Pabitra Margherita says Nagaland has gained higher fiscal support and infrastructure growth under the Modi government.
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KOHIMA — Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita on Tuesday said Nagaland had witnessed increased fiscal support and infrastructure development under the BJP-led NDA government, asserting that the state and the Northeast had benefited from the Centre's focus on the region during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 12 years in office.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state head office in Kohima, Margherita said the Northeast had emerged as a priority region under the Modi government, with improvements in connectivity, welfare delivery and infrastructure.
Highlighting central assistance to Nagaland, he said that under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), 17 road projects worth INR 900 crore and 146 infrastructure projects worth INR 1,489 crore had been approved for the state.
He also stated that more than INR 10,037 crore had been allocated to Nagaland under various central schemes over the past decade.
Comparing fiscal transfers to the state, Margherita claimed that tax devolution to Nagaland increased from INR 5,405 crore during 2004-2014 to INR 59,327 crore during the Modi government's tenure, while grants-in-aid rose from INR 31,300 crore to INR 79,970 crore.
Calling the Northeast "the growth engine of modern India", he said the increase in fiscal support reflected the Centre's commitment to the region and demonstrated that development in Nagaland remained a priority.
Margherita said the completion of 12 years of the Modi government marked a significant milestone and highlighted a range of welfare and development initiatives implemented across the country.
He claimed that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty and that more than 81 crore beneficiaries were receiving free food grains under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
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Referring to Nagaland, he said he was informed during interactions with people from different walks of life that rice distributed under the scheme was popularly referred to as "Modi rice" in the state.
The minister also cited the construction of four crore pucca houses, provision of nearly 16 crore tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, distribution of around 11 crore LPG connections under the PM Ujjwala Yojana and sanctioning of 57 crore Mudra loans nationwide.
According to him, the Northeast had witnessed significant improvements in road, air and digital connectivity, as well as progress in health, education, sports, culture and tourism.
He said India had become the world's fourth-largest economy with growth exceeding 7%, while infrastructure expenditure had increased to INR 12.2 lakh crore. He also claimed that the national highway network had expanded from around 91,000 km to 1.46 lakh km and the number of airports had increased from about 74 to 164.
Margherita further highlighted the implementation of central schemes in Nagaland, including more than 4.13 lakh Jan Dhan accounts, over 7.7 lakh Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries, more than 1.2 lakh Ujjwala LPG connections, 3.42 lakh rural households covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission, more than 14 lakh beneficiaries under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and 1.8 lakh farmers covered under the PM-Kisan scheme.
During the press conference, he also outlined activities undertaken during his visit to Nagaland, including participation in a plantation and cleanliness drive at Kisama Heritage Village and a visit to the Handloom Marketing Complex under the Pragati Yatra programme.
As Minister of State for Textiles, he said the ministry had supported the construction and operation of the Handloom Marketing Complex at Kisama to provide a platform for artisans and weavers to showcase and market their products.
Margherita was accompanied by Advisor for Printing, Stationery and Prisons Kropol Vitsu and other BJP leaders.