Amit Shah Leads 72nd NEC Plenary Meeting in Agartala

On December 21, 2024 Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently chaired the 72nd NEC Plenary Meeting (Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council) in Agartala, Tripura. This was a very important event, as Tripura hosted this important meeting for the first time since 2008.

Let’s find out what happened during this session and why it is so important for the Northeast region.

Why Was This Meeting Held?

The NEC plenary session is held to bring together central ministries, governors, chief ministers, and other officials from the northeastern states to discuss development plans and strategies. The main aim of this meeting was to review ongoing projects, plan new government schemes, and improve coordination between states and the Central Government for the region’s development.

What Happened During the Meeting?

1. Pre-Plenary Technical Session (December 20, 2024):
   A day before the plenary, a technical session was held where central ministries presented their plans for the development of northeastern states. This session helped lay the groundwork for the discussions in the plenary meeting.
   
2. Key Participants in the Meeting:
   • Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and NEC Chairman.
   • Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
   • Sukanta Majumder, Minister of State for DoNER.
   • Governors and Chief Ministers from all eight northeastern states, including:
     • Manik Saha (Tripura)
     • Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam)
     • Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh)
     • N. Biren Singh (Manipur)
     • Lalduhoma (Mizoram)
     • Neiphiu Rio (Nagaland)
     • Prem Singh Tamang (Sikkim)
       
3. Discussions and Agendas:
   • Discussing future development plans that include collaboration between two or more northeastern states.
   • Improving coordination between the central and state governments to make project implementation more effective.

What is the NEC?

The North Eastern Council (NEC) is a regional planning body that was set up under the North East Council Act, 1971. It was formally inaugurated on November 7, 1972, by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Shillong, Meghalaya.

• Initially, it included 7 northeastern states: Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.
• In 2002, Sikkim became the eighth member after an amendment to the NEC Act.

Key Functions of the NEC

• The NEC is responsible for creating regional development plans that benefit multiple states.
• It reviews and coordinates the implementation of these plans with the central and state governments.
• While the NEC gives advisory recommendations, they are not binding.

Why is This Meeting Important?

1. Focusing on Development:
   The meeting provided an opportunity to evaluate what is working in the development efforts of the North-Eastern States as well as what needs to be improved.
2. Strengthening Coordination:
   By bringing all key players—central ministries, state governments, and the NEC—together, the meeting aimed to improve teamwork and faster implementation of projects.
3. Highlighting Tripura’s Role:
   Hosting this session after 16 years shows that Tripura is becoming a key player in the development of the northeastern region.
4. Act East Policy:
   The NEC plays an important role in connecting northeastern states with Southeast Asia, boosting trade and cultural exchange under the Act East Policy.

To Sum-Up

This plenary session was not just a formal meeting but focused on accelerating development in the Northeast region. Under the guidance of leaders like Amit Shah and J. Scindia and with the active participation of all the Northeast states, the NEC is ensuring better planning and coordination for the development of the region.

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