Guwahati, July 12: DoNER minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said the Northeast would play a pivotal role in taking India’s Act East Policy forward.
“Our Look East policy is now an Act East policy and the Northeast will be a pivot in that policy going forward. So, at the outset, I would like to thank our Prime Minister, our party president, our home minister for giving me this responsibility,” Scindia informed mediapersons on his arrival at the LGBI Airport here.
Recalling old ties with the Northeastern region, Scindia said, “This is my visit as DoNER minister. However, I have very old and strong ties with this region.”
The Union minister further said that “It would be his resolve that for the Northeast region, Prime Minister’s vision of Purvodaya for this region to be the gateway of India’s progress – that translation of his vision into reality which has been on track for the last 10 years in terms of the huge outlay increase for the Northeast.”
From a budgetary point of view, he said that the outlay had increased from Rs 24,000 crore to almost Rs 82,000 crore, while from the infrastructure point of view, there has been progress in regard to development of roads, rail or civil aviation and tourism in the Northeast.
Scindia further said that during his tenure as civil aviation minister, the number of airports in the region had increased from nine to 17.
Terming the Northeast a “repository” of age-old tradition, the minister further said that the region’s cultural vibrance and abundance of natural resources would be showcased to the world.
PMGSY-III scheme
The Union ministry of rural development has, in order to strengthen rural connectivity and accelerate economic growth in the North-Eastern region, sanctioned 78 roads measuring 563.67 km and 14 bridges under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – III, with an estimated investment of Rs 378.68 crore to Assam.
“This landmark initiative will improve access to essential services like healthcare, education, and markets; enhance connectivity in rural areas, bridging the gap between remote villages and urban centres; foster economic development, trade, and commerce in the region; create employment opportunities and stimulate local economies,” an official statement said.
The move will further help align with the government’s vision of a prosperous Northeast and a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
“The projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana -III will have a transformative impact on the region, contributing to the growth and prosperity of the Northeastern region and cementing the government’s commitment to inclusive development,” it said.