Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that the Northeast is witnessing an unprecedented transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the region has emerged from decades of insurgency and underdevelopment to become one of India’s most promising growth engines.
Addressing the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, Shah said the foundation for a developed Northeast has been firmly laid over the last 12 years through sustained efforts to restore peace, strengthen connectivity, preserve cultural identity and accelerate economic development.
He remarked that apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no other Prime Minister had demonstrated such focused commitment towards the development and welfare of the Northeast. According to Shah, the region has undergone significant qualitative transformation, making it an emerging hub of opportunities and investment.
Highlighting the importance of peace as the cornerstone of development, Shah said the Centre had signed more than 12 peace accords over the past decade, bringing over 10,800 former insurgents into the national mainstream. He noted that insurgency-related violence has declined dramatically and civilian casualties in the region have fallen by 86 percent.
“Modi Government has been freed from the scourge of insurgency,” he said, adding the region has witnessed systematic infrastructure development over the last 12 years and that improved rail, road, and air connectivity has significantly reduced the distance between Delhi and the North East.
Shah said the Modi Government’s “Act East, Act Fast and Act First” policy has translated into tangible outcomes on the ground. He emphasized that the North East has not been left to fend for itself, and that its development has been pursued through a focused and committed approach.
Describing the Northeast as an “opportunity hotspot,” Shah said the region’s immense natural resources, strategic location and rich cultural heritage position it as a gateway to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
Shah stated that development cannot be achieved through budgetary allocations alone; it also requires a clear vision, sound planning, and meticulous monitoring of implementation. He noted that investment commitments worth approximately Rs 4.25 lakh crore have been secured for the Northeast, apart from those announced during Assam’s investment summit.
Major projects such as the Rs 27,000-crore semiconductor facility in Assam, the Namrup Ammonia-Urea Complex and the development of the Northeast as a healthcare hub are expected to drive economic growth across the region, he added.
According to a PIB release, the Home Minister urged all Northeastern states to strengthen the implementation of Single Window Clearance mechanism, develop multimodal logistics hubs at Guwahati, Imphal and Agartala, and focus on becoming self-reliant in the production of fish, eggs and milk.
Shah also announced that the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperation, would launch an ambitious programme to supply over 50,000 milch animals annually to Northeastern states beginning next financial year, while simultaneously building a strong cooperative ecosystem for milk collection and marketing.
Calling for a strategic approach to regional development, Shah said the that the North Eastern Council (NEC) should not function merely as a platform for the distribution of funds, but should evolve into an institution for strategic planning and long-term regional development.
He stressed that the Northeast’s diversity, comprising more than 200 tribal communities and nearly 200 languages and dialects, must be preserved and promoted. The Home Minister emphasized that the loss of even a single language or dialect from the North East would constitute a significant loss for the nation.
Shah urged all the states in the region to work with dedication and commitment to preserve the unique identity of the North East, stating that this cultural richness can become one of the region’s greatest strengths. The Home Minister said that under the PM-DevINE scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved cluster projects worth Rs 65 crore in Assam and Tripura, and that these initiatives should be developed as model projects for the region.
Shah urged states to actively pursue Geographical Indication (GI) tags for the region’s unique products, noting that nearly 215 products and crops from the Northeast have the potential to secure GI recognition. He suggested the creation of dedicated state-level task forces to expedite the process.
Shah also said that the North East is the ideal destination for the Healing India Mission, and called upon all states in the region to formulate comprehensive policies for wellness infrastructure and health tourism, leveraging the region’s natural advantages and rich traditional knowledge systems.
Shah said that the Government of India has formulated a special action plan with a ruthless approach to eradicate both the transportation and consumption of narcotics in the Northeast. He emphasized that all Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states should focus on making citizens aware of their constitutional rights and ensuring their protection, as insurgency in the region has been largely eliminated.
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The Home Minister said that the Northeast should make a fresh beginning in the area of routine policing.
“Protecting the rights of the poor, women, and children should be our priority,” he said and stressed the need to ensure timely justice under the new NayayaSanhita, promote the use of technology in the criminal justice system, enhance conviction rates through the application of forensic science, and establish a comprehensive framework encompassing online registration of cases and online testimony in courts, so that every citizen receives his or her rightful entitlements and justice.
Amit Shah said that the youth of the North East have the potential to excel in digital skills such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, Machine Learning, and Blockchain. He emphasized that efforts should be made to develop the entire North East into a major hub for the IT industry.
Shah further stated that the region possesses immense potential in both hydropower and solar energy, which can be leveraged for sustainable economic growth. The Home Minister also stressed the
need to attract data centres to the North East.
He said that this objective can be achieved by aligning the region’s education system, industrial development roadmap, and long-term vision for the utilization of its natural resources, thereby creating a strong foundation for a technology- driven economy.
