NORTH-EASTERN STATES

he north-eastern region (NER) of India, apart from being a biodiversity hotspot, is blessed with unparalleled ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity. The land of seven sisters and a brother, the NER is the most diverse part of a most diverse nation as it is the home of a large number of plain and hill tribal communities having their own independent cultures, traditions, livelihood practices, language and dialect. As for the linguistic diversity, in Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh around 23, 20 and 15 languages respectively are in use and Meghalaya is home to Khasi, Garo and Pnar/Jaintia languages. The languages used across the NER belong to five different language families, namely, Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Tibeto-Burman, Austro-Asiatic and Tai-Kadai. However, these languages are not recognised by the respective governments as the official languages.

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The Increasing pace of development in the NER is exerting massive pressure on the autonomous tribal communities in respect of their cultures, traditions, livelihood practices, languages & dialects and also on the biotic and abiotic components. As such some of these languages and dialects encompassing cherished civilizational discourses have already become vulnerable to moribund. The contributing factors to the vanishing of languages in NER are better job prospects in the English language, conversion to and impact of churches in the choice of lingua franca, inappropriate language policies framed for administrative conveniences, etc.

A language and its dialects are specific to ethnicity and are the carrier of discourse, intangible heritage and evolution of the ethnic culture. Besides, each language and dialect embodies the unique cultural and historical genius and living wisdom of the community. India is said to have already lost many languages. UNESCO has declared 197 Indian languages as endangered. Dialects in particular are on the verge of extinction. With the senior members of the tribal communities leaving for the heavenly abode, the dialects/expressions of these cultures are far less used and will eventually become extinct. Sustained preservation, continuous development and longevity of the culture cannot be ensured without a robust language code. Intangible cultural heritage emanates from ethnicity, psychological and mythological beliefs and experiences. Thus, it becomes of utmost necessity to preserve, promote and enrich the linguistic and dialectic diversity of the NER.

Nagaland govt to focus on equal opportunities for all

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The Nagaland government will establish community-owned old age Home daycare centres and District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC) in all the districts to provide equal opportunities to people in all spheres of life by 2030, according to the SDG vision document. Reducing inequalities is one of the 17 goals of the Nagaland SDG Vision 2030 document released by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio recently in the state capital. In Nagaland 1.5 per cent of the total Population (19.75 lakh 2011 Census) has at least one form of disability while around 7 per cent of the population is over the age of 60 years, maintained the Vision document. The document said that while many schemes are being implemented, ensuring an inclusive Society at a state-wide level is a difficult task.

Rough topography, poor connectivity in terms of Communication, transport and IT and lack of basic in the remote areas hamper service delivery, it said. Lack of care for mentally challenged, elderly, non-accessibility of bank accounts and aadhaar cards are some other challenges, which the Vision document said causes great difficulty in reaching out to those vulnerable populations especially those who are inhabited in remote locations, leaving them behind. The document also revealed that lack of community participation, cooperation and support and also ignorance of the various schemes by deserving beneficiaries are set back in delivering Services effectively.

The State Government by 2030 through the Department of Social Welfare hopes to establish community owned old age homes and day care centres in every district to cater to the needs of the increasingly neglected elderly populations. The government would initiate residential care to the mentally challenged for their Education, training, guidance, welfare and rehabilitation. It would also formulate schemes for ensuring EMPLOYMENT of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by government bodies, training and welfare of PWDs, relaxation of upper age limit, regulation of employment and creation of congenial work Environment and constitution of authority responsible for the administration of such schemes

Centre sanctioned 2,000cr for Tripura under JJM: Manik

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CM Manik Saha said the Centre has approved Rs 2,000 crore for the state under theJal Jeevan Missionto supply piped drinking water to households.

Saha thanked the PM and Union minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for approving Rs 2,000 crore to implement piped water scheme. At present, 56% of households of the state have piped water facility. I am glad to share that theUnion ministry of Jal Shaktihas approved Rs 2000 crore forTripuraunder JJM 2023-24 and the fund is more than total of Rs 1,930 crore Tripura received in the last 3 years, he said to the media.

Multi-crore waterway project to be developed in Mizoram to aid southern districts

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A multi-crore inland waterway transport project would be developed across a 23-km stretch on Mizoram’s Khawthlangtuipui-Tuichawng rivers to cater to the needs of the southern districts, a senior official said. The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 6.17 crore as first installment of the Rs 22.93-crore project, he said. The official said this at a meeting, where Union Minister of and Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed ongoing projects in Mizoram.

The economic potential of Mizoram as well as that of the northeast can be unlocked by developing our waterways and strengthening our logistical access to the world market

Initiatives by MDoNER for development Tourism sector in NER

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Promotion of tourism in the North Eastern Region (NER) is a high-priority focus sector of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. Sustainable Tourism is emerging as a key driver of faster economic Growth, as it does not suffer from the extra transportation costs and the resultant non-competitiveness of other economic activities in the NE Region. The natural beauty and Environment, rich and Fauna assets, distinctive lifestyles and adventure settings, diverse culture & tradition etc. are Resources being tapped for boosting tourism with spin-offs for job creation, Investment and trade, Infrastructure development and social inclusion for Women, youth and local communities etc.

