Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hinted at a possible upgradation of the North Eastern Council (NEC) to a state-of-the-art resource centre, able to meet aspirations of the people of the region.
NEC was initiated in 1972 with an aim to provide a special platform for undertaking development initiatives in the north eastern region of the country.
“Perhaps, there is a need to re-orient and upgrade the NEC,” Modi said while addressing the plenary session of the Council here.
“To meet the growing aspirations of the people, it is important that the NEC introspects and assesses the extent to which it has been able to achieve its objectives,” he said, adding it needs to be developed as a “state-of-the-art resource centre for the north eastern states with necessary resources, knowledge and skills.”
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According to the Prime Minister, the resource centre could enable the states and implementing agencies to properly plan and execute projects, promote research and innovations and provide strategic policy vision for the region.
He said NEC could look into developing a specialised domain expertise, either by itself or through an agency model, to assist states and central ministries in their development planning and also problem solving needs.
“This will enable in imbibing good governance and best practices in the region,” he said.
Underlining the need for the NEC to concentrate on job generation, Modi said, “The NEC should also consider focusing on issues in emerging areas of livelihood, entrepreneurship, venture funds, start-ups and skill development.”
Governors and Chief Ministers of all NE states attended the two-day 65th plenary session of the NEC, held at the state-owned Pinewood Hotel’s convention centre here.
