Union Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has hailed the Northeast’s transformation under the "leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", stressing on "remarkable" advancements in infrastructure, peace-building efforts, and economic growth.
He also announced the establishment of India’s second semiconductor manufacturing facility in Assam, a significant milestone for the region.
Scindia attributed the Northeast’s development to a "clear vision and concerted efforts".
“The Northeast has never been so peaceful in its tenure as it has been under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he remarked, crediting government initiatives for an 80 per cent reduction in conflict incidents over the past decade.
He noted that insurgent integration into mainstream society had increased by nearly 70 per cent, alongside the signing of multiple peace accords.
The Manipur’s challenge
While acknowledging the persistent issues in Manipur, Scindia rejected claims that the unrest was a recent development, noting its decades-long history.
“Manipur is not a situation that has occurred in the last year, the last five years, or the last ten years. Manipur is a situation that has been there for the last 25 to 40 years. So it’s not something that has been created by this government. We are talking to all factions and trying to bring about an amicable solution,” he stated.
Scindia assured the central and state governments’ commitment to resolving the issue, noting significant progress through dialogue and development initiatives.
Development in NE India
Highlighting unprecedented infrastructure growth, Scindia detailed projects such as the construction of over 16,000 kilometres of national highways, an increase from 10,000 kilometres a decade ago.
“In 60 years, what was built? Sixty per cent of that has been built in 10 years,” he said, referencing the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, which has added 45,000 kilometres of rural roads at a cost of ₹50,000 crore.
Railway development has also seen a surge, with track-laying increasing from 6.5 kilometres per month to 19 kilometres per month. “In the last ten years, 2,000 kilometres of railway tracks have been built,” he added.
Notably, air connectivity in the region has expanded from nine airports in 2014 to 17, along with a doubling of air traffic movements.
Scindia cited the progress in waterways, noting the development of 20 transport waterways compared to just one in 2014.
“The transformation is evident in every sector,” he said.
Semiconductor facility in Assam
In a major boost to the region’s industrial landscape, Scindia announced the establishment of India’s second semiconductor factory in Assam, with an investment of ₹27,000 crore by the Tata Group.
“This is the first semiconductor fab in the Northeast and the second in India. It signifies the Northeast’s role as a growth engine for India,” he said.
The announcement follows a series of roadshows in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai to attract investment for the Northeast Investor Summit, scheduled for March or April 2025.
“Through these roadshows, we have garnered nearly ₹45,000 crore in investment commitments,” he revealed.
Scindia asserted that the Northeast, with annual growth rates between 9.5 and 11 per cent, is leading India’s development trajectory.
“India is growing at a very fast clip between 6.5 and 7.5 per cent per year, but the Northeast states are outpacing this growth,” he said.
The minister highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to develop border areas, renaming them as “first villages” instead of “last villages.”
He noted the government’s commitment to achieving 100 per cent saturation of development goals in these areas.
Scindia praised initiatives such as the abolition of Article 370 and the Women’s Reservation Bill.
He described the “One Nation, One Election” Bill as a reflection of public demand.
“The people’s wish and hope is to stop the election code of conduct and devote resources to their service for five years,” he said.
Scindia expressed confidence in the Northeast’s role as India’s growth engine.
“The transformation has already taken place on the Indian landscape,” he affirmed.
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