Nagaland NE central to India’s development vision: Harivansh

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Monday said the North Eastern Region holds a central place in India’s development vision and has received unprecedented attention from the Centre across infrastructure and social sectors.
Addressing the inaugural session, Harivansh expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to delegates and lauded Nagaland’s scenic beauty and cultural vibrancy. He thanked Nagaland Legislative Assembly speaker Sharingain Longkumer and chief minister Neiphiu Rio for hosting the conference, while extending advance greetings ahead of the State’s 63rd Foundation Day on December 1.
Referring to the conference theme, “Policy, Progress and People: Legislatures as Catalysts of Change,” he said it aligned with India’s goal of achieving development while upholding environmental and social commitments. He stated that the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India by 2047 required every state to meet its developmental targets.
Harivansh said the past decade has seen renewed focus on the region’s socio-economic aspirations. Nearly 70 visits by the Prime Minister and regular visits by Union Ministers, he said, underscored the Centre’s priority towards the North East. The Centre’s commitment to earmark 10% of the national budget for the region had brought transformative change, with allocation rising from Rs.24,500 crore in 2014 to a targeted Rs.1.8 lakh crore in the current fiscal year.
He said the region’s national highway network had expanded by 6,000 km in the last decade, along with 45,000 km of rural roads under PMGSY. He added that every village in the North East would have 4G connectivity by year-end, while all major cities were now connected by rail.
Citing the Rising North East Investors Summit, he said major industry groups had announced significant investments and that development efforts were now aimed at boosting intra-regional connectivity to make the region a vibrant hub of trade and enterprise. He highlighted the upcoming semiconductor plant in Jagiroad, Assam, expected to produce 48 million chips per day and generate around 15,000 direct jobs.
Calling the North East the “lungs of the earth,” he emphasised sustainable development and said renewable energy, organic farming and eco-tourism would support livelihoods while preserving fragile ecology.
He noted Nagaland’s rich biodiversity—46 bamboo species and over 650 medicinal and aromatic plants—and praised the State for promoting organic products, handloom and GI-recognised crafts gaining global recognition.
Recalling past peace initiatives, he paid tribute to Jayaprakash Narayan, Bimla Prasad Chaliha and Reverend Michael Scott. He said the Union Government remained committed to safeguarding cultural identity while advancing economic growth, adding that youth in the region were eager to contribute to national progress.
Stressing the need for legislatures and governments to engage closely with people, he expressed optimism that the two-day CPA conference would lead to constructive deliberations and strengthen democracy and regional cooperation. He thanked the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the State Government for their hospitality and expressed hope that the discussions would yield concrete recommendations for inclusive development across the North Eastern states.