In a notable address during the Rajya Sabha session on, DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia outlined a major policy shift regarding the Northeast region.
Responding to a query from Manipur MP Leishemba Sanajaoba about developmental initiatives, Scindia asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has been repositioned from “the last point of Bharat” to “the first point of Bharat” in terms of national focus and development over the past decade.
Scindia underlined the region’s enhanced significance in Bharat’s historical, cultural, and economic landscape, particularly spotlighting Arunachal Pradesh.
He presented key financial figures to support this transformation:
Cumulative Expenditure: Over the past decade, the Northeast has received a cumulative expenditure of ₹5.22 lakh crores, exceeding the initially allocated ₹5.15 lakh crores.
Revised Estimates: The budget estimates for the region have increased from ₹27,539 crores to ₹91,802 crores, reflecting a 3.5-fold rise over ten years.
Actual Expenditure: Expenditure in the region has also grown 3.5 times during this period.
Scindia noted that this level of investment is unprecedented in Bharat’s post-independence history. Although he did not detail specific projects by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in the past three years, his remarks indicate a significant shift in policy and resource allocation towards the Northeast.
