‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is the core for growth of NE region – Experts

Dimapur, Sep. 26 (EMN): Experts are of the view that Atmanirbhar Bharat is at the core of the economic development and growth of Northeast region. They said this during a webinar organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati, on September 25.

A PIB report stated that experts from industry, government sector along with academicians deliberated and discussed about the potential of Northeast from multi-sectoral and policy perspective.

Enunciating the role of North Eastern Council (NEC), Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, NEC member, said that the arena of growth and development for the Northeast region is multi-faceted, which included tourism, science and technology, entrepreneur and business growth, cultural diversity and vivacity, cuisine and culinary talent of the region, silk and textiles, small and medium business sector, power and infrastructure sector, education and health and development of medical infrastructure among others.

He stated that the role of NEC for development of the region is evolving with its pivotal role in economic and social development of the North Eastern Region. Gogoi also stated that the Northeast has connectivity with many countries, resulting in a win-win scenario from perspective of trade and commerce with other South Asian countries.

He further stated that huge progress has been made in public awareness on Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and its efficacy in the Northeast.

Naresh Chandra Lal, ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan for Andamaan and Nicobar Islands, said that ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ and ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ have to be seen in synergy with the objectives to make people, especially the youth, aware about the importance of health and hygiene.

Lal stated that nutrition plays a vital role in the development of individuals and proper hygiene is essential for all age groups. He further suggested that the development of Northeast has to be seen from a multi-dimension such as better connectivity via road, rail, telecom, power and waterways sectors.

Prof. JS Rajput, former director of NCERT, observed that the government initiatives such as national education policy (NEP) and national recruitment agency will be a game-changer in the recruitment sector of Northeast.

Rajput was optimistic that various initiatives of the central government, be it proper education system and human resources (HR) development, are dovetailed for Atmanirbhar Bharat. He stated that the government’s endeavours such as ‘Destination North East’, ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan’ would help attain Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of being Aatma Nirbhar.

Rajput also stated that sports, tourism and culture of Northeast connect the people of the country and felt that the region has the potential to teach and enable others to learn best practices.

Prof. KG Suresh, vice chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism, Bhopal, lauded the progress made in Northeast from the perspective of education, media and communication, among others. He opined that government’s initiatives for encouraging Northeast’s tourism sector, entrepreneurship in bamboo sector along with its environmental diversity would help leverage growth and development of the region.

Director of PIB Imphal, Abhishek Dayal and the assistant director of PIB Kohima, Sonikumar were present during the webinar.

Altogether, 39 participants comprising students, eminent journalists and other government senior officials from Doordarshan Guwahati, Regional Outreach Bureau, Guwahati, All India Radio Guwahati attended the webinar.