Northeast Desk, 2nd August: During a Rajya Sabha session on August 1, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined a transformative shift in the Indian government’s approach towards the Northeast, reflecting a decade of heightened focus and investment.

Responding to a query from Manipur MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, Scindia emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repositioned the Northeast from being “the last point of India” to “the first point of India.” This shift, according to Scindia, underscores the region’s growing significance in India’s historical, cultural, and economic landscape, with particular attention to Arunachal Pradesh.

Scindia presented key financial data to illustrate the scale of investment in the region:

1. Cumulative Expenditure: Over the past decade, expenditure in the Northeast has reached ₹5.22 lakh crores, exceeding the allocated ₹5.15 lakh crores.
2. Revised Estimates: The region’s revised financial estimates have surged from ₹27,539 crores to ₹91,802 crores, marking a 3.5-fold increase.
3. Actual Expenditure: The actual spending has also seen a 3.5 times rise in the same period.

Scindia noted that this level of financial commitment is unparalleled in India’s 75 years of post-independence history. Although specific details on individual projects by the Ministry of DoNER in the past three years were not provided, the statement reflects a broader policy shift towards increased focus and resource allocation for the Northeast region.

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