Former Member of Parliament, H T Sangliana, on Tuesday lashed out at the Ministry for Development of North-East Regions (DoNER) for not making enough efforts to develop the ‘seven sisters’.
Speaking at the two-day conclave on North-East States, conducted by DoNER, MP Sangliana said that although the states have to immediately see development, the ministry is not focussed on the idea.
“The north-eastern states have a lot of potential and are a good market for investments in education and healthcare. But even after receiving funds, enough work is not being done,” Sangliana said. He further said that the NE states need better roads, but do not have the raw material required to build them.
M Rafeeque Ahmed, president, Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO), said the conclave was being organised to give exposure to the economic, social and cultural strengths and potential of north- eastern states and find ways to strengthen the economy.
“A huge constraint to accelerated growth in this region is poor infrastructure which affects road, rail and air connectivity, cyber and telecom connectivity and power. Economic development can take place by encouraging private investment in productive sectors,” he said.
Rafeeque Ahmed stressed on the need for bold policies to be initiated by the Central and State governments.
These include declaring certain areas of the north-east as free trade areas and a strategy for creating a growth quadrangle with the north-east, Myanmar, south-west China, northern Thailand and Bangladesh.
Arvind Madhav Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, was also present at the conclave.