Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the 72ndPlenary meeting

Agartala, Dec 21, 2024, By Our Correspondent

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the 72nd Plenary Session of North Eastern Council (NEC) in Agartala, Tripura today. Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Governor, Tripura, Shri Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister, Tripura, Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha and Union Home Secretary, Shri Govind Mohan were present on the occasion. The meeting was also attended by the Governors of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, as well as the Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim, along with the Minister of Community and Rural Development of Meghalaya, and several other dignitaries.In his address, Union Home Minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi past 10 years have been very important for the North East Region. He said that the way Prime Minister Modi has brought this region into the focus of the world is transformative for the entire Northeast. Shri Shah said that for a long time this region was mere an issue of speeches for Delhi, but Prime Minister Modi has brought this area into the focus of development with his vision and sensitivity. He said that in the last 10 years, due to the unprecedented development of infrastructure in the Northeast, not only has the physical distance been reduced, but Prime Minister Modi has also worked to bridge the distance of hearts between the people of this region and Delhi.Union Home Minister said that when Prime Minister Modi gave priority to the Northeast himself, it naturally became the priority of the entire central government.He said that today our Northeast region is on the path of development despite much diversity. He said that 10 years ago, more than 200 tribal groups and more than 195 dialects and languages of the region had become our weakness in a way, causing different kinds of conflicts. Shri Shah said that today, when we look back, it is Prime Minister Shri Modi ji who has done the work of converting that weakness into strength and power.He said that today, more than 200 tribal groups, due to their cultural diversity, have become the center of attraction for the entire world, and over 195 dialects and languages have contributed to making the Northeast one of the 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world.Union Home Minister said that there are more than 7,500 species of flowers in the Northeast alone, along with various types of wildlife and water resources. The Modi government has made significant efforts over the past 10 years to preserve these natural diversities and transform the region into a preferred tourist destination.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Modi government has accomplished the most important task of establishing peace in the Northeast. In the past 10 years, several peace agreements have been signed and about10574 armed youths have surrendered and joined the mainstream, bringing peace to the Northeast and laying the foundation for development. He also mentioned the entire country and the world are now accepting Modi ji's concept of ‘Ashtalakshmi’Union Home Minister said that today the entire country wants the prosperity for every individual and states of the Northeast so that the Northeast continues to contribute to the development of the country. He said that in the 10 years of the Modi government, efforts have been made to build all kinds of foundational structures to move forward on the path of development with such diversity. Union Home Minister added that now, it is time to build a strong, tall, and inclusive structure of development on this foundation. He said that the government has always given priority to the Northeast, and the goal of the Modi government is to bring this region on par with the rest of India by accelerating the pace of its development. Shri Shah mentioned that during former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, the Ministry of DONER (Development of North Eastern Region) was established.Modi Ji urged the entire Cabinet to visit the Northeast and stay overnight there, resulting in central ministers’ spending over 700 nights in the region. He added that Prime Minister Modi himself has visited the Northeast 65 times, and during each visit, he has brought developmental gifts for the region.Shri Amit Shah said that the Modi government has left no stone unturned in preserving the culture of the Northeast. He mentioned that it was the Modi government that worked to include the most languages from the Northeast in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.Shri Shah said that in various peace agreements, the central government has not only empowered and preserved the different dialects of the Northeast but has also advocated for primary education to be provided in the local languages of the region. This has greatly benefited the preservation of our cultural heritage. He noted that now, it is time to give a big push to the country’s efforts to become a 5 trillion dollar economy through the development of the Northeast. He mentioned that for this, the ministries of DONER and the North Eastern Council (NEC) are working to implement the mantra of "Act East, Act Fast, and Act First."Union Home Minister said that over the past 50 years, the NEC has served as an important platform for discussing the aspirations, needs, and potential solutions to challenges, and has worked to become the blueprint for the development of the Northeast.He said that the NEC has played a crucial role in harmonizing the policies of the Government of India and the states of the Northeast, ensuring that development reaches the grassroots level. He added that the NEC has been responsible for formulating development plans, connecting various tribal groups with development, and outlining the development of the Northeast by viewing the entire region from a unique perspective.Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has created a positive ecosystem and on the basis of this, the states and the Ministry of DoNERmust improve the investment ecosystem. He said that connectivity from the region is no longer a problem and in some time connectivity with the world will also no longer be a problem.ShriShah said that Prime Minister Modi has created a positive ecosystem, and based on this, the states and the DONER Ministry must improve the investment ecosystem. He stated that connectivity is no longer a problem, and connectivity with the world will also no longer be an issue.He said that after the Bangladesh Enclaves Exchange, our goal of connecting the Northeast with the world will be achieved very soon. He mentioned that this will strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the Northeast, and will also open up global market for those investing here. Shri Shah emphasized that for this, each state must strengthen its efforts. He also stated that the Government of India encourages all investors to invest in the Northeast.