Northeast key to ‘Act East’: Dr Jitendra Singh

[Hindustani78]

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
25-July, 2017 18:44 IST
ICC President discusses GST implementation in Northeast with Dr Jitendra Singh

The President of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Shri Shashwat Goenka called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today and discussed a wide range of issues including GST implementation and future investment possibilities in Northeast.

Shri Goenka, who recently took over as President of the prestigious Kolkata - based Indian Chamber of Commerce, conveyed to Dr Jitendra Singh the inclination of some of the leading houses to invest in Northeast which, according to him, is an important upcoming business zone for future. He also briefed Dr Singh about a series of mass awareness programmes undertaken by the ICC, both for the trader as well as the consumer, about the merits of GST.

Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the role played by ICC in collaborating to hold the GST awareness programmes. He said that the Northeast, along with certain other States, is bound to be a huge beneficiary of the GST. The Minister also disclosed that during the last one year, a number of investment offers for Northeast have been forthcoming. These, he said, include offers given from some of the potential investors from abroad also.

Calling upon the Indian Chamber of Commerce and other leading trade organisations of India to encourage entrepreneurship in Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last two to three years, a number of incentives and facilitatory provisions have been introduced by the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC). He said, with the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led Government’s focus on ‘Act East’ policy, the business avenues of North Eastern States have found an extension beyond the borders in the form of trade prospects emerging with countries like Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

***

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
28-July, 2017 19:20 IST
Sikkim CM called on DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in New Delhi and held an over half-an-hour meeting to discuss wide range of issues including the various developmental projects in the State.

Dr Jitendra Singh conveyed to the Chief Minister the need to complete the ongoing work of the Airport at Pakyong near Gangtok and expressed the hope that the same would be a game changer for tourism, revenue and job generation.

Lauding the government and the civil society of Sikkim for maintaining high literacy and growth rates over the years, Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the smooth rollout and implementation of the GST in the State. He also hailed the positive and cooperative approach with which the State of Sikkim has adopted the “One Nation, One Tax” reform of GST.

Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling conveyed to the DoNER Minister his concern over the blockade of the vital Rangpo-Siliguri (NH10) road link caused by the Gorkhaland protesters leading to breakdown of the only road link that exists between the State of Sikkim and the rest of India. He appealed for certain remedial measures to prevent such blockade from happening time and again.

Dr Jitendra Singh took note of all the points raised by the chief minister. He said, he would deliberate on all these issues within the DONER Ministry as well as with the other concerned Ministries.

***
The Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling calling on the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in New Delhi on July 26, 2017.

 

[KRAIT]

Ec0nomic growth of NE is must for us. And also stopping extremism in Assam due to islamic fundamentalists.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
30-July, 2017 11:53 IST
MoS Dr Jitendra Singh briefed about GST implementation in Meghalaya

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh was briefed here about the progress in GST implementation in Meghalaya by a delegation of public representatives and civil society activists led by Member of Parliament, Shri Conrad Sangma.

Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the cooperation and consistently positive response from the people of Meghalaya in adopting the new “One Nation, One Tax” GST reform along with the rest of the country from the midnight between 30th June and 1st July. He said that this signifies not only the inclination of this North-Eastern State to be a part of the economic reform happening in rest of India, but is also a reiteration of the people of Meghalaya to be a part of the fast-track development and reform journey led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Referring to a series of developmental initiatives undertaken by the Union Government in the State of Meghalaya during the last three years, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the work is in progress to lay a broad gauge rail track in the state. This has, he said, inspired people’s faith in the Government. Dr Jitendra Singh also informed Shri Sangma and other members of delegation that the upgradation of air-strip at Shillong Airport will be funded by the Ministry of DoNER.

Dr Jitendra Singh also had a word of appreciation for the increasing flow of tourists witnessed during the last two years and said that he was particularly gratified by the trend of “Home Tourism” which had picked-up in Meghalaya in the last two years. This was, according to him, not only a boost for tourists but also generated means of livelihood for local people, particularly youth.

Shri Sangma also placed before Dr Jitendra Singh the issue of proposed shifting of the Excise and Customs Chief Commissioner’s office from Shillong to Guwahati. He said, considering the commendable job done by the Excise and Customs Commissionerate in implementing GST, this plan could be reconsidered so that the Chief Commissioner’s office continued to be stationed in Shillong, as has been the tradition for several years in the past.

Dr Jitendra Singh conveyed to Shri Conrad Sangma that he would put up before the Union Finance Minister, the issue of feasibility or desirability of continuing the Excise and Customs Chief Commissionerate Office in Shillong.

*****
A delegation from Meghalaya led by the Member of Parliament, Shri Conrad Sangma meeting the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in New Delhi on July 28, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of Welfare of Plain Tribes and BCs of Assam, Smt. Pramila Rani Brahma calling on the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, in New Delhi on July 31, 2017.

 

[Tshering22]

$35 million loan?

