By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday outlined a broad development agenda for the Northeast, urging the eight states to accelerate investment promotion, boost regional trade, eradicate narcotics and build self-reliance in key sectors as the region moves to become a major growth hub.
Addressing the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, Shah said the region’s future priorities should follow the recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on development, prosperity and preservation of cultural identity. He urged states to fully implement the panel’s suggestions.
Shah urged Chief Ministers and Governors to regularly review Single Window Clearance systems to improve the investment climate and make the North East more attractive to investors. He highlighted the potential of the Sabroom Land Port and customs centres in Meghalaya and Mizoram to strengthen trade links with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Calling for a mass movement against narcotics, Shah asked states to turn the Drug-Free North East campaign into a people-driven initiative. He also urged greater focus on routine policing, protection of vulnerable groups and timely delivery of justice through wider use of technology in the criminal justice system.
Emphasising economic self-reliance, Shah said the northeastern states should aim to be self-sufficient in fish, egg, milk and dairy production. He said the National Dairy Development Board, alongside the Ministry of Cooperation, will support the region with high-yielding dairy animals and stronger cooperative networks.
Shah called for a dedicated strategy to position the Northeast as a global production and export hub for agarwood, essential oils, wellness and cosmetic products, and bamboo-based industries. He urged the creation of state-level task forces to promote Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products and expand their presence in international markets.
Highlighting emerging sectors, Shah said improvements in education, skill development and digital infrastructure should be leveraged to make the region a hub for artificial intelligence, data analytics, machine learning and blockchain. He also pointed to the Northeast’s renewable energy potential—particularly hydropower and solar—and stressed the need to attract data centres.
Reviewing progress over the past decade, Shah said more than 12 peace accords had been signed in the North East in the last 12 years and over 10,800 former militants had joined the mainstream. He said enhanced road, rail and air connectivity had reduced both physical and emotional distances between the region and the rest of the country.
Shah also underlined the importance of preserving the Northeast’s cultural heritage, saying tribal communities, languages and dialects are among the region’s greatest strengths and should be protected alongside development.
The plenary was attended by Governors and Chief Ministers of the northeastern states, Union Minister for DoNER Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar and other senior officials.
Speaking on the sidelines of the NEC meeting, Scindia said the Northeast will play a central role in India’s development by 2047, calling the eight states a future growth engine.
He likened the region to the “Ashtalakshmi of India,” crediting sustained infrastructure expansion and connectivity for recent gains and saying the Centre’s focused attention has accelerated growth.
