Above remark was made while laying the foundation stone for Kaziranga Elevated Corridor Project and during PM’s visit to Kaziranga National Park (KNP), Assam.
- Located in Assam, KNP is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in Brahmaputra Valley floodplain known for one-horned rhinoceroses.
Significance of NER
- Natural and Geo-Strategic frontier: Region is surrounded by natural frontiers like Eastern Himalaya or Arunachal Himalaya, south-eastern hills (Patkai, Naga, etc.) and has international boundary with China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Region serves as Gateway to Southeast Asia with Siliguri’s Chicken Neck connecting the region with rest of India, serving as a critical spot.
- Rich depository of Natural Resources: Agro-horticultural and forest resources, hydroelectric potential, oil and natural gas, etc., making it well-positioned for industrial growth and expansion.
- Diplomatic Potential: Furthering India’s flagship policies like ‘Act East’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ and is pivotal to India’s Indo-Pacific policy.
Key Initiatives for the development of NER
- Peace and Security: Bodo Peace Accord, 2020; Karbi-Anglong Peace Accord, 2021; Assam-Meghalaya boundary agreement, 2022, etc.
- Infrastructure and Economic Development: Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI-2024); Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE), etc.
- Agriculture and Farming: Mission Organic Value Chain Development for NER, etc.
- Social Cultural development: North East District SDG Index by NITI Ayog; Inscription of Assam’s Moidams in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, etc.
