HT Bureau
SHILLONG, June 4: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, where leaders from the eight northeastern states deliberated on the North East Vision Plan 2047 and reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the region into a major hub of growth, connectivity and opportunity.
The session was attended by governors, chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, senior officials of the Centre and state governments, and representatives of the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
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Addressing the gathering, Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government has transformed the Northeast from a region once affected by conflict into a hub of opportunities and development.
“Chaired the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council. The Modi government ended the era of violence in the Northeast and transformed the region from a hotspot of disputes to a hotspot of opportunities,” Shah said in a social media post.
He noted that the NEC is playing a key role as a strategic planning institution for the region by fulfilling people’s aspirations while promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Northeast.
Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said the Ministry of DoNER and the NEC have played a pivotal role in integrating the Northeast into India’s growth story through sustained investments in infrastructure, connectivity and regional development.
He said the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who established the Ministry of DoNER and strengthened institutions such as the NEC, laid the foundation for the region’s transformation.
“The Northeast has emerged as a powerful engine of India’s development. Together, we are moving from vision to strategic execution to realise the goal of a Viksit Northeast by 2047,” Scindia said.
Highlighting the role of technology in governance, Scindia stressed the importance of data-driven planning, geospatial mapping and digital infrastructure in identifying development gaps and ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
The plenary session reviewed the progress of Chief Ministers’ High-Level Task Forces constituted for critical sectors and discussed major initiatives under the Ministry of DoNER.
Deliberations also covered outcomes of the North East Investment Summit, the Bankers’ Conclave, and ongoing efforts to promote tourism, logistics and youth development.
Presentations were made on tourism, agriculture and horticulture, investment promotion, self-reliance in milk, eggs, fish and meat production, sports development, economic corridor projects, infrastructure and connectivity, and promotion of handloom and handicrafts.
Scindia said the Northeast is steadily emerging as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and a key contributor to the country’s ambitions in trade, innovation and connectivity.
According to officials, the North East Vision Plan 2047 seeks to provide a long-term roadmap for transforming the region into a vibrant centre of economic growth, sustainability, innovation and cultural prosperity by the centenary year of India’s Independence.
Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma welcomed Shah to Shillong for the plenary session. A pre-plenary meeting involving chief secretaries, planning secretaries and senior officials from all eight northeastern states was held on Wednesday to prepare the agenda for the discussions. Established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, the NEC serves as the apex regional planning body for the Northeast and plays a central role in promoting coordinated development and cooperative federalism across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. (With inputs from PTI)
