Our Reporter
Dimapur, Feb. 12 (EMN): Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju on Saturday highlighted the content of the recently tabled Union Budget 2022-2023 with special reference to the Northeast region, saying that it reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intention towards the north-eastern states.
Rijiju, who was on a one-day visit to Nagaland, held a press conference on the Union Budget and BJP Nagaland Sammelan at Niathu Resort in Chümoukedima.
He said that the ‘whole country’ had welcomed the budget, while different sectors including the business community had appreciated it.
The budget focuses not only on the business community and corporates but also on the common people living in the remotest parts of the country, he said, adding that it was a ‘self-reliant budget’ and would help the country to be self-sufficient and not rely on imports and support from other countries.
Every state of the country will be strengthened to the core in different sectors, he said.
Rijiju also stated that whenever there is a review meeting for any purpose, the prime minister always enquires about the success of scheme and programme of the north-eastern region and ‘unless it is successful in the Northeast, it would not be considered a successful programme’.
‘If they leave aside politics, nobody can match the love and affection extended by the Prime Minister of India towards Northeast India,’ Rijiju claimed.
He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East (PM-DevINE) -- a first time provision inserted in the Budget, created for the purpose of filling the gaps, and to take care of things which are not included in any of the schemes or provisions.
He added that INR 1,500 crore has been allocated for this scheme, which will be implemented through the North-Eastern Council (NEC).
During last year’s 2021-22 budget, the total allocation for the north-eastern region was INR 68,020 crore but this year, total allocation has jumped to INR 78040 crore -- the highest ever for the region, he said.
The minister said that the Central government was trying to enhance the capacity as all the budgetary allocations were never utilised fully due to various constraints.
He also spoke about the PM Gati Shakti programme, a digital platform of several ministries for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects. He said that the Act East policy, backed by ‘solid policy and budgetary support by the government of India, is making the Northeast a very attractive destination’.
He added that India is the leading country in terms of vaccination and manufacturing of Covid vaccine and has become the main hub supplier of all medical equipment to the global community.
Maintaining that ‘Atmanirbhar budget’ is to empower the youth and entrepreneurs through various schemes, he encouraged the youth to avail the benefit of the schemes announced in the budget.
The minister also pointed out that there are student unions in every village and sector in the north-eastern states, and to be a part of unions and associations is a democratic right. However, he appealed to the youth not to be confined to the unions and associations alone as people have to engage in productive activities.
When queried about a man who went missing in September 2015 in Arunachal Pradesh and believed to be abducted by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Rijiju said that they had already communicated about it to their counterparts but there was no response about the person’s whereabouts. He added that unless the Chinese responded, they had very little option, but their efforts of searching for the missing person still continue.
Rijiju was joined by Nagaland BJP legislators Deputy CM Y Patton, State BJP president Temjen Imna Along and BJP National Spokesperson Mmhonlümo Kikon, and Advocate of Supreme Court of India and BJP National Spokesperson, Nalin Kohli at the press conference.
The union minister also held a meeting with Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and the state Cabinet on Union Budget 2022-2023 at the Police Complex in Chümoukedima on the same day.
Meanwhile, Rio took to Twitter to thank Rijiju for visiting the state and interacting with the Cabinet and officers. ‘The state government places on record our appreciation for the special provisions of the budget and for the PM-DevINE scheme,’ he wrote.