Context: Cabinet approves new Scheme Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26.

About PM-DevINE

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding.

• It will be implemented by the North Eastern Council (NEC) of India, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

• It was announced during Budget 2022–23.

• It will initially allocate Rs. 1,500 crore towards the development of North East India.

Objectives of the Scheme

• Fund infrastructure and social development projects as per the need of the region.

• Promote livelihood activities among the youth and women, and fill the gaps in various sectors in the region.

• Establish proper services for the management of cancer.

Projects Under PM-DevINE Scheme

• The government is highly focused on transport projects which are essential for the development of North-East India.

• A large portion of the funds are allocated for the construction of highways and rope-way systems.

• This Scheme covers eight projects, with funds earmarked for each project.

• Establishment of Services for the Management of Paediatric and Adult Haemotolymphoid Cancers in Guwahati

NECTAR Livelihood Improvement Project

• Promoting Scientific Organic Agriculture in North East Indian

• Construction of Aizawl By-pass on Western Side

• Gap funding for Passenger Ropeway system for Pelling to Sanga-Choeling in West Sikkim

• Gap funding for Eco-friendly Ropeway from Dhapper to Bhaleydhunga in South Sikkim

• Pilot Project for Construction of Bamboo Link Road in Various Districts of Mizoram

Significance of the PM-DevINE

• It will lead to creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects.

• It will create livelihood activities for youth and women, thus leading to employment generation.

• It will be implemented by Ministry of DoNER through North Eastern Council or Central Ministries/ agencies.

• To limit construction risks of time and cost overrun, falling on the Government projects would be implemented on Engineering-procurement-Construction (EPC) basis.

Significance of North Eastern Region

• India’s North Eastern Region (NER) comprises eight states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.

• The population of this region is over 45 million, which accounts for about 3.76% of India’s total population.

• The region covers 8% of India’s total land area and is endowed with natural resources such as oil and gas, and agro-horticultural resources, mineral deposits, and forest resources.

• It also has immense hydroelectric power potential.

• North Eastern Region Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) Growth (values in US$ billion)

• The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of NER increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from 2014–15 to 2018–19.

• India ranks 4th in the world in terms of tea exports, owing to NER.

• Over 50% of the tea produced in the country comes from NER.

• Thus, NER’s development is among the top priorities of the Indian government.

• To ensure that the government of India recently launched PM DevINE scheme for the development of NER.

Scheme would provide the following benefits to North-east region

Investments

• The scheme includes funding for projects in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and livelihood.

• This would help improve the standard of living of people in the region.

State-specific projects

• Mizoram-based projects such as Aizawl bypass and bamboo link roads suggest that Mizoram would be the biggest beneficiary of this initiative, followed by Sikkim.

• The Aizawl bypass is expected to reduce traffic and congestion.

• The construction of bamboo link roads for the transport of bamboo from forests would help bamboo growers in remote.

• These inaccessible areas connect better with the outside world, and promote local and regional development.

Healthcare

• Under the scheme, services for the management of paediatric and adult haemotolymphoid cancers would be established.

• This would help improve cancer care in the region.

Co-existence with other schemes

• The scheme would complement the existing schemes in the region rather than substituting any of them.

• Thus, the north-eastern states will continue to enjoy the benefits provided by the existing schemes.