New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday announced a budget allocation of Rs.2,362.74 crore for the Northeast and promised to bring the region into the mainstream.
“I have allocated Rs.2,362.74 crore for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Special priority is being given to the region’s development. The development process includes two visits of prime minister (Narendra Modi) and launch of important infrastructure projects. Northeastern part of the country will be brought in the mainstream,” Jaitley said while presenting the union budget 2015-16 in the Lok Sabha.
As part of the initiatives, Jaitley announced that the government will set up a centre for film production, animation and gaming in Arunachal Pradesh.
Also, a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-like institution will be set up in Assam.
Further talking about development in the northeastern region, Jaitley said that, action has been taken with regard to allocation of natural resources, financial inclusion, health and hygiene of the common man, girls and their education and employment for the youth among others.
“To bring the region in the mainstream we are also focusing on welfare of labour; agricultural productivity and increasing farm income, power, digital connectivity, skilling our youth and efficient and better work culture in government.”
Jaitley in the 2014-15 budget had announced a 24X7 television channel named “Arun Prabha” and an allocation of Rs.1,825.45 for the northeastern region.
A sum of Rs.1,000 crore was also allocated for rail connectivity and Rs.2,000 crore for road connectivity.
The government has also focused on constructing all weather roads along borders with nearly 100 per cent increase in allocation for construction of roads along Sino-India and Indo-Pak boundaries.
Keeping in mind the facilitation of troops along the 4,056-km Sino-India border stretching from ‘Karakoram point’ of Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir to ‘Fish Tail’ in Arunachal Pradesh, the Government has earmarked Rs 300 crore in 2015-16 budget, a figure which is almost double of allocation during the last fiscal when it stood at Rs 156.47 crore.
The infrastructure facilities along this border were needed as Indian troops – the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Army – have been facing severe restrictions in their movement whereas Chinese People’s Liberation Army could reach the last post easily because of good metallic roads. (PTI)
