Modi govt. changed emotional disconnect with NE — President

New Delhi, Jan. 31 (PTI/IANS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said more than the physical distance of the Northeast with Delhi, it was the emotional disconnect that had disheartened the people of the region and the Modi government has transformed it through tireless work in the last five years.

Kovind also said the recently signed Bodo agreement will bring to an end to the five-decade old complex problem. “More than the physical distance of the Northeast from Delhi, it was the emotional disconnect that disheartened the people of the region. My government has transformed this situation by working tirelessly during the last five years,” he said addressing the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament.

The President said the Central and Assam governments have recently signed a historic agreement with Bodo organisations to bring an end to the five decade-old Bodo dispute. “With this agreement, a complex problem, that has claimed more than 4,000 lives, has been resolved. After this agreement, the government will spend INR 1,500 crore for the development of Bodo community,” he said. Similarly, Kovind said, another landmark agreement signed by Tripura, Mizoram, the central government and the Bru community has not only resolved a decades-old problem but has also ensured a secure life for thousands of people belonging to the Bru community.

The government on Monday had signed an accord with the NDFB and two other outfits, providing political and economic benefits without acceding to the demand for a separate state or Union Territory, with an aim to bring permanent peace in the Bodo-dominated areas in Assam.

On January 16, another agreement was signed providing permanent settlement in Tripura for more than 30,000 displaced Bru tribals from Mizoram, who have been living as refugees in Tripura since 1997. The deal was signed by representatives of Bru, the central, Tripura and Mizoram governments in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here.

Four NE state capitals to be in rail network

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday hailed the Indian Railways for manufacturing Train 18 sets under the “Make In India” scheme, and said by 2022, the capital cities of Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland will be connected to the rail network.

Addressing the joint session of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session, the President said: “North East connected in the right sense by my government by constant hard work, increasing connectivity, infrastructural development, building rail networks at an unparalleled speed.”

He said because of the “untiring efforts” of the government by the year 2022, the capital cities of Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland will be connected.

“And work is in full swing on Agartala-Akola rail link,” Kovind said.

The President also spoke about the cabinet’s decision of organisational restructuring of the railways through the unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS).

He said: “Recently, the management of Indian Railways has also been restructured by my Government. This will ensure transparency, better coordination and working style, and swift decision making.”

On December 24, the Union Cabinet approved the organisational restructuring of the railways through the unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service called the IRMS.

After changes in the railway officials structure, the Chairman, along with four members responsible for infrastructure, operations and business development, rolling stock and finance, respectively, will form the Railway Board.

The Chairman will be the cadre controlling officer responsible for Human Resources (HR) with assistance from a Director General (HR).

Talking about the Train 18 sets, which has been put into service after rechristening it as the Vande Bharat Express, Kovind said: “Make in India is being encouraged in the railways. Construction of modern trains being made entirely in India in the form of Vande Bharat and Tejas Express is in full swing.”

The railways has floated the tenders for 44 new sets of the Vande Bharat Express. Currently two Vande Bharat Express trains are plying between New Delhi and Varanasi and New Delhi-Katra.