A total of Rs 53,705 crore has been allocated for the North East in the current fiscal for the development of the region, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh said today.
At a meeting with MPs from the region, Singh said the allocated funds includes 10 per cent of gross budgetary allocation for the DoNER and Rs 17,898 crore to be provided to the states as Special Plan Assistance, Special Central Assistance, Normal Central Assistance or Additional Central Assistance in addition to money being spent by Railways.
Singh said that in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special thrust on development of Northeastern region and his announcement during his recent visit to the Northeast to promote sports among the youth of the region, a National Sports University will be set up in Manipur for which government has provided Rs 100 cr.
The National Sports University Bill is planned to be introduced in Parliament along with the Draft Bill received from Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, he said.
In order to improve the internet and mobile connectivity, the Minister said a comprehensive telecom development plan for region has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 5,336.18 crore to provide 2G coverage in identified uncovered areas of the region and another Rs 100 crore is to be provided for organic farming.
For expanding road infrastructure in the region, Singh informed that a new scheme called 'North-East Road Development Corporation' has been initiated with an allocation of Rs 200 crore for the current year.
