Skip to content Skip to navigation

Policy for the North East: A Bird’s Eye View

North Eastern Region (NER) comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are all special category States and the national planning and resource allocations impart a special emphasis on the economic and social development of the region. The development plans in the North East are centrally financed on the basis of 90% grant and 10% loan.

The Department of Higher Education has launched a number of schemes for the educational development in the region to be implemented through State Governments and through the agencies other than State Governments viz. autonomous bodies/NGOs, etc. As per the instant Government orders, Department of Higher Education earmark about 10% of its Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for implementing these schemes in the region.

The Planning Commission has approved the Plan outlay of Rs.6483.00 crore for 2007-08 for the Department of Higher Education. Out of this, an outlay of Rs.640.30 crore has been earmarked for the North East. As on 25.01.2008 Rs.177.22 crores have been sanctioned during the current financial year. The shortfall in utilization of this 10% provision (by any Ministry/Department except some exempted ones) is automatically transferred to the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) administered by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for funding specific development programmes in the North Eastern Region. During 2007-08(as on 30.11.2007), proposals worth Rs.51.87 crore has been released for various infrastructure development projects in the region.

GOI’S MAJOR INITIATIVES IN NORTH EASTERN REGION DURING 2007.

Setting up of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in NER.

In view of the felt need of expansion of facilities for high quality management education & research in the North East, the Government has been established an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Shillong, Meghalaya (named after former PM, Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi). The Government of Meghalaya has agreed to provide land free of cost for RGIIM at Shillong. The State Government has made an appropriate temporary accommodation available and the academic session is likely to commence from 2008-09.

Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura University, Agartala, Tripura have been converted into Central Universities in 2007.

Established a Central University in Sikkim in 2007.

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala:

The NIT, Agartala (the erstwhile Tripura Engineering College (TEC), Agartala) would be integrated with other National Institutes of Technology (NITs) in terms of academic and administrative practices from the academic session 2006-2007.

Up gradation of Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT) into a National Institute of Technology (NIT):

The Central Government has approved, in principle, the up gradation of the Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT) to that of National Institute of Technology (NIT). In this regard, a Central Team has conducted Feasibility Study for conversion / upgradation of MIT as NIT. The central team has submitted its report, which is under consideration of the Ministry.

Setting up of Engineering and Management faculties in the North Eastern States:

In order to tackle the problem of regional imbalances in access to higher education, wherever engineering and / or management faculty are not available, and such faculty has been sanctioned in one Central University in each State of the North East. Such faculty has also been sanctioned to one State University in those States of the North East, where there is no Central University. The Ministry has allocated over Rs.100.00 crore for the universities of the NE region from the additional Rs.153.00 crore provided by the Planning Commission under the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

The courses in Engineering and Management have been started in all such universities except Mizoram. The Mizoram University has also started Management Programme in July 2007 and the University is working on the project to start Engineering Programme from the academic year 2008-09. The Universities have projected requirement of additional funds to the UGC for building up of necessary infrastructure as well as expansion of academic programmes in these two faculties.

During the Financial Year 2007-08, the Govt. has earmarked a sum of Rs.239.23 crore for Central Universities located in North East Region. It is expected that with the increased allocation during the 11th Plan period, it should be possible for the UGC to release necessary funds.

LANGUAGE DIVISION.

DEVELOPMENT OF HINDI LANGUAGE:

Development of Hindi language is undertaken in the North East Region through Central Hindi Directorate (CHD) and Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (KHS), Agra.

The Central Hindi Directorate is a subordinate office of Ministry of Human Resources Development. The objective of the Directorate is propagation and development of Hindi as a link language. The Directorate has its centre at Guwahati.

The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan is an autonomous organization of the Ministry of HRD. The objectives of the Sansthan is to improve the standards of teaching of Hindi at various levels. The Sansthan conducts Hindi Language Teaching and Training Programmes by applying the latest methodologies of language learning and teaching. It has centers at Guwahati, Shillong and Dimapur. Guwahati Centre covers the states of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and Sikkim states. Shillong Centre covers Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram states. Dimapur Center covers Nagaland and Manipur states. Short terms courses for imparting knowledge of Modem Methodologies of Language Teaching to the in-service Hindi teachers and workers of Voluntary organizations engaged in Propagation of Hindi and Hindi Teaching and Training are regularly conducted by these centers.

CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF INDIAN LANGUAGES (CIIL), MYSORE:

The Central Institute of Indian Languages was established to help evolve/implement the Language Policy of the Government of India and coordinate the development of Indian languages by conducting research in the areas of language analysis, language pedagogy, language technique and language use in society. It has a Regional Centre at Guwahati.

Under CIIL’s North-Eastern Projects 2007-08 (i.e. NER activities), 43 teachers are now undergoing 10 Month Training Program in Language Education in Guwahati at the NERLC [North East Regional Language Centre] since April 2008. Under the North East Language Development, 20 resource persons are working on 15 NER languages covering 6 states- Manipur, Assam. Meghalaya, Arunachal, Nagaland and Tripura. A major project Linguistic and Cultural Documentation of Sikkim has also been undertake.

The following are the other NER programmes:

Two workshops on revision of Mother tongue text books in 17 tribal languages recognized in schools were organized at Kohima, Nagaland. In Assam, one workshop on teaching tribal mother tongues was organized at Guwahati, one at Kokrajhar and two in Silchar. The other activities included preparation of a Pictorial Glossary of Kok Borok (Tripura), Monpa (Arunachal Pradesh) and Kuki –Chin Languages (Manipur).

Over 30 resource persons of Northeast region were trained in the 40-day Summer School of Linguistics organized in May-June at Mysore. In addition, the institute, in collaboration with the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), is organizing a programme called NEWSOL-North East Winter School of Linguistics – to train 150 Resource persons in language analysis and language documentation.

Seminars on issues related to development of script and understanding the linguistic scene in Northeast India were conducted at Shillong, and Workshops on preparation of multilingual dictionary viz-Bodo, Brishnupnya Manipuri, Tiwa, Rabha, Deori, and Misin were also held.

PROMOTION OF URDU LANGUAGE:

The National C ouncil for Promotion of Urdu Language is an autonomous organization for promotion of Urdu Language through various schemes such as those of Calligraphy Training Centres, production and publication of books and schemes for correspondence courses in Urdu.

The various activities have been undertaken for development and promotion of Urdu Language in the North East Region under the approved scheme. One Year Diploma in Computer Application and Multilingual DTP to give technical education to Urdu speaking boys and girls for getting employment in IT field.

Financial assistance to voluntary organizations to hold seminar/lecture series have been sanctioned. A National Seminar on the ‘Impact of Mir on Urdu Poetry’ was held from 26th to 28th Oct. 2007 in Imphal, Manipur. An Urdu Mela to promote the sale of Urdu books was held at Guwahati from 12th to 18th Jan 2008.

73 Urdu Study Centre established in NER to teach ‘One year course of Urdu Diploma’ through Distance Education.

To promote classical languages Arabic and Persian and to preserve cultural heritage of India, 10 Arabic Study Centres were established NER to impact Two year Diploma and One-year Certificate course in functional Arabic.

SCHEME OF APPOINTMENT OF LANGUAGE TEACHERS:

The scheme has three component:-

100% financial assistance to State/UT Government for salary of Appointment of Hindi Teachers in the Non-Hindi speaking States.

100% financial assistance to the State/UT Government for Appointment of Urdu Teachers and Grant of Honorarium for teaching Urdu.

100% financial assistance for appointment of Teachers in other languages.

During the year 2007-08 the funds amounting to Rs.244 lakhs are provided to Mizoram for appointment of 687 Hindi Teachers.

(Courtesy PIB)

Author info

editor's picture

Please send your comments to editor@assamtimes.org

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Remembering Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: A Discourse on Tribal Justice & Legacy of Ambedkarism

6 Dec 2019 - 12:00am | Dr Aniruddha Babar
As we can see that from the mid-19th century onwards, the British Raj invested a lot of intellectual energy and material efforts attempting to explore and understand the mystery of caste...

Blast in Bongaigaon

8 Aug 2008 - 2:13am | swapan
A grenade was blast in North Bonagaigaon in Assam around 7:30 PM today. No one is reported to be injured in the blast till the reports came. The incident took place ahead of the Independence Day...

Elephants strike panic in Jeypore .

17 Nov 2017 - 9:19pm | Akshaya Pranab Kalita
A huge herd of wild elephants unleashed no less reign of terror in Jeypore area in Namrup destroying a house on Friday.  Talking to Assam Times, local resident Bijoy Gowala, whose house was...

