Question : REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE OF SCHEMES

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the performance of the schemes recently allocated under the Ministry of DoNER and if so, the details thereof, State-wise ;

(b) whether in spite of additional allocation of funds for development projects in the North-Eastern States, the region still lags behind in several aspects as compared to the other regions of the country and if so, the reasons therefor ;

(c) whether the Government proposes to give special emphasis for creation of infrastructural facilities in each of the North-Eastern States ;

(d) if so, the funds allocated for the purpose under various projects during the current year in the region ; and

(e) the initiatives taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for rapid and balanced development of the region ?

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is in the process of reviewing the performance of recently allocated schemes.

(b) to (e) Sir, it is true that the region still lags behind the nation in development parameters including agriculture, industry, infrastructure and connectivity largely due to its geographical disadvantages that were accentuated after the partition of the country. Although the growth of State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) was higher than the national average, these legacy problems remain. The Government lays great emphasis on the creation of adequate infrastructure facilities in the North Eastern States including for power availability, connectivity by road, rail, air, inland waterways and telecommunications and has regularly taken up a variety of projects in all these sectors to bring the level of facilities on par with the rest of the country and to closely integrate the region within the country. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has been assigned Rs. 200 crore in the current year for North Eastern Roads, which is in addition to projects taken up under funding programmes of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (Central & State), North Eastern Council and North Eastern States Road Investment Programme.