PM-DevINE: Rs 6600 Cr Scheme for Northeast India

NEW DELHI: The union cabinet today put the stamp of approval on the new PM-DevINE scheme. It stands for Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region. And it was announced at the beginning of this year.

The Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the central government. This scheme is to be implemented during the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission. That means the scheme comes to force in the 2022-23 financial year till the 2025-26 financial year. This will allow an outlay of Rs.6,600 crore within this term.

Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region is an addition to the existing set of resources already available for the development of the Northeastern region. This will mean that this fund is not a substitute for any existing schemes from the center or any of the states of the region.

Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region will target the creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects, and create livelihood activities for the youth and women, with a special focus on job creation. These projects will also include the development of basic infrastructure in all primary healthcare centers and government schools of the Northeastern States.

Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), through the North Eastern Council or central ministries and agencies. Steps will be taken to complete the projects by the financial year 2025-26 so that there are no committed liabilities beyond this year.

"The justification for the announcement of PM-DevINE is that the parameters of N-E states in respect of Basic Minimum Services (BMS) are well below the national average and there are critical development gaps as per the NER District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2021-22 prepared by NITI Aayog, UNDP and MDoNER,'' mentioned a statement from DoNER.

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