Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, Meghalaya. The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight Northeastern states, along with senior officials including Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan and MDoNER Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju.
Shah highlighted that under the Modi government, peace has been established in the Northeast through more than 12 peace accords, resulting in over 10,800 youth laying down arms and an 86% reduction in civilian casualties over the past 12 years. Infrastructure development has significantly improved rail, road, and air connectivity, reducing both physical and emotional distance between the region and the rest of India.
The region has attracted investments worth approximately ₹4.25 lakh crore, including major projects such as a semiconductor plant in Assam with investment of around ₹27,000 crore and the Namrup Ammonia-Urea Complex. The Sabroom Land Port and customs centres in Meghalaya and Mizoram are expected to enhance trade with Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific countries.
Shah urged complete implementation of the High-Level Task Force recommendations for regional development and emphasized monthly review of Single Window Clearance Systems by Chief Ministers and Governors. States were directed to achieve self-reliance in fish, eggs, and milk production, with NDDB planning to supply over 50,000 milch animals annually from next financial year alongside developing cooperative networks.
The government has formulated a special action plan with a "ruthless approach" to eliminate narcotics trafficking in the Northeast. The region possesses 215 potential Geographical Indication (GI) tagged products, and each state should establish dedicated task forces to facilitate GI tagging processes. The Northeast is also identified as an ideal destination for the Healing India Mission, with states encouraged to develop wellness infrastructure and health tourism policies.
Shah emphasized developing the Northeast as a hub for AI, data analytics, machine learning, and blockchain innovations, leveraging the region's education and digital infrastructure. The region's hydropower and solar energy potential should be utilized to attract data centers and support sustainable economic growth. Cultural preservation of over 200 tribal communities, 195 dialects, and traditional knowledge systems was highlighted as a priority, with PM-DevINE scheme approving cluster projects worth ₹65 crore in Assam and Tripura as model initiatives.