Crucial NEC meet underway in Shillong

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that there has been a substantial improvement in the security scenario in the Northeast in the last four years. The Home Minister, who

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that there has been a substantial improvement in the security scenario in the Northeast in the last four years.

The Home Minister, who inaugurated the crucial 2-day plenary meet of the North Eastern Council in Shillong, pointed out that during the four years of NDA government insurgency related incidents declined by as much as 85 per cent when compared to the nineties.

Stating that private investment and economic activity would not flourish in the absence of peace and normalcy, Home Minister Rajnath Singh pointed out that that the year 2017 had the lowest insurgency incidents, security force casualties and civilian deaths since 1997 and there was marked improvement in security situation in state of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur while States of Tripura, and Mizoram are completely free from insurgency.

He added that it was due to this improvement in the security situation that AFSPA had been completely lifted from Meghalaya and its imposition reduced in Arunachal Pradesh.

Calling on the NEC and the respective state governments in the region to ensure completion of ongoing projects in a time bound manner the Home Minister advocated maximum utilization of funds in order to able the Council to approach the ministry of Finance for additional funds.

He also underlined the importance of the participation of civil society in the developmental process. Significantly, the Home Minister also advocated social audit of projects.

The two-day NEC meet which is being attended by all the governors and chief ministers of Northeast barring Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling, will also discuss the role of the Council on conflict resolution besides taking stock of the security situation in the eight states, most of which have international borders.

Besides discussions will be made on assessment of the Bamboo Mission for which the region is a major feed-stock source.

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