Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman revealed that funding for externally aided projects in Northeast India has increased seven-fold under the current government. Speaking at a conference in Shillong, she noted that central support surged from roughly 9,000 crore rupees between 2004 and 2014 to nearly 76,000 crore rupees for the 2014 to 2026 period.
Sitharaman emphasized that these projects represent more than just financial loans. "When we speak of EAPs, we are not speaking merely of loans or project costs but of a development model that combines central support, state execution and global expertise for the benefit of local communities," she said. These initiatives aim to improve market access for regional artisans and farmers while bolstering infrastructure, including the construction of over 10,000 kilometers of roads since 2014.
The event drew top leadership from across the region, including the Chief Ministers of Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Tripura. During the session, Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for new projects in Meghalaya valued at 1,246 crore rupees. These investments target logistics, school infrastructure, and eco-tourism.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma reported that the state currently manages over 12,000 crore rupees in active externally aided projects. While acknowledging the growth, Sitharaman urged officials to focus on better project management, increased private sector participation, and improved inter-agency coordination to ensure these resources successfully translate into long-term economic prosperity for the region.
Comments