The Development of the Northeast: From Margins to Mainstream
The Development of the Northeast: From Margins to Mainstream
The Northeast India, rich in biodiversity, cultural heritage, and strategic significance, was entangled in a web of neglect, conflict, and underdevelopment
For decades, the Northeast India, rich in biodiversity,
cultural heritage, and strategic significance, was entangled in a web of
neglect, conflict, and underdevelopment. Despite being endowed with immense
natural, human and strategic resources, it remained marginalised in the
national socio-political discourse. Poor policy execution, inconsistent
governance, and long-standing insurgencies fractured the region’s development
prospects, rendering it a landscape marked more by conflict than capability.
However, post-2014, a major shift emerged towards changing
the overall outlook of the Northeast. The central government marked a
significant paradigm shift in Northeast India, with the proactive grassroots
intervention of the Home Ministry. This post-2014 shift in policy-making and
adaptation changed the trajectory of the Northeast from a periphery to the
centre of development. The region that was once viewed as India’s distant
frontier, was made an important stakeholder in the national developmental
discourse.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah adopted inclusivity as one
of the core objectives and his ‘Northeastern strategy’ transformed the
prolonged narrative of instability towards opportunity in the region. During a
recent and pertinent discussion in the Parliament, Home Minister Amit Shah
articulated his roadmap of keeping the pre-requisite of longstanding peace. The
distinctive transformation of the region is backed by the Post-2014 data
insights. The government’s strategy to emphasise more on peace-building,
infrastructural expansion, and cultural inclusion has led to a 70% decline in
violent incidents, a 72% reduction in casualties among security forces, and an
85% fall in civilian fatalities. In this context, another key highlight of this
development is the systematic withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) from large areas across Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Arunachal
Pradesh. The states of Meghalaya and Tripura have been fully exempted from the
purview of the act which was considered draconian in the region.
In the Home Ministry’s endeavour to make the region step on
the pedestal of progress and prosperity, the motto of dialogue over
confrontation has been given utmost preference. Since 2019, 12 landmark peace
accords have been signed, resolving age-old insurgencies and ethnic disputes.
Among them, the Bru-Reang agreement that ensured dignified resettlement for
over 37,000 displaced people, the Bodo Accord which led to the surrender of
1,615 NDFB militants, alongside the announcement of a INR 1,500 crore
development package, enabled the Northeast region to bloom in its full
potential enriched by cultural diversity. Furthermore, the border settlements
between Assam-Meghalaya and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh have addressed
long-standing disputes in over nearly 200 villages, ushering in a new era of
inter-state harmony. The Home Ministry’s roadmap for the establishment of
sustained peace in the Northeast has gone beyond symbolic gestures, thereby
incorporating robust support through skill development programs, land rights,
and cultural harmony to ensure long-lasting integration.
Moreover, this transition of the Northeast from the security
paradigm to the paradigm of holistic development brought drastic economic
revival that was long burdened with native predicaments. In this regard, Assam
alone has witnessed the signing of investment MoUs worth INR 5 lakh crore.
Further, across the region, the centre has increased funding for
infrastructural development, with INR 81,900 crore for railways, INR 41,500
crore for highways and INR 47,000 crore for rural roads, alongside the
launching of 64 new air and helicopter routes to boost connectivity. In
addition to infrastructure, social development has also seen significant
momentum as dozens of new projects have been sanctioned in varied spheres like
power, health, education, tourism, water, and sports. The post-2014
socio-economic and political developments have given the Northeast a renewed
identity. Under the Prime Minister’s vision of the Act East Policy, Northeast
India has been given an arrowhead role with the creation of multiple connectivity
corridors towards South East Asia.
Going beyond just physical development, the current
government has also laid importance and prioritized the concept of emotional
integration. As such, the region has been frequently visited by top leaders,
and this has been coupled with persistent efforts on the part of the government
to embrace local languages and traditions. The emotional integration has
narrowed down the psychological divide between the Northeast and the rest of
India. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ grassroots engagements have further
empowered local voices and fostered a sense of belonging amongst the natives
that was long denied, making National integration through civilisational
continuity a new paradigm in policy making and implementation.
As it is often quoted, ‘Rome wasn't built in a day,”
similarly the transformation of the Northeast didn’t happen overnight. This has
been the outcome of a strong political will, a consistent focus on futuristic
and sustainable policies, and a focus on inclusive governance. Therefore, the
region today stands as a beacon of federal cooperation and cultural harmony. As
such, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah has aptly quoted the region as the one
that was once marred by insurgency and is now on the steady road to prosperity.
However, to sustain this progress, it is essential to
continue building on the principle and the foundation that has been already
established with a strong focus on participatory governance, mutual
development, and unwavering commitment towards peace. As such, the Post-2014
narrative of Northeast India is no longer the one of isolation but is the one
of integration, innovation, and inspiration.
Bagmita Borthakur (PhD Research Scholar, BITS Pilani)
