SHILLONG, FEB 5: Union Law & Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the Centre is leaving no stone unturned for the development of the North East region.
After addressing BJP workers on the Union Budget 2022-23, Rijiju said the overall allocation for the NE in the entire budget has seen a quantum jump of nearly Rs 8,000 crore.
“In the last year’s budget the total allocation for the NE was Rs 68,000 crore which has come to Rs 76,000 crore this time, a huge quantum jump of nearly Rs 8,000 crore. So now it is up to the government in the NE states to utilize all the budgetary support allocated in the union budget…,”he asserted.
Apart from this, the union minister said Rs 1,500 crore was also given under the PM’s Development Initiative for North East (PM-DevINE).
“This Rs 1,500 crore is an initial amount allocated and this amount will be utilized in those sectors which are not covered by any other programmes, policies or schemes which are launched by the Government of India,” he said.
According to him, this will filter all those gaps and areas which are left out keeping in mind the unique geographical and regional character of the NE region.
“The Prime Minister is so thoughtful that nothing should be left out. No stone will be left unturned when it comes to the development of the NE region. The extra Rs 1,500 crores as the initial amount has been given to the North Eastern Council (NEC),” he said.
Stating that he is taking special interest to ensure some of the schemes allocated under the budget are implemented properly, Rijiju said it is the moral duty on the part of everyone to ensure that all the funds which are allocated in the union budget must be utilized prudently.
The union minister also expressed confidence that the people of Shillong and Meghalaya will definitely wholeheartedly welcome the union budget because it has provision for every section of the society.
He assured that nobody will be left out whether it is with regards to electricity connection or gas connection or portable drinking water at your doorstep, all important critical requirements of the common people are being taken care of under this budget.
Referring to the National People’s Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government as friendly, Rijiju said, “Our party is part of the government so I am sure chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who is very young very dynamic, will ensure under his leadership all the schemes, all the programs and all the amount allocated under union budget will be implemented effectively in the state of Meghalaya.”
It is with good intention this budget has been presented and keeping in mind the need of the common people everything has been taken care of including the special support for the NE region, he said.
Meanwhile, Rijiju said as a tribal from the NE region, it is an honor for him to be a law minister of the country.
“It took 75 years for a tribal to be a law minister of the country. It is a huge responsibility and faith which the prime minister has given on to me. I feel that to become the law minister of the country is not an honor for Kiren Rijiju, it is an honor for the entire NE and the entire tribal community of the country,” he said.
He further stated that this is the first time that there are two cabinet ministers and three ministers of states at the same time in the union council of ministers adding this shows how much Modi gives importance to NE far more than our numbers.
“Normally democracy runs with numbers but for Modi numbers do not matter all the time but his emotional connect especially with the people of NE which has made him give huge representation that too with critical important portfolios in the cabinet,” Rijiju said.
He added that Modi’s love for the NE is not confined to token representation; it is packed with huge support in terms of providing infrastructure providing all important critical support for the welfare of the people of NE region.
“When it comes to infrastructure which requires huge investment in the last seven and a half years alone, we have received budgetary support which we have never received in the last 5-6 decades,” he said.
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