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that recently, the Union Cabinet has decided to establish three semiconductor units in the Northeast for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem. He mentioned that one of these units, Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Private Limited, will be set up in Assam with an investment of approximately ₹27,000 crore, which will be the largest investment so far. He added that this will create 20,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect job opportunities. Shri Shah further added that keeping this future potential in mind, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, is preparing courses in collaboration with universities in the Northeast to equip the youth with relevant education and knowledge. He emphasized that this will generate a large number of jobs for the youth in all eight states of the Northeast.Shri Amit Shah said that it is crucial for the Northeast region to attract industrial investment, and efforts to accelerate this need to be intensified. He mentioned that the Northeast cannot remain peaceful solely through the development of the region and states; there needs to be a balance in the development of individuals, villages, and states. He emphasized that for the development of individuals, the development of villages must be ensured, and to achieve this, along with industrial development, the region must become self-reliant in the production of milk, vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat. He said that organic products, milk, vegetables, eggs, and such items are what can drive individual development in the region, and until every individual is prosperous, the vision of a prosperous Northeast cannot be realized.Union Home Minister said that organic farming naturally takes place throughout the Northeast. He urged all the governors, chief ministers, and chief secretaries present at the meeting to join the National Cooperative OrganicsLimited (NCOL) established by the Government of India. The objective of NCOL is to connect all farmers engaged in cooperative organic farming and build infrastructure for packaging, marketing, and export. He emphasized that all states should enter into agreements with NCOL and link their farmers to it, so that their organic products can reach the global market. Shri Shah further stated that the Modi government has decided to establish an organic certification lab in every state of the Northeast, and in larger states like Assam, one in each district. This will ensure reliable organic certification for both soil and agricultural products. He added that through brands like Amul and Bharat, our products will be able to reach global markets.Shri Amit Shah said that every type of connectivity in the Northeast is a priority for the Modi government. He mentioned that the Mission Palm Oil has the potential to become a significant pathway for the development of all the states in the Northeast. He highlighted that the production of oilseeds in the country is low, and we are still not self-reliant in the edible oil sector, but Mission Palm Oil can make us self-reliant in this area. Shri Shah added that so far, there is a proposal to develop 10 new oil mills in the Northeast.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Modi government has adopted a multi-dimensional approach in the field of security, and by creating a specific strategy for each state, we have made progress over the last 10 years. He mentioned that as a result of this strategy, the police, army, Assam Rifles, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have successfully established a very good system in the Northeast. Shri Shah stated that in the last 10 years, violent incidents in the Northeast have reduced by 71%, and civilian deaths have reduced by 86%. He added that nearly 10,574 insurgents have surrendered, and due to several peace agreements, the Government of India has succeeded in establishing peace throughout the Northeast.Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has launched a campaign for a drug-free India, in which the Northeast has a special responsibility, as a major route for narcotics entering India passes through the states of the Northeast. He mentioned that significant work has been done in the last 6 years in this direction, but our pace is still not sufficient. Home Minister urged all the governors and chief ministers present at the meeting to emphasize organizing district-level meetings of the District Monitoring Committees and to ensure their effective monitoring. He stated that drug addiction destroys future generations, and our goal is to make India completely drug-free, with the Northeast playing a significant role in this campaign.Union Home Minister said that preparations are underway to fully implement three new criminal laws across all the states in the Northeast. He mentioned that after the complete implementation of these laws, justice will be delivered within three years, even in the most complex cases, including those reaching the Supreme Court. He pointed out that for years, the focus of the police in all states was solely on combating insurgency and violence. However, now that violence has almost ceased in the Northeast, it is time to ensure that every citizen in the region is granted their constitutional rights to property, honor, and family protection, which are included in these three laws.Home Minister emphasized that it is time to change the culture and direction of the Northeast police. He said that with peace prevailing in the region, the focus should now be on ensuring citizens receive their rightful entitlements. For this, a change is needed in the approach, training, and focus of the police in every state of the Northeast. He mentioned that the prerequisite for achieving this change is the complete implementation of these three new laws across all states in the region.Shri Amit Shah urged all the governors present at the meeting to personally monitor this process, as it is crucial to establish the belief in the Northeast that citizens can obtain justice through filing an FIR. He said that for four decades, the police forces in all the states of the Northeast were entirely focused on combating insurgency, and now that insurgency is no longer a major issue, the focus must shift to providing citizens with their rights. He said that if this is achieved, the constitutional rights granted to citizens across the country will also be granted to the citizens of the Northeast.Shri Amit Shah said that the allocation for the PM-DevINE scheme was approximately ₹6600 crore, but it will soon be increased to ₹9000 crore. He mentioned that for the development of the Northeast, there are more than 111 projects, including roads, power, education, healthcare services, sports infrastructure, and tourism projects. He added that from 2014-15, the budget for the Northeast has increased by 153%, and through the Bamboo Mission, the government has set an ambitious goal to make the entire Northeast prosperous. Shri Shah emphasized that the Modi government will provide all possible support for every type of connectivity in the Northeast, and there will be no shortage of budget for this purpose.Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that plans worth ₹81,000 crore have been made for rail connectivity and ₹41,000 crore for road connectivity. He mentioned that 64 new air routes have been launched, and the remaining work will be completed in the next three years. Shri Shah emphasized that the states of the Northeast should make the most use of NESAC (North Eastern Space Applications Centre). He stated that until technology is utilized for the development of the eight northeastern states with challenging geographical conditions, the focus on development cannot be properly defined.Regarding the flood problem in the Northeast states, the Home Minister said that by using technology to create pathways in the natural course, the budget for constructing roads could be reduced by at least 30%. He added that by diverting floodwaters and creating large ponds, all three objectives—flood prevention, agriculture, and tourism—could be achieved. He mentioned that Assam has created 15 large ponds on an experimental basis, and all states should use this method for flood relief and water storage. Shri Shah also stated that the use of technology reduces corruption and helps in advancing Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT).Shri Amit Shah said that a peaceful and prosperous Northeast alone is not enough. He emphasized that preserving the cultural diversity, arts, literature, and languages of the Northeast, and ensuring their existence, is important not only for the Northeast but for the entire country. He mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India stands with the states of the Northeast to solve every issue they face. He expressed confidence that by 2047, when India becomes fully developed, the Northeast will be the country's most prosperous region