Under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), 80 projects have been sanctioned for Rs.2598.15 crore up to 31stMarch 2022, for tourism related infrastructure relating to connectivity, power and water supply in the Region. Moreover, 63 tourism development for Rs. 302.51 crore were sanctioned through NEC up to financial year 2021-22.

North Eastern States Roads Investment Program

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The North Eastern States Roads Program, launched in 2011, aims to build 433 km long roads in six northeastern states.

Highlights:

The Northeastern states are Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim.
Around 36 lakh people are benefited from the project, which will be completed by August 2022.
North East requires special consideration as contrasted to the rest of India. One such case is that Assam is the world largest tea producer, but it lags behind industrialisation.
North Eastern citizens feel alienated from the rest of the country because of a lack of modern Infrastructure, less exposure, POVERTY-and-Unemployment“>Poverty and Unemployment.
For the preceding reasons, it is necessary to increase the connectivity in the region, which is needed to control the insurgency.
The North Eastern Council focuses on building 10,500 km in the region. Under the NEC, a new scheme called North East Road sector development was launched. It mainly focuses on Arunachal Pradesh.

Meghalaya to gain from PM-DevINE

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TheBJP, which is part of the rulingMeghalayaDemocratic Alliance, has said the state would benefit from the recently approved Prime Ministers Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme entailing full central funding.

Pointing out that the central BJP government has earmarked Rs 6,600 crore under this scheme to be spent in the next four years, state BJP presidentErnest Mawrieexpressed confidence that Meghalaya would be a major beneficiary of this scheme.

The northeastern region has gained focus only afterNarendra Modibecame Prime Minister in 2014, and now with this new scheme, PM-DevINE, the region will experience a fresh bout of development and Growth, Mawrie said and expressed his gratitude to the PM.

Mizoram’s Covid-19 situation has improved following a dip in the daily caseload and active cases, while witnessing the highest recovery rate in the entire northeast region for weeks.

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The state logged eight new cases in the last 24 hours and the daily test positivity rate (TPR) was 11.28% as against the national Average of 2.76%. Mizoram reported the second highest number of active cases at 184. The recovery rate stood at 99.62%, followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 99.5%.

Arunachal Pradesh launches Two Agri schemes

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Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, launched two ambitious schemes on September 3, 2021.
One scheme was launched in Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture sector, called Atmanirbhar Krishi Yojana, and

Second scheme was launched in sector, called Atmanirbhar Bagwani Yojana.

Both the schemes are part of the Atmanirbhar programme that was announced by central government during the budget session of 2021.

Rs 120 crores has been allocated to Atmanirbhar Krishi Yojana and Rs 60 crores allocated for Atmanirbhar Bagwani Yojana.

This scheme is the subsumed version of erstwhile Chief Ministers Sashakt Kisan Yojana and Chief Ministers Samuh Yojana. This subsumed scheme gives more thrust and comprises more provision of bank loan. Similarly, the Atmanirbhar Bagwani Yojana is the updated version of Chief Ministers Sashakt Kisan Yojana.

Both of the schemes are unique because both based on front-ended subsidies. Under the scheme, credit link will be provided to the beneficiaries by the State Bank Of India, Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank (APRB) and Arunachal Pradesh Cooperative Apex Bank. Under the scheme, 45 percent will be provided as government subsidy, 45 percent as bank loan while only 10 percent will have to be borne by the farmer.

To avail the schemes, no land document such as land possession certificate (LPC) will be required for SHGs. They just require simple certificate like EAC, CO or BDO concerned. Also, there will be no collateral with respect to individual schemes to get loan up to Rs 1.60 lakh. For SHGs, no collateral will be required for loans up to Rs 10 lakhs.

Schemes will be implemented by:

State level committee headed by the chief secretary and

District level committees headed by the deputy commissioners.

Chief ministers of Mizoram and Assam talked about amicably resolving the inter-state border standoff.

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Sources said Union Home minister Amit Shah had asked both states to ensure peace and sort things out amicably. The clashes in which six Assam policemen died had erupted days after Shah discussed the inter-state border disputes in the Northeast with the chief ministers of the region.

The border dispute between Assam and Nagaland dates back to 1963 when Nagaland was carved out of Assam.

Sources said an agreement on the lines of the Assam-Nagaland pact, where the state forces would withdraw and their space would be taken up by neutral force to maintain order, might be reached. Both states will also maintain status quo on the border, not allowing any fresh encroachment or construction till a final decision is taken.

Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts of Assam share a border with Mizorams Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts. The border dispute started after Mizoram was carved out of Assam in 1972. The length of the border is 164km.

While Mizoram claims the inner-line reserve forest area as the actual boundary between the two states, Assam relies on the constitutional boundary drawn by the Survey of India in 1933. Mizoram says the 1933 boundary had been imposed on it.

The inner-line reserve forest was notified in 1875 under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. It was demarcated by the British to protect tribal land and not allow non-tribals to intrude.