Dimapur, February 4 (MExN): The North Eastern Region (NER) comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are all special category States and the national planning and resource allocations impart a special emphasis on the economic and social development of the region. The development plans in the North East are centrally financed on the basis of 90% grant and 10% loan.
The department of Higher Education has launched a number of schemes for educational development in the region to be implemented through state governments and through the agencies other than state governments’ viz. autonomous bodies/NGOs, etc. As per instant government orders, the department of Higher Education earmark about 10% of its Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for implementing these schemes in the region.
The Planning Commission has approved the Plan outlay of Rs.6483.00 crore for 2007-08 for Higher Education. Out of this, an outlay of Rs.640.30 crore has been earmarked for the North East. As on 25.01.2008 Rs.177.22 crores have been sanctioned during the current financial year. The shortfall in utilization of this 10% provision (by any Ministry/department except some exempted ones) is automatically transferred to the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) administered by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for funding specific development programmes in the North Eastern Region. During 2007-08(as on 30.11.2007), proposals worth Rs.51.87 crore has been released for various infrastructure development projects in the region.
Some of the major initiatives taken by the Government of India in the NE last year include the setting up of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Shillong, Meghalaya. Also, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura University, Agartala, have been converted into central universities in 2007. The government also established a Central University in Sikkim and National Institute of Technology (NIT), at Agartala. It would be integrated with other NITs in terms of academic and administrative practices from the academic session 2006-2007. Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT) was also upgraded into a National Institute of Technology (NIT).
Engineering and Management faculties in the North Eastern States have been set up. Courses in engineering and management have been started in all such universities except Mizoram.
The Mizoram University has also started Management Programme in July 2007 and the university is working on the project to start Engineering Programme from the academic year 2008-09.
During the Financial Year 2007-08, the government earmarked a sum of Rs.239.23 crore for central universities located in the NE. It is expected that with the increased allocation during the 11th Plan period, it should be possible for the UGC to release necessary funds.
In the sphere of language, initiatives for development of Hindi language and engaging services of the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysore for development of language were taken. Other NER programmes are Two workshops on revision of Mother tongue text books in 17 tribal languages recognized in schools were organized at Kohima, Nagaland. In Assam, one workshop on teaching tribal mother tongues was organized at Guwahati, one at Kokrajhar and two in Silchar. The other activities included preparation of a Pictorial Glossary of Kok Borok (Tripura), Monpa (Arunachal Pradesh) and Kuki-Chin Languages (Manipur).
Seminars on issues related to development of script and understanding the linguistic scene in Northeast India were conducted at Shillong, and Workshops on preparation of multilingual dictionary viz-Bodo, Brishnupnya Manipuri, Tiwa, Rabha, Deori, and Misin were also held.
Promotion of Urdu language and instating a scheme for appointment of language teachers were set. The scheme has three components: 100% financial assistance to State/UT Government for salary of Appointment of Hindi Teachers in the Non-Hindi speaking States; 100% financial assistance to the State/UT Government for Appointment of Urdu Teachers and Grant of Honorarium for teaching Urdu; 100% financial assistance for appointment of Teachers in other languages.
During the year 2007-08 the funds amounting to Rs.244 lakhs are provided to Mizoram for appointment of 687 Hindi Teachers.
