NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal outlined the budget’s ambitious plans to elevate Northeast India’s economic and social landscape in a discussion on the Union Budget 2024 held in Shillong on July 28. The session brought together leaders from the business community, youth, and women to explore the budget’s potential impact on the region.
Sonowal highlighted the budget’s strategic focus on empowering Northeast India, which he described as a critical component of India’s vision to become a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). “The Union Budget 2024 sets a clear roadmap for advancing our region by focusing on the economic, industrial, and agricultural sectors,” Sonowal said. “Our dynamic Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has identified Northeast India as the ‘Astalakshmi’ and a new engine of India’s growth.”
A significant portion of the discussion also centred on the budget’s allocation for tribal communities. The budget has earmarked ₹13,000 crores, marking a nearly 200% increase in funding for tribal welfare. “This allocation will be used for the empowerment of our traditional artisans, craftspeople, and Self Help Groups, as well as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women entrepreneurs,” Sonowal noted. He also introduced the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram scheme, which aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of 5 crore tribal individuals across 63,000 villages.
The budget also emphasizes agricultural development in the Northeast, recognizing the region’s potential in natural farming and horticulture. Sonowal announced an allocation of ₹598 crores for eco-friendly sustainable agriculture projects. “We are working to unlock the tremendous potential of the Northeast in natural farming and horticulture. The introduction of 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient crop varieties will significantly enhance agricultural productivity and income generation,” Sonowal stated.
Infrastructure development is another key focus of the budget, with a notable provision of ₹19,338 crores dedicated to improving road and highway connectivity in the Northeast. This investment is expected to boost tourism and enhance overall connectivity in the region. “The capital expenditure on infrastructure will bolster the tourism potential of Meghalaya and the entire Northeast,” Sonowal emphasized.
ALSO READ: Rajendra Nagar tragedy: RAU’s IAS basement approved for storage, housed library
The Union Budget 2024 also aims to bolster job creation and industrial growth through the integration of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) with the Meghalaya Industrial & Investment Promotion Policy. “The DBT scheme will offer ₹15,000 in three instalments to first-time employees, which will stimulate industrial development and job creation in the state,” Sonowal explained. Additionally, the budget includes plans to upgrade 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and establish women’s hostels and creches to support the workforce, especially women.
The meeting also saw the participation of Alexander Hek, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Government of Meghalaya, further reflecting the collaborative efforts to advance regional growth.