Hon’ble Home Minister and Chairman of NEC, Shri Amit Shah-ji, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of DoNER, Shri G Krishan Reddy-ji, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Ministry of DoNER, Shri BL Verma-ji, Hon’ble Governors of the North Eastern States, Hon’ble Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States, Members of the North Eastern Council, Senior Officials of the Ministry of DoNER, NEC and various Ministries of the Government of India, Senior Officials of State Governments present today, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. On behalf of the people of Mizoram, I extend my heartiest greetings to all the members present in this 70th Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council. I would like to congratulate the North Eastern Council for all the successful and tremendous role it plays in shaping the north east as it is today.
2. Thirty-five years have passed since the State of Mizoram became a full-fledged state. During this period, we have experienced growth in many sectors of the economy. In our progress we strive to leave no one behind and this is reflected in the progress made in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. As per SDG India Index 3.0 (2020- 21), Mizoram is one of the ‘Frontrunner States’ with a ranking of 12th position. It is also declared as the ‘Most Improved State’ for the progress from 20th to 12th position since the last Index.
3. Progress is seen in various sectors, the growth rate of State’s economy rises from 7.15% in 2012-13 to 11.93% in 2019-2020. The people of Mizoram are grateful and fully aware that without the support of the Central Government, achieving this much growth rate would be a distant dream. However, we are still aiming for faster growth and development. We would need the continued support from the central ministries even more than before as we are recovering from the impact of Covid-19.
4. Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE) has been launched in the budget specially for the North East with an initial capital allocation of Rs 1500 crore. Under this, two important projects are approved for my state namely Construction of Aizawl Bypass Road on the Western side at a cost of Rs 500 crore and Pilot project on Construction of Bamboo Link Road at Rs 100 crore. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of India for taking this proactive step for infrastructure and socio-economic development of the region. I believe that the valuable leadership provided by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi-ji and the Hon’ble Chairman of NEC, Shri Amit Shah-ji, is going to enable the North East to achieve the heights it has never scaled before.
5. Let me start with stating the most important issue that I have in my mind. Road connectivity is one of the biggest challenges faces in the North East. We all are aware that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has been instrumental in providing the last mile connectivity to out far-flung villages. With the launching of PMGSY III, the Central Government has discontinued PMGSY I & II from 1st October 2022. Since its inception, Government of Mizoram has obtained sanction of Rs 2840 crore for achieving a total road length of 4482.73 km under the scheme. Owing to the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic on account of which many restrictions were carried out and the prolonged monsoon, works under PMGSY I & II could not be completed. As we all are having financial constraints on account of the impact of Covid-19 and the shortfall in tax devolution, I would like to place my request for moving the Ministry of Rural Development through this Plenary Meeting, a funding support for the continuation of PMGSY I & II at least till March 2023 in the North East Region to complete the works under PMGSY I & II. If this is so, with the start of the working season in the North East, we would be able to undertake the pavement laying work which was not possible during the rainy season and would strive hard to complete them. I am sure, my counterparts from other North East States are also facing the same issue and requirements as well.
6. I would like to make a case for allocation of fund for transport subsidy for perishable goods from the North East states. With the Central Government moving towards doubling farmers’ income by 2024, various schemes have been launched. However, transportation assistance hardly caught the attention of the policy makers but this is important for the North East states considering the geographic conditions. Hence, in order for our farmers to enjoy the fruits of their harvest, an assistance or subsidy in respect of transportation of perishable goods is required. This will reduce post-harvest losses, encourage the entrepreneurs in this sector through a reduction of cost and would go a long way in making our local products competitive in the market. Therefore, I would urge the North Eastern Council to make a case for transport subsidy specially to cater to the highly perishable goods such as fruits, flowers and vegetables.
7. Under Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure, Mizoram was allocated Rs 200 crores during 2020-21, Rs. 300 crores during 2021-22 and in 2022-23, Rs 400 crores has been allocated under Part 1 of Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment. This Assistance is the most workable relief package for the economic revival for the North Eastern states on account of it being sector agnostic and a 50-year interest free loan. Through this assistance, we are able to take up projects which are not possible to be taken up under the schemes of NEC or NESIDS but are crucial for the development of the state. In view of this, I request the Ministry of Finance to continue the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment in the new financial year as well. Further, the condition as prescribed in the guidelines is that all the amounts sanctioned in the current financial year are to be spent within the same financial year. I request that this be done away with as infrastructure works especially in the North East require more time and this condition is a hindrance to take up bigger and more important projects under the scheme.