Explosion in Moreh before I Day

13 Aug 2017 - 9:45am | AT News
Suspected rebels in Manipur exploded a mild bomb triggering huge panic and sensation two days before the Independence Day on Friday.  The explosion took place in Moreh town bordering...

Other Contents by Author

Wanna do online journalism? You can do if you are confident and workaholic. Need only an online training. We at Assam Times are ready to help you translate your dream in this roaring job. Come January 1, 2018. Register now for online course free of cost and get the advantage. Manned by a team of sharp and dedicated journos of international repute we are coming up from the new years day.  
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan where thr body of the victim was recovered on Saturday. Identified as Guneswar Basumatary, the local resident of Koila Moila near Dotom was believed to have been killed alleging witch craft.  According to family members,Guneswar went missing on September 16 evening he visited his relative's house at Koila Moila area. Family members lodged an FIR with Amguri PS,case number 45/2017, under section 302/201 IPC. During a search operation, police and family members recovered body in decomposed...
A local magistrate in Nagaon on Friday remanded Mithu Roy to two days police custody after the trader was produced before it in connection with the recent incident where he and his associates thrashed four former ULFA rebels who approached him for fund to feed the flood hit people.  According to allegations, he was the main culprit who hired a few local associates to beat up the youths who were raising fund.  He was arrested on Thursday as he was on the run as police arrested his three associates on Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, a huge gathering in the central Assam town demanded examplary punishment of the accused youths saying that they...
A candle lighting rally was  carried out at Salakati in protest against killing of ABMSU leader Lafikul. The was organized by ABMSU and was participating by ABSU, AKRSU, bengali Federation, Santhali Student's Union and many organizations. The rally was started from Salakati anchalik Abmsu office and concluded at Railway gate. Thousands housands of activists from various student's union and civilians participated and demanded early arrests of main culprits.The ABMSU demanded CBI inquiry into Lafikul murder,arrest main culprits and provide safety and security to the persons of the region. Moinuddin Ali,ABMSU leader said that main culprits should be nabbed  as soon as possible...
United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) said The Nagas Nation has lost a true and uncompromising Nationalist. "In the creation of Western South East Asia geographic identity with an organic soul giving hope to even the smallest nationality of the region opportunity to get just political representation amongst the family of Nations reflects his deep understanding and vision in keeping with his superb statesmanship".  Describing him as a 'Grandee' of the indigenous citizens of the WESEA region, ULFA(I) chairman Dr Abhizeet Asom in his condolence message to media said "as the Chairman of United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, he brought an affinity amongst the...
Amid an escalating controversy over beef consumption, yet another leader has quit BJP in Meghalaya suggesting a setback for the saffron party in the pre poll political landscape.  North Garo Hills BJP president Bachu Marak pulled out of the party after the national party spokesman Nolin Kohli warned him against a beef party in Tura to celebrate the three years of the NDA government at the Centre. Marak, who pulled many people to BJP in the Congress ruled state rued in his resignation letter to state party president Sjibun Lyngdoh made it plain and simple that he would never go against the sentiment of the  Garo people for whom beef is an inevitable item at any feast. He...
A crucial meeting of BPF and AGP leadership with Amit Shah is clearing the decks for the expansion of Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet slated for April 15. Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma along with AGP president Atul Bora, his BPF counterpart Hagrama Mohilary is meeting the BJP president in New Delhi on Monday where the entire process would be finalized. Sources told www.Assam Times that Bongaigaon legislator Phani Bhushan Chaudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet from AGP. Both AGP and BPF will have one each in the cabinet while BJP will have six new faces in the expanded cabinet. Those who are attending the close door meet include Hagrama Mohilary, Arul Bora, Hemant Biswa...
In a bizarre incident that triggers statewide anger and surprise, the police have arrested a top ranked officer in Dispur on bribery charges on Tuesday before recovering more than Rs 1 crore from his possession.He is none other than Kujendra Doley, the irrigation secretary who alleged to have been collecting lakhs of rupees from the contractors for releasing their bills.Acting on a complaint from a contractor, the sleuths of the vigilance and anti corruption cell caught the secretary red handed and seized an astronomical amount of money from his office locker he allegedly to pay minister Ranjit Dutta.Then Doley was taken to his residence in the city and Rs 10 lakh were seized in cash during...