Home Minister Rajnath Singh called for increased security along with development for the Northeastern states and assured “all possible support” from the Centre.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a dream of New India by 2022. The dream will be realised with the vision of a ‘New Northeast’. The road to ‘New India’ will go through a developed and peaceful ‘New Northeast’,” said Singh.

Delivering his concluding remarks on the last day of the two-day plenary session of North Eastern Council (NEC) at Shillong in Meghalaya, the Home Minister set employment and income generation as the top priorities for all states in the Northeast.

He said the states should strive to create a “conducive environment for private investments which should make the investors feel safe”.

Singh, who chaired the session, said investments in the region would get a major boost if the problems of the investors were addressed.

“Law and order is a state subject and the Northeastern states will need to focus on it. The Centre will provide all possible assistance and help the Northeastern states in improving policing infrastructure,” he said.

“The North Eastern states should capitalise on the prevailing peaceful scenario to improve the law-order situation and strengthen policing in the region,” he added.

Underlining the progress made through road connectivity, Singh said that both highways and “I-ways” are needed for the overall development of the Northeast.

“We need Information Technology pathways for better connectivity. The economic potential of the region will be realised with better connectivity,” he said at the session attended by the Chief Ministers of all the Northeastern states.

“If we can provide quality broadband services in the region, the youth of the Northeast will find the employment opportunities closer to their home. It would also stop the migration of local youth to distant areas of the country,” he said.

“We also need to focus on skill development. The ITIs and Polytechnic institutes should play a role in skill development. NEC should also consider opening a Regional Institute for skill development in the region,” suggested the Home Minister.

Singh said there was need to “chalk out a plan with effective implementation in a time bound manner” in areas where there is potential for development.

“We need prevent leakages in the system and ensure total transparency and accountability. I urge the CMs of all North Eastern states to work towards this end with missionary zeal,” he said.