GUWAHATI: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya Scindia, declared on Sunday that the policies enacted by the central government over the past 11 years have positioned the North Eastern region as the engine of India’s future growth.
Speaking at IIT-Guwahati after inaugurating the North Eastern Science & Technology (NEST) cluster, Scindia stated, “The NE region would be the engine of India’s growth. Today, the government at the Centre stands with you, hand in hand, to lead that development push forward.”
The newly inaugurated NEST cluster is a major step towards building a strong science and technology ecosystem in the region, aiming to spur innovation-driven development.
Scindia further elaborated on the Prime Minister’s vision, noting that the northeastern states, including Sikkim, have been referred to as ‘Asta Lakshmi’ of India, signifying their inherent vibrancy, diversity, and untapped potential. He emphasized the need to unleash this capability.
“For 65 years, this area was known to be landlocked. But the PM has changed that paradigm from landlocked to land-linked. The NE region can become our bridge to the South East Asian region,” he added.
The Union minister highlighted how the ‘Act East, Act Fast, and Act First’ concept has unlocked the potential of the eight northeastern states. Over the last 11 years, the region has seen a dramatic improvement in its transportation infrastructure. He pointed out that while the region had about 10,000 km of national highways for 65 years, an additional 6,500 km have been added in just the last 11 years. Similarly, the number of airports has grown from just 9 in 65 years to 17 currently.
Concluding his remarks, Scindia, who is on a four-day tour of the region, asserted, “The NE is no longer the periphery of India. You are the pivot for our country.”