Nitin Gadkari has finally shone a light on India’s dark North East area, one that has been relatively neglected by Central governments for years. The Minister for Road Transport and Highways has stated that there will be development of road and rail connectivity, as well as strong power and communications networks, which will help develop the region known as the Seven Sisters.
The North East of India has always been culturally strong but poorly developed. As a result, most youth from many states, including Assam, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and others, leave their homes and seek employment elsewhere in India. With good infrastructural development, as envisaged by the union minister, there might be better employment opportunities, which will in turn lower migration to the rest of India. This infrastructure will attract industries and boost the region’s economic development.
If Narendra Modi’s Make In India programme has to succeed, there has to be a sort of levelling of the playing ground as far as India goes. All regions have to be developed better and brought on one forum, with the help of better physical and virtual connectivity. Once this happens, there could be great intellectual property that comes out of these regions.
Since the cultural fabric of the North East is robust, the creative quotient of that region is high. It would be ideal to boost this region so as to tap the potential that comes out of it.
