North Eastern Council under Ministry of Home Affairs will benefit North-east: DoNER Minister

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, July 10: The Union Minister of State in charge of DONER, Jitendra Singh said that bringing the North Eastern Council (NEC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs will give an added advantage to the North-eastern region.

In a brief chat with media persons soon after the concluding plenary function of the NEC in Shillong on Tuesday, Jitender Singh was specifically asked on the intention of the government for the bifurcation. The question is on how MHA deal beyond its own domain when the NEC is an institution mandated to cater to the socio–economic development of the eight sister states.

Jitender Singh said, “this will give an added advantage in dealing with issues of law and order, interstate conflicts, drugs, drugs trafficking and other issues of great concern to the region, ” adding that the NEC coming under the Union Home Ministry will give a extra teeth to the fourty years old institution. He did elaborate further even while journalist pushed with questions on whether the North east is being viewed as a conflict zone. On bein asked further questions, the Minister dodged and simply answered that the NEC fundings to the state will henceforth be 100% and it will be no more on a 90%-10% share ( Union and States) besides adding that the 28 % hike in the budget will go a long way to achieve the long cherish development.