Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assures improved fund flow to Northeast

NEW DELHI: The Northeast region has a very high priority in Government’s developmental agenda, said the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, stressing upon that the government will to ensure smooth access to financial assistance from funding agencies.

Presenting the Union Budget-2020 in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said that the Government is ensuring smooth access to financial assistance from multilateral and bilateral funding agencies to help introduce innovative and global best practices.

“The Central Government has effectively used an online portal to reduce gestation period. This has improved the flow of funds to the northeast region,” she said.

The Government is making all efforts to push Act East policy, to benefit the marginalised and vulnerable groups of people in the backward and neglected areas of north-eastern States.

The Centre is stepping up its initiative to consolidate and integrate Northeast India with the heartland.

Also with an eye on China, India is working on a number of road and bridge projects to improve connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. It includes road networks connecting Aizawl (Mizoram) with Kaladan (Myanmar) and Imphal (Manipur) with Tamu, also in Myanmar. (IANS)

HIGHLIGHTS

* ‘Krishi Udaan’ will be launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on international and national routes. This will immensely help improve value realization, especially in the Northeast and tribal districts.

* The ‘Jal Vikash Marg’ on National Waterway-1 will be completed. Further the 890-km Dhubri-Sadiya connectivity will be done by 2022.

* Among the five archeological sites to be developed as iconic sites is the site at Sivasagar in Assam.

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