Shillong, June 04: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Vice-Chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, today highlighted the Ministry’s transformative initiatives and reviewed the recommendations of eight High-Level Task Forces during the 73rd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council held in Shillong under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah.
Addressing the plenary attended by Governors, Chief Ministers and senior officials from the eight North Eastern States, Shri Scindia said that the Ministry of DoNER has evolved into a facilitator, coordinator and bridge for the development of the region, guided by the Three-C framework of Connect, Converge and Catalyse.
He informed that eight High-Level Task Forces constituted following the 72nd NEC Plenary Meeting had submitted action plans and recommendations covering investment promotion, agriculture and horticulture, handicrafts, infrastructure and connectivity, economic corridors, self-reliance in livestock and fisheries, sports and tourism.
The task forces, chaired by Chief Ministers and supported by representatives from the Centre and States, were established to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the future development of the North East and to enable the region to contribute significantly to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Shri Scindia informed that the recommendations of the task forces would be submitted to the NEC Chairman for further consideration and implementation. He also noted that a proposal has been made to establish a High-Level Steering Committee comprising the concerned Chief Ministers and Union Ministers to monitor implementation of the recommendations.
Highlighting the Ministry’s recent achievements, Shri Scindia said that expenditure under the Ministry of DoNER has increased from around ₹1,000 crore in 2022–23 to nearly ₹4,000 crore over the past two years, while the Ministry has secured a budget allocation of ₹6,500 crore for the current financial year. Several reforms have been introduced to simplify project approvals, improve transparency and ensure timely fund flow.
The Minister highlighted the success of the Rising North East Investment Summit, which attracted participation from over 100 ambassadors and resulted in investment commitments worth approximately ₹4.5 lakh crore. He noted that investments worth nearly ₹40,000 crore have already been grounded since the summit held in May 2025, reflecting growing investor confidence in the region.
On financial inclusion, Shri Scindia informed that 131 new bank branches have been established across the North East during the last 15 months, while 6,500 previously unbanked villages have now been brought under the formal banking network. He added that digital payments adoption in the region has reached nearly 90 per cent through UPI.
The Minister also highlighted the achievements of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Student Exchange Programme and ISRO exposure visits, which have provided students from across the country and the North East with opportunities for cultural exchange and scientific learning.
Shri Scindia further spoke about the Ministry’s efforts to develop iconic tourism circuits across all eight North Eastern States to showcase the region’s rich natural beauty, cultural heritage, biodiversity and adventure tourism potential.
He highlighted key projects such as the Matabari Tourism Circuit in Tripura and the Sohra Tourism Circuit in Meghalaya, which are being developed to strengthen tourism infrastructure, improve visitor amenities, enhance connectivity and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities. He noted that these initiatives are expected to attract greater domestic and international tourist footfall, generate employment and contribute significantly to the region’s economy.
The Minister also elaborated on the One State One Product initiative, under which each North Eastern State has identified a unique product or sector based on its comparative advantage and cultural identity. Products identified under the initiative include Lakadong Turmeric from Meghalaya, Muga Silk from Assam, Kiwi from Arunachal Pradesh, Queen Pineapple from Tripura and Organic Farming from Sikkim, among others.
The initiative seeks to strengthen value chains, improve branding and packaging, facilitate market access, promote exports and enhance income opportunities for farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs. Shri Scindia said that by leveraging the distinctive strengths of each state, the initiative would help create globally recognised brands from the North East while fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the region.
The Minister said that sustained efforts in investment promotion, infrastructure development, banking expansion, tourism, logistics and human capital development are laying the foundation for a prosperous and self-reliant North East. He expressed confidence that the region would emerge as a major growth engine of India and play a pivotal role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
