SHILLONG, MAR 9: The North Eastern Council disbursed ₹67.41 crore in February for schemes across the eight Northeastern states and regional agencies, aiming at roads, farm innovation, tourism, research and cultural work.
Nearly half—₹30.07 crore—went to institutions such as IIT‑Guwahati, IIM‑Shillong, NESAC and NERCRMS.
In Meghalaya, funds cover an RCC bridge over the Lunar River linking Khaddum to Brichyrnot in East Jaintia Hills and a Seng Khasi cultural complex at Lum Shat Sngi, Kenches Trace, Shillong.
“Among the states benefiting from above fund releases, Meghalaya has received support for various ongoing important development projects aimed at strengthening connectivity and promoting cultural heritage in the state. One of the key initiatives includes the construction of an RCC bridge over River Lunar to connect Khaddum to Brichyrnot Village in East Jaintia Hills, which will enhance rural connectivity and improve access for local communities, including the Hmar community. In addition, NEC is supporting the development of a Cultural Complex of Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban at Lum Shat Sngi, Kenches Trace, Shillong, which is expected to serve as an important centre for preserving and promoting the indigenous cultural heritage and traditions of the region.”
“These initiatives are expected to strengthen infrastructure, promote cultural preservation, and enhance socio-economic opportunities for local communities. Through such interventions, NEC continues to play a vital role in fostering sustainable development, regional connectivity, and cultural promotion across the North Eastern Region,” it added.
In addition to state-specific allocations, NEC also released Rs 30,07,14,985 to regional institutions and other implementing agencies across the North Eastern Region during the month.
Major project interventions include initiatives in sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship development including AI-Based farming, infrastructure creation, setting up of sports facilities, tourism promotion, promotion of research and innovations, and livelihood enhancement.
These initiatives are being implemented through leading institutions including IIT-Guwahati,IIM-Shillong, Northeast Space Application Centre (NESAC), North East Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC), NorthEast Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCORMS) and other regional universities and specialized organizations.
Apart from project-based funding, NEC also supported several non-project activities and sponsored cultural & academic programmes during the month aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange, cultural preservation, tourism promotion, and youth engagement in the region.
Key initiatives included support for international and regional conferences, skill development programmes, tourism workshops, cultural festivals, craft fairs, and youth cultural exchange programmes.
Notable events held during the month included the International Conference on Knowledge Organization in Academic Libraries (I-KOAL-2026), Regional International Conference on Natural Language Processing (RegICON), Manipur State Level Kiwi Fruit
Festival, and various cultural and craft festivals across the region.
NEC said these events promote collaboration, innovation and preservation of the Northeast’s cultural heritage.
By Our Reporter
