PLENARY SESSION
GUWAHATI: While speaking at the plenary session, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal urged the North East Council (NEC) to play an important role in the implementation of Act East policy with special focus on issues relating to trade, investment, tourism, connectivity and building relations with Southeast Asian countries in close coordination with various ministries of the Government of India.
Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his vision for development of North East through improvement of connectivity, expeditious completion of infrastructure projects and provision of basic amenities in every household, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the NEC as a planning body would be successful in giving a renewed push to development in the region under the leadership of Union Home Minister and Chairman of NEC Amit Shah.
In order to project North East as a hub of opportunities and generate awareness in ASEAN region, Sarbananda Sonowal requested the NEC to start hosting a festival highlighting North East in each of the ASEAN countries to project its rich heritage, culture, handloom and handicrafts, industrial and tourist potential. He also proposed for youth exchange programmes between North East India and ASEAN countries with focus on sports and culture besides setting up of a Language Academy to facilitate teaching as well as research on different languages spoken in the Northeast vis-a-vis ASEAN and BBIN countries, stated a release.
Chief Minister Sonowal requested the NEC to provide special assistance to the north- eastern States to realize their export potential and suggested that the existing North East Industrial Development Scheme-2017 may be made friendlier to reap rich dividends of the business potential of the North East in view of the Centre’s Act East Policy. Underlining State government’s initiatives to promote organic farming in a big way, the Chief Minister urged the NEC to provide necessary support to Assam Government for setting up an Organic Agriculture University stating that a proposal with DPR (Detailed Project Report) for the same has already been submitted to the planning body.
Further stating that flood, erosion and landslide have assumed alarming proportions not only in Assam but in the entire north-eastern region, he urged the government to consider river erosion as a calamity eligible for providing assistance under NDRF and SDRF. He also sought holistic intervention in the entire river basin to attend the problem of floods and erosion. He expressed hope that the Northeast Water Management Authority constituted as per direction of the Prime Minister would be successful in putting into place a permanent solution to this long-standing problem.
Sonowal also requested necessary steps to consider a dedicated Disaster Mitigation Fund exclusively for the North East to enable the State governments to take preventive measures against the endemic problem of riverbank erosion, landslides, earthquakes and floods. Further urging the NEC to tap the waterways potential of the region, the Chief Minister observed that expressways on both banks of Brahmaputra would benefit all north-eastern States in promoting safer and faster transport as well as in maintaining navigability of Brahmaputra besides providing protection against erosion of river banks.
Sonowal further requested the NEC and DONER to set up more medical colleges in the North East apart from establishing Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas in the region. The Chief Minister also urged upon the NEC for taking a special scheme to protect the forest wealth of the North East along with setting up of a Presidential Retreat in the North East.
Moreover, the Chief Minister hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic step to strengthen complete national integration by abrogating Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution. He also expressed deep gratitude to the Prime Minister for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr Bhupen Hazarika posthumously in recognition to his immense contribution towards nation building.