NE witnessed historic transformation under PM Modi: Marghertia

GANGTOK, : Union Minister of State (External Affairs & Textiles) Pabitra Margherita on Tuesday asserted that the entire Northeastern region is witnessing a historic transformation during these 11 years of the BJP-led NA government at the Centre under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Northeastern region, once neglected and disrupted with insurgency, has become a rising symbol of peace and opportunity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi…peace and security have been restored in the region while infrastructural development has taken an unprecedented leap, said the Union MoS.

Margherita was briefing the media here on the 11 years of Modi Government with his focus on detailing the Central initiatives taken during this period to empower the Northeastern States with connectivity, infrastructural development, community engagement and socio-economic reforms.  He informed that the fund allocation to DoNER ministry has been increased by 408% in these 11 years with similar enhancement in the Union Budget for the Northeastern region.

The MoS highlighted the special attention given by Modi to the Northeastern States with the Prime Minister visiting the region 65 times during these 11 years and listening to the Northeast’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The Prime Minister has envisioned the Northeastern States as ‘Ashta Lakshmi’ and accordingly, the once-backward region is taking centre stage as the growth engine of India, he added.

There have been more than 700 visits of the Union ministers to the Northeastern States in these 11 years during which they took stock of the Central schemes and engaged with the local communities, he shared.

The MoS expressed that Sikkim has also hugely progressed and benefited from the Modi Government’s focus on the Northeastern region through various Central schemes and initiatives in these 11 years.

It was informed that 3.81 lakh beneficiaries in Sikkim receive free ration under PM GaribKalyan Anna Yojana while 4122 houses were built under PM AwasYojana in Sikkim since the scheme was launched in 2015. Likewise, 1.2 lakhs rural households are provided tap water connection under JalJeevan Mission at a cost of Rs. 1066.78 crore in last 6 years ensuring 91% coverage.

At present, 32,190 farmers in Sikkim are receiving Rs. 6,000 annual assistance under PM KisanSammanNidhi.

On the public healthcare front, the BJP shared that 167 Health and Wellness Centres are operational in Sikkim under Ayushman Bharat while 12 Jan Aushadhi Centers are offering affordable medicines and functioning in various districts here. Under the Prime Minister National Dialysis Programme, 40 dialysis units across four district hospitals are functional in Sikkim.

The BJP, in its media handout, shared that under the PM Cares, five oxygen plants were established and are functional at the five districts of Sikkim. The National Medical Commission has allotted the establishment of the Sikkim Government Medical College in Gangtok, and provided Gap funding of Rs.167.9 crores under PM DevINE Scheme.

Sikkim is the model State for the rest of India in many aspects like organic farming, cleanliness and plastic-free, said the MoS.

Margherita, in his briefing, maintained that the Centre has taken all measures to ensure that connectivity needs of the Northeastern States are met with expansion of highways, development of railway links, and establishing airports.

In 2014, Sikkim had a total National Highway (NH) length of approximately 176.78 km. By 2025, the total length of National Highways in Sikkim increased to 709 km. Significant efforts are underway to improve and upgrade NH-10, focusing on resilience, safety, and connectivity.

As per the BJP, the NH 717A connecting Sikkim as an alternative highway is almost 80% work completed while the Sevoke to Rangpo railway line will be completed soon. The DPR for the 34.7 km Rangpo-Gangtok railway line has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways, and the Final Location Survey (FLS) was completed. The Railways Ministry has also approved Final Location Survey for Melli-Dentam Railway Line in Sikkim, it was informed.