Niadu calls for harnessing potential of NE region

New Delhi: Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today called for concerted efforts to fully harness the potential of North-East Region by changing the narratives attributes to the region.

He referred to the challenges and opportunities for development of the region while speaking on “Unveiling of North-East India for India s Rise” at a conclave organized by India Today group here.

Naidu said that “the narratives of remoteness and poor connectivity adversely impacting the region, a vicious cycle of under development-insurgency-under development hampering growth, the region being a low equilibrium of poverty, non-development, civil conflicts and lack of faith in political leadership should be turned on their heads to realise the potential of the region.”

He said that while the N-E Region is being touted as a “paradise unexplored” the correct way of looking at the region is “prosperity to be explored”.

Naidu asserted that the region known as black hole of business and investments could be converted into one of hope and gateway to prosperity’ by fully taking advantage of the pro-active Look East Policy .

Naidu noted that with diverse resource base, high literacy rates, huge hydel power potential, vast potential for promoting horticulture, flori-culture, organic crops, cross border trade, North-East could be enabled to rise to its potential through necessary reforms and by promoting private investments.

Stating that to be socially and economically sustainable, India s growth story should be inclusive, Naidu said that N-E Region should be made a participant and beneficiary of India s economic transformation.