By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 3: Shillong will host the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) on Thursday under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister and NEC Chairman Amit Shah.
The plenary will be attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and NEC Vice-Chairman Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for DoNER Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, the governors and chief ministers of the eight northeastern states, council members and senior officials from central and state governments.
Ahead of the plenary, a pre-plenary meeting on Wednesday discussed flagship initiatives such as bamboo, agar wood and Ashtalakshmi Darshan, along with other regional development issues. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of DoNER, chief secretaries of the northeastern states, the NEC Secretary and senior officials from various central and state agencies. The plenary will review progress made by the Chief Minister‑led high-level task forces constituted for key sectors of regional development. Presentations are scheduled on tourism; agriculture and horticulture; investment promotion; self-reliance in milk, eggs, fish and meat production; sports promotion; economic corridor development; infrastructure and connectivity; and handloom and handicrafts.
The meeting will also review major DoNER initiatives, including updates on flagship schemes and programmes, outcomes of the North East Investment Summit and Bankers’ Conclave, youth-focused initiatives, tourism promotion, logistics and Unique Selling Proposition (USP) projects in the region.
A key agenda item is the North East Vision Plan 2047, which aims to provide a long-term roadmap to transform the region into a hub of economic growth, connectivity, innovation, sustainability and cultural prosperity by the centenary of India’s Independence.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the annual NEC meeting provides an important platform for consultation and cooperation among the Northeastern states.
“The Union Home Minister, who is also the Chairman of the NEC, will arrive this evening. Tomorrow is the plenary session and all the chief ministers and governors of the Northeast are in Shillong. I am sure we will have a constructive meeting and meaningful discussions on major sectors,” Sangma said.
He added that the Ministry of DoNER has constituted several task forces to promote greater regional cooperation among the northeastern states.
“The DoNER Minister has put in place task forces where different states work together on specific sectors. For example, task forces on tourism, youth affairs and trade have been constituted, with individual chief ministers heading different groups. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening regional collaboration and accelerating development across the Northeast,” he said.
Established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, the NEC serves as the apex regional planning body for the Northeast and plays a key role in promoting coordinated development and cooperative federalism in the region.