Why go to international bank? SBI Fund could easily have given that.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
01-August, 2017 12:46 IST
Department of Expenditure takes various initiatives in the North Eastern States in the area of Public Expenditure Management; IT system of all the North East States' Treasuries except Nagaland integrated with PFMS;

Trainings organized for capacity building by the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU) of PFMS and different Ministers/Departments of Government of India in North Eastern States on PFMS; More programs on Government E-Marketplace (GeM), Government Accounts and Finance and GST to be conducted for officers of the North Eastern States in the coming months.
The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India has been taking several initiatives in the area of Public Expenditure Management in the North Eastern States with special focus on capacity building of the State Government officials and integration of the State Treasuries with the Union Public Financial Management System (PFMS) in order to improve the efficiency and transparency of public expenditure. These initiatives were reviewed recently by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary & Secretary (Expenditure) in a meeting with the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) and Director, National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM).

Treasury Integration with PFMS

To provide the Centre and State Governments with a real time, reliable and meaningful Management Information System and an effective Decision Support System (DSS) as well as track fund flow in respect of Central Sector (CS) and Central Assistance to State Plan (CASP) schemes, the IT system of all the North East States' Treasuries (namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Tripura) except Nagaland, have been integrated with PFMS.

Capacity Building

In last six months, 15 Trainings have been organized by the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU) of PFMS and different Ministers/Departments of Government of India in North Eastern States on PFMS. These 15 trainings include one training in each State Head quarter (two in Assam) by CPMU and six (6) trainings organized by different Ministers/Department in Assam/Meghalaya. Total 739 officers/officials/Non officials have been trained in these trainings. Scheme specific training on PFMS being organized by line Ministers/Departments are also being attended by the North Eastern States.

Besides the above, the participants from North East have also been attending Treasury Integration Workshops being organized at New Delhi. State Project Management Units at Guwahati and Shillong are by now well equipped with the skill set required for providing guidance for implementation of PFMS and these SPMUs are providing and holding support to the implementing agencies on need basis.

The National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM), an autonomous body under the Department of Expenditure has take-up training of the officers from the North Eastern States as a special focus area. Government E-Marketplace (GeM) training was conducted by NIFM faculty at Guwahati, Assam for three days, from 27th to 29th June 2017, wherein 53 participants of the Government of Assam were provided practical exposure to use of GeM for procurement of Goods and Services. A one week program on Public Private Partnership (PPP) in North-Eastern States has been conducted from 10th July 2017. More programs on GeM, Government Accounts and Finance and GST are planned to be conducted for officers of the North Eastern States in the coming months.



****

 

[Hindustani78]

The Angh (Chief) of Longwa Konyak Naga villages, Shri Amao Taiwang King alongwith his deputies receiving the booklet on the various Flagship Programmes of the Government of India from the Regional Director, Directorate of Field Publicity (Nagaland and Manipur Region), Kohima, Shri Mangjangam Touthang, at Longwa, in Mon district, Nagaland on July 29, 2017.

The Chief guest and Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Mon District, Shri Kumar Ramanikant with the officials and the Kuki Cultural Troupe, during the Special Outreach Programme on flagship programmes of the Central Government with focus on Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PMJDY, organised by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Kohima, at Kuki Christian Fellowship Compound, in Mon district, Nagaland on July 31, 2017.

The Chief guest and Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Mon District, Shri Kumar Ramanikant with the officials participating in the public rally, during the Special Outreach Programme on flagship programmes of the Central Government with focus on Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, PMJDY, organised by the Directorate of Field Publicity, Kohima, at Kuki Christian Fellowship Compound, in Mon district, Nagaland on July 31, 2017.

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
02-August, 2017 15:00 IST
Socio-Economic Challenges in NER

The Government has assessed the challenges being faced by the North Eastern Region (NER) through various studies and reports submitted by different Committees, Commissions, Task Forces etc. appointed from time to time. Some of these include Shukla Commission Report; Usha Thorat Committee Report on Financial Sector Plan for North Eastern Region; Report of the Task Force on Connectivity and Promotion of Trade and Investment in NE States; Report on Poverty Eradication in NER; District Infrastructure Index for NER prepared by Ministry of DoNER; Human Development Report of NE States; Report of the Working Group on Improvement & Development of Transport Infrastructure in North East for the National Transport Development Policy Committee etc.

The assessment broadly identified various measures to bridge the infrastructural gaps and remove the backlog in basic minimum services in North Eastern States that include connecting North-East with rest of India and world through rail, road, water and air connectivity, opening new trade and business opportunities by improving the banking sector and giving incentive to Industry sector etc.

