Resident Commissioners of North East States during the brainstorming session at Nagaland House, RK Puram in New Delhi on July 27.
New Delhi, July 27 (MExN): Chief Resident Commissioner of Nagaland, Dr. DK Bhalla (IAS) called for a “brainstorming and intellectual lunch session” of all the Resident Commissioners (RCs) of North East States of India at Nagaland House, RK Puram in New Delhi on July 27.
The session was called in order to brain storm over different policies and options for the development of North East, stated a press release from Kuolie Mere, PRO (IPR), Nagaland House, New Delhi.
The first and most important point discussed in the session, according to the release, was that most of the North East States are deficient in generation of monetary resources. It stressed on how the states can be made more self-sufficient so they do not have to only depend on central funding for various activities.
“It surfaced up in the discussion that there could be a possibility, under which all corporate houses may be mandated to spend their CSR funds for developmental activities in NE and it will allow corporate sector to explore various avenues of development and nation building in north eastern states,” the release stated.
Pointing out that the North Eastern States are known for their flora and fauna, bio diversity etc, the meeting highlighted that this aspect can be used for revenue generation by developing tourism activities in a sustainable way without disturbing ecosystem of the area. Tourism can be of various varieties like medical tourism, golf tourism, anthropological tourism, ecological tours, adventure tourism etc, the members said.
The meeting suggested that these tourism projects can be planned on PPP model, under which State government can put in their share by providing land and other natural resources and private players in collaboration with Government of India can infuse capital resources for projects.
It was further discussed that the 15th Finance Commission should be requested to keep in view that NE States act as natural sink for the rest of the nation and hence North East Region (NER) should be given even higher devolution of funds to keep it greener.
On job creation front, various Resident Commissioners suggested bringing various mega projects to the region and various strategies to fund small projects in farming sector and horticulture.
Separate defined economic entities could be created for the region like NE bank, special loan assistance agencies and a dedicated insurance agency only for NE, the meeting stated. It was also pointed out that horticulture and agro based food processing industries offer a huge scope for development in NER.
The meeting concluded with a suggestion that an aide memoir should be developed by all RCs together for presenting it to the Prime Minister for expediting the NE agenda of the government, the press release added.
