DoNER allocates Rs 148 crore for Assam to strengthen health infrastructure

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Ministry of DoNER (Development of the North Eastern Region) has allocated Rs 148.62 crore for Assam to strengthen health infrastructure in the State in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. To get the funds, the State government has to submit project proposals under NESIDS (North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme) to the Ministry of DoNER. NESIDS is a 100 per cent centrally-funded scheme.

Since the fight against COVID-19 is going to be a long-drawn-out affair, an inter-ministerial committee meeting of the Ministry was held in New Delhi recently for the development of health infrastructure in the Northeast with the Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, in the Chair. The meeting allocated Rs 148.62 crore for Assam under NESIDS for fiscal 2020-21. Other States of the Northeast have also been allocated funds under the Scheme.

Funding health infrastructure related projects under NESIDS are the best options in the present scenario of COVID-19. The meeting stated that keeping this in view, the Ministry of DoNER wrote to all the States of the Northeast to submit proposals for strengthening health infrastructure to fight COVID-19.

The NESIDS has been approved by the Government of India as a new Central Sector Scheme on December 15, 2017.