8. It is a matter of concern for the North East Region that the mandated 10% Gross Budgetary Support (10% GBS) earmarked to be spent by the 52 non-exempted Ministries in the North East has been diluted in recent years. Ministries often state that funds allocated for 10% GBS are used for financing Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in the North East but the usage of this support ought to be over and above the expenditure on CSS as these CSS are also made available to all the other states outside the North East as well. I would like to point out that in the recent past, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs had a well-defined system for availing this support under their 10% Lump sum grant and Mizoram was able to avail a total of RS 230.42 crore during the period 2011-15. This has helped tremendously in providing the much needed fund to fill the gaps in infrastructure development. I am pleased to note that the Ministry of DoNER has taken a proactive step in ensuring that the Ministries spend their mandated amount under 10% GBS and regular quarterly review meetings are being held in this regard. Taking a step further, I would like to use this platform to request the Ministry of DoNER to move the Ministries to come up with specific guidelines on how the North East states can avail the 10% GBS over and above usual central schemes.
9. Externally Aided Projects (EAP) are important potential sources of augmenting the States' resources and thereby external assistance plays a significant role in the development process. Considering their importance, it is required that projects under this are approved at the time they are needed the most. However, at present, the process of availing this is long; clearances from Ministry of Finance (DEA), NITI Aayog, concerned line Ministry, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of DoNER are required. It takes extremely long procedure to avail funds under EAP. Therefore, I request the Hon’ble Chairman to take initiatives to streamline all the necessary clearances through a single window approach which may be done through a Steering Committee constituted in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. This would ease the process and would enable the North East states to avail the required fund at the right time. This would also increase the resource inflow and importantly, transfer of knowledge and expertise through implementation of projects under EAP.
10. Now, let me dwell on the Tourism potential of the North East with few suggestions to un-tap the potential. As we all aware that north east region possesses great physical and human diversities that can be projected as one of the most potential areas in the country for tourism. Proper campaigning of the region’s wide variety of physical and cultural products can bring a dramatic change to the present socio-economic situation of the region. Considering the significance of the tourism sector as a catalyst for regional development, an attempt may be made to focus on the need for adoption of a common tourism circuit for the North East as a whole.
With a view to explore the tourism potential in the border districts of India and to create awareness about the lesser-known destinations across the country, we have to promote Border Tourism in the North East region. Border Tourism within the region and in the international border has immense potential. Creating economic activities around border towns will be beneficial. North Eastern Council may take initiatives on this by organising workshop or study to create awareness which will help to increase domestic as well as international tourists.
To boost tourism in the region, air connectivity may be promoted which will need construction of heliports in the states. I would like to impress the Government of India to invest substantial amount of fund for improving the air connectivity and give a boost to tourism in North East Region.
11. North East region is an ecologically sensitive zone. With the advent of climate change we need to be proactive in our policies and interventions. We cannot afford to ignore our future generations in our decisions today. I would like to highlight an alarming situation wherein the volume of water in River Tlawng, the main source of water supply for Mizoram including the capital Aizawl has reduced by 52.3 % in the past three years; from 70.742 million liters per day (MLD) in 2019 to 31.461 MLD in 2021 and its turbidity has increased from 100 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) in 2015 to 989.8 NTU in 2022. Therefore, I want to stress that sustainable management of our water resources is very important as it involves sustainable management of urban development, forestry, agriculture and livelihood. The Government of Mizoram has setup various committees to protect our rivers and the Save Mizoram River Act is in the pipeline. I would request the Ministry of DoNER and NEC to supplement our efforts in protecting our water resources.
12. I strongly feel that a comprehensive study on state specific comparative economic advantages and infrastructure gap is the need of the hour. This would enhance the targeted approach of filling the infrastructure gap in the states. On account of this, the right amount of fund could be instilled into the right place. Hence, NEC with the Ministry of DoNER can take up such studies in co-ordination with the State’s Planning Department. Further, effective monitoring is a key for successful implementation of projects. State’s Planning Department, being the nodal agency for NEC and Ministry of DoNER should be tasked with more responsibility by setting up Evaluation and Monitoring Cell in line with NEC. Moreover, a robust technological driven mechanism system may be set up through Management Information System for the projects.
13. I would also like to add that the South West of Mizoram is the entry gate for unwanted elements such as drug trafficking, terrorism etc which could be a source of trouble for Mizoram and the entire north east. Accordingly, owing to its geographical location, Mizoram is an entry gatekeeper for the entire northeast. It is thus imperative that our border guarding forces and local police forces are strengthened to fight the menace of drug trafficking and the imminent threat of tourism. Therefore considering the important strategic location that Mizoram occupies, I urge the Hon’ble Union Home Minister to strengthen Mizoram economically.
14. In conclusion, I would like to impress upon this august gathering that no progress can be made without peace. In this regard, we should all work together so that the North East sister states can resolve our issues and find a common ground. I am sure under the able leadership of our Hon’ble Home Minister Amit Shah-ji we can aspire towards this so that North East India could be the next centre of growth for India.
Thank You
JAI HIND
