Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed 'Geographic Equity' for balanced development across India at a NITI Aayog meeting. Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu also sought special policy support for the Northeast, advocating for revised funding criteria and enhanced regional support.
The proposals highlight a growing focus on regional development disparities within India, with leaders from the Northeast seeking tailored policies and funding to address unique geographical and strategic challenges, potentially influencing future national development strategies and resource allocation.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed a new development approach called 'Geographic Equity' during a NITI Aayog meeting with North Eastern states' leaders. Sarma argued that India's path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 must ensure that economic growth benefits all regions, not just accelerate overall expansion. He highlighted the significant progress made in the North East under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, including improvements in connectivity, infrastructure, and the implementation of the Act East Policy.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also participated in the high-level interaction, advocating for special policy interventions and enhanced support mechanisms to address his state's unique developmental and strategic challenges. Khandu emphasized the need for dedicated infrastructure support due to Arunachal Pradesh’s vast geographical expanse and strategic significance, noting that its large area and difficult terrain pose unique developmental constraints. He called for a review of population-based funding criteria, suggesting alternative criteria that better reflect ground realities for sparsely populated but geographically large states.
Khandu informed the meeting about Arunachal Pradesh's ambitious target of generating 40,000 MW of hydropower by 2047 and sought coordinated support to sustainably harness this potential. He also stressed the importance of skilling local youth and promoting ancillary industries to maximize employment generation from hydropower investments. Khandu requested NITI Aayog to explore mechanisms to bridge the gap in externally aided projects for Arunachal Pradesh, as the state has not benefited to the same extent as other North Eastern states.
Furthermore, Khandu strongly advocated for the creation of a separate All India Services cadre for Arunachal Pradesh, proposing a joint cadre arrangement with Mizoram, a suggestion that received support from the Mizoram Chief Minister. In a significant suggestion aimed at strengthening regional planning, Khandu proposed that the Northeastern Council (NEC) be empowered to function as the 'NITI Aayog of the Northeast,' playing a larger role in addressing region-specific challenges and coordinating development priorities.