Guwahati: A glimpse into NE before the Union Budget 2023-24

The government has approved plans from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) with an expenditure of Rs. 12,882.2 billion for the remaining time under the 15th Finance Commission (2022-23 to 2025-26).

Insurgency occurrences have decreased by 74%, security personnel have been attacked 60% fewer times, and civilian deaths have decreased by 89% in the northeast, according to a news release from the ministry. A better future for themselves and their families has been ushered in by the surrender of almost 8,000 youth and their integration into society.

The funds available for spending in the following four years through 2025–26 are Rs 19,482.20 crore, compared to the actual expenditure under MDoNER programmes over the past four years of Rs 7,534.46 crore (2.60 times approx). Improved connection has been the primary goal of significant infrastructure development activities in the area.

Rs 51,019 crore has been invested since 2014 to increase rail connection.

Additionally, funding for 19 additional projects totaling Rs 77,930 crore has been approved. In the last eight years, the average annual budget allocation for railroads has increased by 370 percent to Rs 9,970 crore from an average of Rs 2,122 crore during the years 2009 to 14. 375 projects totaling Rs. 1.05 lakh crore are being worked on to increase road connectivity. 9,476 km of roads will be built during the next three years as part of 209 projects. The central government would invest Rs 106,004 crore on this.

The northeast has seen a significant improvement in air connectivity. Today, aviation traffic in the northeast has grown by 113% since 2014. (weekly basis). A total of Rs 2,000 crore would be spent in civil aviation in the northeast to further improve air connectivity.

The Cabinet has also approved 4G connection in 4,525 communities in the northeast area to improve telecom connectivity.

The Indian government is also making every effort to develop the waterways in the northeast.

There was just one national waterway in the area prior to 2014. The Northeast already has 20 rivers designated as national waterways. The National Waterway 2 and National Waterway 16 construction recently received funding of about Rs 600 crore.

Between 2014 and 2021, over Rs 190 crore was invested on improving the region's infrastructure for talent development and converting current government ITIs into model ITIs. There are now a total of 193 new skill development institutes. An amount of Rs 81.83 crore was spent on skill development. 16,05,801 individuals have received training overall through various programmes.

Micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSME) have been supported by a number of programmes to encourage the growth of entrepreneurship. 978 units have received help or setup costs of Rs 645.07 crore. Since 2014–15, the government has invested Rs 31,793.86 crore in the health sector. The government has invested Rs 14,009 crore since 2014 to support higher education in the northeast.

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