NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will address a press conference in the national capital tomorrow to highlight the ministry’s major achievements and unveil its strategic roadmap for the coming year.
Officials said the session will highlight the government’s focus on transforming the eight Northeastern states—often referred to by the prime minister as “Ashta Lakshmi”—into engines of balanced national growth through infrastructure expansion, connectivity enhancement, and private-sector participation.
Sources within the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) said Mr. Scindia is expected to present updates on the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE), which has funded projects in healthcare, road and bridge construction, education, and livelihood generation. Since its launch in 2022, PM-DevINE has sanctioned over ₹8,000 crore worth of projects aimed at improving living standards and connectivity.
The minister is also likely to highlight ongoing efforts to simplify scheme guidelines, rationalize fund flows, and strengthen coordination with state governments and line ministries for faster implementation. A special emphasis is expected on projects enhancing air, rail, and digital connectivity, including new airport terminals in Imphal and Agartala and optical fiber expansion across the region.
Other focus areas will include promoting startups, skill development, and tourism, as well as strengthening border trade links under the Act East Policy to integrate the region more closely with Southeast Asian markets. Mr. Scindia is also expected to outline new targets under his vision of “Viksit Purvottara” (Developed North East), with attention to sustainable livelihoods, women-led enterprises, and value-addition in handloom and handicrafts for global exports.
The briefing comes as the ministry works to translate large-scale budgetary allocations— including the mandatory 10% Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) earmarked by all non-exempt central ministries—into tangible outcomes on the ground.
The event is part of the government’s wider communication drive to showcase progress in regional development and reinforce transparency and accountability in the execution of key national programs.
