The Seven Sisters of India are relatively untouched, unexplored and isolated states of north east India often called the virgin sisters. North East states are heavily forested and land of tribes peoples. Ever since the independence, special polices have being formulated to bring these states close to other part of country. Though cultural difference is also a major reason for this detachment of the north-east states, south India and north India. Still north-east people have always being debated to be left-out.
These states are full of natural beauty,exotic places and wide variety of beautiful wild animals like rhinoceros, elephants and numerous species of birds. North east region consist of seven contiguous states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Northeast India is ethnically distinct from the other states of India. There is greater scope for revenue and development though Tourism. And government has always been promoting this sector.
The one another sector that needs special attention is agriculture. This is dependent on public investment. Public spending on irrigation and agricultural research and technology are critical for long term growth of the sector. Spending on agricultural extension system will enhance productivity in rural areas where most of the poor reside.
The budget needs to address the needs of farmers and give the agricultural sector top priority. Yields from farming have to be improved to provide for future generations of North-East region. We need to get better at employment generation, for this, private investment, too has to be encouraged.
While presenting Rail Budget 2016 he Said “better connectivity to the North Eastern States is of utmost priority for the Indian Railways” but did not announce any new scheme or even new train for the landlocked region.
The Indian Railways have opened the long-awaited BG Lumding-Silchar section in Assam, thus connecting Barak Valley with rest of the country. Probably, the budget to come would allocate towards road transport.
The Budget should be allocated appropriately for infrastructure development. Infrastructure development is the path building for rest all sectors. Some of the projects that should be given emphasis are- roads, rail, port facilities, power plants- hydroelectricity and solar, electricity, improved accessibility to potable water, improved facilities at hospitals, development of educational infrastructure, promote start-up and entrepreneurial ventures in the North-East region. The writer understands that the project that are mentioned in just one line are not that simple and quick to be drawn on paper and in reality, but hopes are high with Patience.
The government has been dwelling on social issues such as upliftment of the rural sector, mitigation of adverse weather effects on agriculture. The health sector should be given a substantial allocation in the budget and students of NE region encouraged studying medicine. To this effect, the cost of pursuing medical studies should be moderated.
Ending this article with the hope that the government would also look at innovative schemes and incentive private sector employment generation. Thus, the demographic dividend of the NE region could be better harvested and manufacturing should also be given boost.