Government has taken concerted efforts for development of the North-Eastern Region. All non-exempt Central Ministries/Departments are required to spend 10% of their Gross Budgetary Support in the North – Eastern Region not only through their ongoing schemes, but also through dedicated schemes for the North-Eastern Region. Special projects taken for the North-Eastern Region, inter-alia, include Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE); Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan; Broad Gauging & Capital Connectivity Rail Projects; World Bank Assisted Power Transmission & Distribution Projects; Scheme for Inter-State Neglected Roads etc. In addition, the Ministry of DoNER, through its schemes of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)-State & Central, North Eastern Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS), North Eastern Regional Livelihood Project (NERLP-EAP), North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP), Social and Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) Scheme etc. along with schemes of North Eastern Council has taken steps to bridge the social and physical infrastructure gaps in North Eastern Region.

This was stated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question by Shri Raghav Lakhanpal in the Lok Sabha today.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
03-August, 2017 20:42 IST
First meeting of Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for Development of North-Eastern Region held

The first meeting of the Japan-India Coordination Forum (JICF) for Development of North-Eastern Region was held here today. Secretary, Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri Naveen Verma led the Indian side while the Japanese delegation was led by the Japanese Ambassador to India, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu. Senior Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Department of Economic Affairs, and line Ministries of Government of India including Road Transport & Highways, Agriculture, Power besides Resident Commissioners of the eight States of the NER participated in the meeting. The Japanese delegation included Mr. Kenko Sone, Minister, Economic Affairs, Embassy of Japan, besides representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Japan Foundation.

Priority areas of cooperation identified by Indian side including Connectivity and Road Network Development, especially inter-State roads & major district roads; Disaster Management; Food Processing; Organic Farming and Tourism were discussed in the meeting.

Secretary, DoNER, Shri Naveen Verma said regular meetings of the Forum would not only enhance Assistance by JICA but also promote B2B and people to people contacts.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
03-August, 2017 17:48 IST
MPLAD Works in Manipur

Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), Honourable Members of Parliament (MPs) send recommendations of works to their Nodal District Authority. Implementation of works in the field is undertaken by the District Authorities, in accordance with the State Government’s technical, administrative and financial rules and in accordance with the Guidelines on MPLADS.

Para 5.3 of the Guidelines on MPLADS stipulates that on completion of a work, the Implementing Agency shall quickly finalize the accounts for that work and shall furnish a work completion report and utilization certificate and return the un-utilized balance (savings) and interest amount within 30 days to the District Authority concerned.

Para 6.4 of the Guidelines on MPLADS defines the role of District Authority which inter-alia stipulates that the District Authority shall review, every month and in any case at least once in every quarter, MPLADS works implementation with the Implementing Agencies.

This information was given by Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

******

 

[Hindustani78]

The Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Shri N.K. Sinha addressing a review on Programmes, Policies, Infrastructure and Initiatives of Media Units of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in the North Eastern Region, at Guwahati on August 06, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry for Development of North-East Region
10-August, 2017 15:38 IST
Improving connectivity in Manipur

The Working Group on Improvement and Development of Transport Infrastructure in the North East had submitted its report to National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) in June, 2012.

The recommendations of the Committee inter alia include, intensifying transport linkage with Myanmar in particular; development of hubs and spoke model for improving air connectivity; development of skills for construction and maintenance; inclusion of provision for periodic maintenance in road contracts; optimal use of waterways and development of multi-model hubs.

Under the scheme of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR), projects are taken up on the basis of priority list submitted by State Government. In Manipur, under sector “Road and Bridges”, 20 projects with approved cost of Rs.92.37 crore have been completed and 06 projects with approved cost of Rs.205.78 crore are in progress. This was stated by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question by Shri K. Bhabananda Singh in the Rajya Sabha today.



****

 

[Hindustani78]

The Governor of Assam, Shri Banwarilal Purohit calling on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, in New Delhi on August 11, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)
16-August, 2017 16:12 IST
Cabinet approves Scheme of Budgetary Support under GST Regime to the eligible units located in States of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States including Sikkim

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has given its approval to the Scheme of providing Budgetary Support under Goods and Service Tax Regime for the eligible industrial units located in State of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States including Sikkim. Budgetary support of Rs. 27,413 crore for the said Scheme has been approved for the period from 1.7.2017 till 31.03.2027 for such industrial units located in aforesaid States which availed the benefit of Central Excise exemption prior to coming into force of GST regime.

The Government of India was implementing North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007 for North Eastern States including Sikkim and Package for Special Category States for Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh to promote industrialization. One of the benefits of the NEIIPP, 2007 and Package for Special Category States was excise duty exemption for first 10 years after commencement of commercial production.

Upon repeal of the Central Excise duty laws, the Government has decided to pay a budgetary support equal to the central share of the cash component of CGST and IGST paid by the affected eligible industrial units. The support shall be available for the residual period (ten years from the date of the commercial production) in the States of North Eastern region and Himalayan States. DIPP will notify the Scheme, including detailed operational guidelines for implementation of the scheme within 6 weeks.

It is estimated that total number of 4284 eligible units located in the State(s) of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States including Sikkim will benefit from the above scheme.

*****

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh briefing the media, in New Delhi on August 16, 2017. Senior officers of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and North Eastern Council are also seen.