Digital Desk: The Union Budget 2025, presented in the Lok Sabha on Saturday by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, provided a significant upliftment to the North Eastern Region (NER) with a 47.6 percent increase to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). The budget allocated Rs 5,915 crore for the development of the NER region for FY 2025-26.
Air Connectivity: The allocation aims at the infrastructure, connectivity, industry, and social welfare in the NER. Under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, the government is aiming to expand flight connectivity through small airports and helipads to the hilly and remote places of the Northeast. It also focuses on the target of an additional four crore passengers in the next 10 years.
Urea Plant in Assam: A urea plant is announced to establish at Namrup of Dibrugarh district to increase agricultural productivity. The plant will produce 12.7 lakh metric tons of urea per annum.
Power Sector Reforms: An additional 0.5 % of GSDP borrowing is allowed for states implementing electricity distribution and transmission upgrades. It is expected that this move will improve energy availability and reliability in the NER.
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: This is aimed to focus on agri-districts of the NER for crop diversification, irrigation, and storage.
Atmanirbharta in Pulses: Under this mission, a six-year initiative has been taken to support the production of Tur, Urad, and Masoor in the NER.
India Post's Function in Financial Inclusion: Expansion of financial inclusion services like micro-enterprise credit, DBT cash transfers, and institutional banking services in the NER.
Support for MSMEs: Bharat Trade Net- Digital Trade Infrastructure would support the MSMEs of NER.
Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: Nutritional support will be provided to more than eight crore children, one crore pregnant women and lactating mothers, and 20 lakh adolescent girls all over the country including NER.
Tourism and Cultural Development: Special attention has been given to the NER to attract visitors both domestic and international. MUDRA loans will be provided to local tourism entrepreneurs for homestays. States will get performance-based incentives for the improvement of tourist amenities and connectivity.
Research Fellowship: The opportunities will be increased for the students and researchers of NER.
Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0: It facilitates the decriminalization of regulatory provisions, which will encourage business operations in NER.
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