Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) - Year End Review 2017

Bamboo Cultivation

This Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 was passed.
This exempted bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the definition of “Tree”.
The provision would help dispense with the requirement of obtaining a permit for felling of bamboo for economic use.
Notably, Bamboo was defined as a "Tree" under the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
This was a major impediment for bamboo cultivation by non-farmers on non-forest land.

Flood Management

NER witnessed unprecedented floods this year.
And the rainfall was more than 100% higher than that in the preceding months during the same period of time.
Responding to adverse conditions following floods, the Government constituted a high-level committee.
Formed under the Chairmanship of Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman, it is tasked with proper management of water resources in the region.
The Committee would facilitate optimising benefits of appropriate water management in the form of -

Innovation

There is a proposal to reorient and rejuvenate the North Eastern Council (NEC) in a new format.
This is with the objective for it to perform the role of an important resource-cum-research centre for the entire region.
And also to develop it as the hub of innovation for the upliftment of entire Northeast.
NEC was set up in early 1970s with the intention to give special focus to the development of this region.

Development

The Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) for Northeast was launched recently.
The scheme is aimed at benefitting the hilly areas of Manipur, Tripura and Assam.
The first meeting of the Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for DoNER was held in New Delhi.
Identified priority areas of cooperation include Connectivity and Road Network Development, Disaster Management, Food Processing, Organic Farming and Tourism.

Business

The 12th North-East Business Summit was organised in New Delhi.
It aimed to explore the scope for business opportunities in the North-Eastern region of India.
Focus areas were -

Infrastructure and Connectivity with Public Private Partnership
Skill Development
Financial Inclusion
Services Sector Development, particularly in Tourism, Hospitality & Food Processing

The Union Minister for Railways proposed to launch an e-commerce portal.
This was to facilitate the sale of NER handicrafts and handloom worldwide on the IRCTC website.
Besides, a joint initiative of Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd launched the North East Venture Fund.
The objective of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship and Start up in the North Eastern Region.
In the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Ministry of DoNER, MPs from the region highlighted the concerns with GST provisions.
The concerns were related to the impact on North Eastern handicrafts & handloom products, broom-sticks and bamboo products.

Health

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation is processing the DoNER Ministry's proposal to introducing a helicopter based Dispensary/OPD service.
This will facilitate health care services in far-flung and remote areas where no doctor or medical facility is available.
If approved, Northeast would get the India’s first-ever "Air Dispensary" based in a helicopter.

Cultural and Information Centre

An announcement was made on setting up of a North Eastern Cultural and Information Centre in Delhi.
This Centre will act as a cultural and convention/information hub of the North Eastern Region in Delhi.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had allotted a land to the North Eastern Council (NEC) for the purpose of construction of the Centre.

Organic Production

Conference titled “North East India: Organic Production Hub; Opportunities Unexplored” was organized during the World Food India 2017 in New Delhi.
Notably, NE region has numerous species and varieties of bamboo, banana and citrus fruits, and huge production of fruits such as pineapple and oranges.
It also has 3 Mega Food Parks in the states of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram.
The state of Sikkim has been recently declared the first Organic State of India.

Source: PIB