new innovative programme called “DoNER at Door-step” wherein a Secretariat Camp of DoNER Ministry will be held every month by rotation in each of the eight different States of the region.
The memorandum handed over by P A Sangma to the Prime Minister described at length, various potential projects which could be taken up in each of the eight States in the near future. It broadly refers to a “10 Point Action Agenda” envisaging strengthening of institutional frameworks, maintaining peace to achieve prosperity, enabling growth through road, rail and aviation connectivity, strengthening power generation and transmission, managing natural resources, empowering Northeast youth, creating jobs through industry entrepreneurship and tourism, harness of geological and cultural richness, realising the “Act East” vision and ensuring better health care.
Prominent among the MPs who were part of the delegation included, Kiren Rijiju MoS Home, Neiphiu Rio, P D Rai, Hishey Lachungpa, Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Shankar Prasad Dutta and C L Ruala.
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