The Ministry of Development of North-East Region (DoNER) recently revealed the logo and song for the upcoming festival named “Destination North East-2020”, sparking a renewed interest in the vibrant cultures, strategic locations, and economic potentials of the northeastern states of India.
About the Destination North East Festival
This four-day event is envisioned as a platform to bring the rest of India closer to the northeastern region (NE). The festival boasts a special presentation of the arts and crafts, textiles, ethnic products, and promotes tourism from the eight northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. Past installments have been held in Varanasi, Delhi, and Chandigarh, but the 2020 edition will take place virtually due to ongoing global health concerns.
Organisations Involved in the Festival
Various organisations, including Ministry of DoNER and the North Eastern Council (NEC), play key roles in the planning, execution, and monitoring of the festival’s development schemes and projects. NEC, a nodal agency constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1971, focuses on the economic and social development of the eight NE states.
Another pivotal organisation involved is NERCORMP (North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project), a joint developmental initiative dedicated to transforming the lives of the poor and marginalized tribal families in the North East. This project is backed by the NEC, Ministry of DoNER, and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Strategic Importance of NE Region
The northeastern region carries a significant strategic location, economic significance, and cultural vibrancy. Besides access to the traditional domestic market of eastern India and proximity to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, it also links with Southeast Asia. As such, the northeastern states play a critical role as a physical bridge between India and Southeast Asia and form the territorial frontier of India’s eastward engagement in accordance with India’s Act East Policy.
Economically, the region possesses immense natural resources, amounting to around 34% of India’s water resources and nearly 40% of the nation’s hydropower potential. Sikkim, for instance, is recognized as India’s first organic state.
Tourism and Cultural Significance
The northeastern part of India is rich in cultural diversity and natural beauty, making it an attractive destination for tourists from around the world. The region houses numerous wildlife sanctuaries like Kaziranga National Park, famous for the one-horned rhinoceros, Manas National Park, Nameri, Orang, Dibru Saikhowa in Assam, Namdhapha in Arunachal Pradesh, Balpakram in Meghalaya, Keibul Lamjao in Manipur, Intanki in Nagaland, Khangchendzonga in Sikkim. Moreover, each tribe in this region has its own unique culture, which can be seen during popular festivals like the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland and Pang Lhabsol of Sikkim.
Government Initiatives for NE Region
To bring the northeast at par with other developed regions, the government has undertaken various initiatives under North Eastern Region Vision 2020 document and Digital North East Vision 2022. These documents emphasize leveraging digital technologies to transform the lives of the people and enhance the ease of living.
Significant effort has also been placed on infrastructure-related initiatives. Under Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP), approximately 5,301 km of road stretches in the northeast have been approved for improvement. Also, the North East is regarded as a priority area under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN), which aims to make air travel more affordable.
The tourism sector is witnessing a boost with projects worth Rs.1400.03 crore sanctioned for the North East Region through the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in the last five years. Moreover, the steel sector is expected to witness accelerated development through the establishment of an integrated steel hub under the “Mission Purvodaya”. This hub, will serve as a beacon for the socio-economic growth of Eastern India.
The National Bamboo Mission also holds a special significance for the northeast, emphasizing the diverse initiatives and measures taken by the government to develop and enhance the unique potentials of this region.
