State-level consultative meeting on North Eastern Council Vision Plan 2024 held

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK,: To encourage comprehensive discussions and gather feedback from stakeholders regarding the formation of the Vision Plan 2047 for Northeast India, encompassing all eight States, a State-level consultative meeting on the North Eastern Council (NEC) Vision Plan 2024 was held here Friday in the capital.

The meeting was organized by the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi) in collaboration with the NEC Ministry of DoNER.

The NEDFi team is currently preparing the draft NEC Vision 2024 for the region.

Planning secretary Rinzing Chewang Bhutia was present as the chief guest.

Prof. Mahendra P. Lama gave a presentation on the drafting team, where he informed that the NEC-MDoNER desired that the NER develop a Vikshit Bharat Plan and accordingly proposed NEDFi to prepare the NEC Vision Plan 2024.

NEDFi initiated work by constituting a 34-member sectoral expert committee and a core committee with four members.

A zero draft was prepared with 16 chapters in May, and the draft presentation was made by the minister of MDoNER in July. The second revised draft was presented to the various ministries in the Centre and eight Northeastern State governments in August. Sikkim is the fifth State where the consultative meeting was held.

Prof. Lama further highlighted the vision goals, i.e., NER as regional power pool, border as opportunity, NER as green destination, new growth pole: NE economic corridor, NER as a medical and adventure tourism destination, NER as soft power reservoir, and peace dividend.

The overarching goals include NER as the new growth pole of India and Eastern South Asia as NER Growth Quadrangle (NERGQ) as a significant player in India’s Act East Policy, Neighbourhood First Policy, Vikshit Bharat, and Atmanirbhir Bharat 2047.

The meeting had the presence of NEDFi executive director SK Baruah and NEC director Tanung Jaman.

The first half was attended by government department secretaries, while the second half was attended by stakeholders.