Dr Jitendra Singh chairs DoNER review meeting; urges for 100% fund usages

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh chairing a review meeting of the activities of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), in New Delhi on February 27. (PIB Photo)

 

New Delhi, February 27 (MExN): Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh chaired a review meeting of the activities of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) on February 27.

 

The Secretary (DoNER), Dr Inder Jit Singh and senior officers of Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC) were present during the meeting, where all the agenda items were taken up for review.

 

As per a press release from PIB, Delhi, the Minister expressed happiness on being informed that for the first time in many years, nearly 93 percent budget of the Ministry of DoNER has been spent for the current financial year till date. He asked the officials to achieve 100 percent target till the end of this fiscal year.

 

Dr Singh asked the Ministry officials to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the earliest with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for opening of new bamboo clusters and technology centres especially in Jammu/Samba/Kathua region.

 

The MoU will provide technical support and help in capacity building of farmers. He said that the region has great potential for Bamboo Entrepreneurship.

 

The Minister was informed that the construction work for a new hostel for students of North-East in JNU is going on in full swing. The project undertaken by NEC under the Ministry of DoNER will be of great help to the students of the North-Eastern Region, he added.

 

Similarly, the work for the first ever North East Convention Centre at Dwarka at a prime land will be starting shortly.

 

It was brought to the notice of the Minister that against a total package amount of Rs 586.20 crore under Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF), projects worth of Rs 587.17 crore has been sanctioned by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Out of this, an amount of Rs 504.10 crore has already been released and balance amount will be released on receipt of physical and financial reports from the concerned state governments.

 

Achievements of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region During the last six months:

1. Total of 212 projects costing Rs 3512.45 crore have been implemented by the Ministry in North Eastern Region as under: 115 projects costing Rs 1928.47 crore were sanctioned. 21 projects costing Rs 677.90 crore were started. 70 projects costing Rs 866.13 crore were completed. 6 projects costing Rs 39.95 crore were operationalized.
2. Bamboo Industrial Park: In-principle approval has been accorded for First Bamboo Industrial Park to be set up in North East Region. It will be established at Manderdisa in Dima Hasao District of Assam in an area of 75 hectares at a cost of Rs 50 crore. The project is targeted to be completed by March 2021.
3. Process for restructuring of the two livelihood programmes implemented by the Ministry viz NERLP and NERCORMP has been initiated. The proposed project will cover all the NE states and the target beneficiaries will be members of the SHGs, FPIs, FPOs who are targeted to be converted into self-driven entrepreneurs.
4. Dashboard of Ministry has been revamped to keep the citizens informed about the developmental activities being taken up in the North East region. Apart from providing up to date information on the schemes and programmes of MDoNER and its organizations, it will act as a one-stop portal to showcase the areas of tourist interest and spread awareness about the distinct culture and traditions of the region.
5. Process for extension of schemes of MDoNER and NEC beyond March 2020 has been initiated.
6. Scheme-specific IMCs/SFC meetings have been convened for approvals to various projects received from the NE states.
7. Fund of Rs 1 crore to each Aspirational Districts of NER (14 Nos) have been released.
8. During the period, NEDFi has sanctioned an amount of Rs 247.10 crore and Rs 122.31 crore was disbursed. The Corporation has conducted twelve business meets in all the eight states of North Eastern region.
9. NEDFi Venture Capital Ltd. has sanctioned an amount of Rs 32.28 crore to 15 nos. of start-ups, which has created a lot of enthusiasm among first generation entrepreneurs and start-ups in the region.