North-East: Vital For India’s Development

Syllabus: GS 3/Growth and Development

In News

• The Vice-President of India stated that the North-East is vital for national unity, economic progress, and cultural essence.

About North-East Region 

• It consists of eight hilly states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, and Nagaland. 
• It shares a 5,812 km international border with China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
• It is connected to mainland India via the narrow Siliguri corridor, also known as the ‘chicken’s neck,’ which is just 22 km long.
• It has a diverse socio-ethnic landscape, home to numerous tribal groups that speak around 220 languages, each with unique societal and cultural traits

Importance 

• Strategic Location: It serves as a gateway to ASEAN markets, facilitating easy access to Southeast Asia.
• Abundant Natural Resources: It is rich in oil, gas, coal, minerals, timber, medicinal plants, and water resources, providing opportunities for industrial exploitation.
• India’s Green Hub: It boasts lush forests and biodiversity, making it ideal for ecotourism and agro-based industries.
• Diverse Cultural Heritage:It is home to unique ethnic communities and traditions, presenting investment opportunities in tourism and handicrafts.
• Low-Cost Manufacturing Hub: Competitive labor costs compared to other regions in India and globally.
• Skilled Workforce: Features a young, educated workforce proficient in English.
• Emerging Consumer Market: A growing consumer base with rising incomes and urbanization, creating significant business potential.

Issues and Challenges 

• The British colonial policies created boundaries to protect tribal interests, which have persisted in independent India, impacting economic development while preserving cultural identity.
• The region faces isolation, political violence, ethnic conflict, and inadequate infrastructure, complicating its integration into national development frameworks..
• Connectivity projects in the Northeast face delays, necessitating timely completion and a detailed assessment of ongoing initiatives and challenges.
• Concerns are raised  about the spread of unfounded information on public platforms 

Initiatives 

• The Look East and Act East policies enhanced communication, connectivity, and airport development in the region.
• Government Incentives offer various incentives, including tax holidays and subsidies, to encourage business growth.
• The Union Budget 2024 outlines a roadmap for India to achieve “Viksit Bharat” by prioritizing economic, industrial, and agricultural growth, particularly benefiting youth, women, and tribal communities in the Northeast.
  • The budget supports traditional artisans, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and women entrepreneurs through various schemes, including PM Vishwakarma and Stand up India. 
• The newly announced Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram scheme aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities, directly benefiting 5 crore people in 63,000 villages.
• Key projects like the Kaladan Multimodal project, India-Myanmar rail links, and the Trilateral Highway project are crucial for enhancing connectivity through the NER.

Conclusion 

• The NER is strategically important as it serves as a vital link between South Asia and Southeast Asia, with extensive international borders and unique socio-political dynamics.
• Despite various initiatives, significant challenges remain in improving connectivity in the NER, which need to be addressed to unlock the region’s full potential.
• There is a need to strengthen connections within the NER to address underdevelopment and marginalization and expand interactions between the NER and mainland India.
• Development of human resources and capacity building in the NER should parallel infrastructure development
• Skill development is essential for optimizing talent and enhancing human resources.

Source: PIB