NEC holds pre-plenary meeting on key regional development priorities ahead of 73rd session
Shillong, June 3
The North Eastern Council on Wednesday held a high-level pre-plenary meeting ahead of its 73rd plenary session in Shillong, with senior officials from the Centre and all eight northeastern states deliberating on key regional development priorities, including bamboo and agarwood value chains, youth exchange initiatives and inter-state collaboration.
The meeting, held at the State Convention Centre, was attended by Chief Secretaries, State Planning Secretaries, senior officials from the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), NEC officials and other stakeholders.
Opening the session, NEC Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla stressed the importance of coordinated regional planning and stronger inter-state cooperation to accelerate socio-economic growth across the Northeast.
He said the meeting provided a crucial platform for senior officials to discuss strategic initiatives and emerging opportunities that could drive sustainable and inclusive development in the region.
During the deliberations, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of DoNER Angshuman Dey made detailed presentations on the bamboo and agarwood value chains, while another Joint Secretary, Niraj Kumar, reviewed the performance of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan-Youth Exchange Programme (AD-YEP) under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative.
Officials highlighted the economic potential of the bamboo sector and outlined an actionable agenda for state governments to strengthen the bamboo ecosystem through improved quality control, market access and greater utilisation.
It was noted that the North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC) would play a key role in maintaining quality standards and facilitating market linkages.
States were also encouraged to ensure at least 5 per cent use of bamboo in public construction projects to promote sustainable and locally sourced materials.
The meeting also focused on the vast economic opportunities in the agarwood sector.
Officials said the Northeast accounts for nearly 96.6 per cent of India's agarwood resources, with Assam alone contributing around 82 per cent, equivalent to an estimated 114 million trees.
The discussions underscored the scope for value addition, processing, exports and entrepreneurship in the sector, especially as premium-grade agarwood oil commands prices of over Rs 10 lakh per kilogram in international markets.
Another major agenda item was the review of the AD-YEP programme, which concluded its first phase on April 10 this year.
Officials said the initiative engaged 530 students across 15 batches through 11 host institutions, covering 24 non-Northeastern states and Union Territories.
The programme was credited with fostering cultural understanding, academic exchange and stronger people-to-people ties between the Northeast and the rest of the country.
Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, Sanjay Jaju, reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to the holistic development of the Northeast and called for continued cooperation among all stakeholders to achieve shared developmental goals.
The pre-plenary meeting laid the groundwork for the 73rd NEC plenary session, where key regional development priorities are expected to be discussed further.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from outside the Northeast, the Ashtalakshmi Darshan-Youth Exchange Programme sounds like a wonderful initiative. It's crucial for building bridges between regions. I hope the second phase expands to include even more students—cultural understanding is the foundation of national unity. 🇮🇳
The bamboo in public construction mandate is a smart move, but 5% seems too low. Why not aim higher? The Northeast has such rich resources, yet we always talk about potential without scaling up. The NECBDC needs to be more proactive in creating export-ready bamboo products, not just setting standards.
Finally, some real discussion on agarwood! Assam's 114 million trees are an incredible asset, but we need to ensure farmers get fair prices, not just middlemen. The pre-plenary meeting should have included more local stakeholders and small-scale producers. Still, glad to see the Centre taking interest in these niche sectors.
Youth exchange is good, but 530 students across 15 batches is a drop in the ocean for a region of 45 million people. We need more grassroots-level programs, not just flagship initiatives. Also, the pre-plenary should have discussed connectivity—rail and air links are still a challenge for many northeastern states.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.