To boost connectivity in the northeastern States of the country, the Union government on Saturday announced investments worth nearly Rs. 10,000 crore in the region over the next four years to implement more than 400 projects.

The Digital North East Vision 2022, which has been announced just a year ahead of 2019 general elections, has identified a total of eight thrust areas to enhance connectivity, including telecom infrastructure, electronics manufacturing units, BPOs and cyber security, besides promotion of digital innovations.

“The success of Digital India lies in the successful implementation of Digital North East,” Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The majority of the projects will be implemented by the Department of Telecom. The Ministry of Electronics and IT is expected to fund projects to the tune of Rs. 1,397 crore, while the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region will spend Rs. 411 crore. The Home Ministry has committed investments of Rs. 53 crore. The investments from the private sector, however, are expected to be limited to about Rs. 70 crore. Special focus will be given to 8,621 unconnected villages in the region, Mr. Prasad said.

Electronics cluster

As part of the initiative, Mr. Prasad also inaugurated the first electronics manufacturing cluster in the northeastern region in Guwahati on Saturday.

Mr Prasad added that the number of seats provided for the region under the rural BPO scheme has also been doubled to 10,000.

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