The 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) was held in Shillong, Meghalaya, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The high-level meeting brought together governors, chief ministers, union ministers, and senior officials from across Northeast India to discuss regional development priorities.
Among those present were Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijay Shankar, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and DoNER Secretary Sanjay Jaju.
Governors and Chief Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura also participated in the session.
What is the North Eastern Council?
The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. It serves as the apex regional planning and development body for Northeast India.
The council plays a crucial role in promoting:
- Regional development
- Infrastructure projects
- Connectivity enhancement
- Economic growth
- Social development
- Cooperative federalism
Key Focus Areas of the Session:
The 73rd Plenary Session focused on accelerating development across the Northeast region through better coordination among states and the central government.
Major areas discussed included:
- Road and railway connectivity
- Digital infrastructure
- Tourism development
- Investment promotion
- Skill development
- Border area development
- Healthcare and education initiatives
Importance of the NEC:
The North Eastern Council acts as a bridge between the Centre and the Northeast states. Through collaborative planning and coordinated implementation of development projects, the council aims to ensure balanced and sustainable growth across the region.
The 73rd NEC Plenary Session reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming Northeast India into a major growth engine of the country through enhanced infrastructure, connectivity, and economic opportunities.