AGARTALA, April 10 (TIWN): The first NITI Aayog meeting in Tripura has been started at 10 am today at State Guest House under the banner of "NITI Forum for Northeast". Following the meeting a press address will be held detailing about the meeting's decision by DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh. The meeting has been chaired by the Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, Rajeev Kumar and the co-Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh. Chief Ministers of NE States and leading lights from the region will attend the deliberations.Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog and Jitendra Singh, MoS (IC), Ministry of DoNER addressed the press conference at NITI Aayog .Emphasizing the need to identify constraints, streamline resources and add renewed focus on the NER, the Vice-Chairman and the Minister spoke about Moving towards a prosperous North East Region, the theme for the first meeting.

The ‘NITI Forum for North East’ was constituted in February 2018 with an aim to ensure sustainable economic growth of the North Eastern Region (NER) of the country and periodically review the development status in NER. 

Objectives of the meeting are : 

• Strategies for improving Road, Rail and Air Connectivity in the North East Region

• Realizing the Hydel Dream – Way Forward for utilizing existing potential for hydro-power in the NER

• Agriculture and allied sectors

     − NE States to encourage Organic Farming

     − Cultivation of Vegetables, fruits, Spices, medicinal plants

     − Soil Health Card for farmers  

     − Minimizing post-harvest losses

     − Increased coverage under Crop Insurance

     − Milk production to be boosted

• Water Management 

     − Early completion of on-going irrigation projects

• Promotion of Tourism

     − Promotion of Eco-Tourism, Rural Tourism and Adventure Tourism

     − Strengthening of North East Tourism Development Council (NETDC)

     − Organically-themed Home-Stay Tourism (as in Sikkim) may be encouraged in other NE States 

     − The NETDC to work closely with NE States for tourism promotion

• Identifying and targeting early bird projects in areas of connectivity, agricultural productivity and industrial development to give fillip to growth in the NER.

Background:

The secretariat for the Forum has been established in the DoNER Ministry. The Forum includes representation from all NE States, their Chief Secretaries and Secretaries of relevant Central Ministries/Departments, Directors of reputed institutions (IIT, IIM etc), experts and journalists have been included as members.