The DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, who is also the NEC vice-chairman in his speech at the two-day 67th Plenary of the NEC held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Monday said that depending on improved utilisation of funds and legitimate demand of States in the Northeast, the NEC would seek for allocation of more liberal grant of resources in the coming years.
He informed that Rs 1,245.66 crore was allotted to NEC during 2017-18 which was an increase of 28.6 per cent over the budgeted outlay of Rs 968.79 crore in 2016-17.
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Singh also said that as approved by the Union cabinet on March 28 this year, the NEC shall focus on bamboo development, value chain in piggery sector, regional tourism, higher education, tertiary healthcare including health education, special intervention in backward areas, sixth schedule areas, backward districts and militant-affected districts and autonomous district council areas, livelihood projects, surveys and investigations of projects in power, irrigation and flood control, and promotion of the northeastern region.
“The schemes of NEC have now become a central sector scheme with 100 per cent central funding for new projects and existing pattern for ongoing projects. Expenditure made by the DoNER ministry and NEC, all central ministries, unless specifically exempted, are required to spend 10 per cent of their gross budgetary support in the North Eastern region not only through their ongoing schemes, but also through dedicated schemes/projects for the region,” the DoNER minister said.
Stating that the NEC was monitoring and evaluating its funded projects, Jitendra said that during 2017-18, 84 NEC-funded projects were physically inspected.
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