Agartala: April 02: In a recent discussion in the Lok Sabha, Member of Parliament Biplab Kumar Deb highlighted the issue of unutilized funds from various projects and urged the Minister of Development of the North-Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, to allocate these funds for the development of the northeastern states instead of returning them after the prescribed period. Deb emphasized that these funds could be better utilized to address the region’s developmental challenges.
Responding to the concern, Minister Scindia reassured that the central government is fully committed to the development of the northeastern states. He mentioned that ministers from various central departments are focusing on ensuring that at least 10% of the Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) from 54 central ministries is directed toward this cause. Scindia also highlighted the collaborative approach taken by central ministries, where development decisions for the northeastern region are made unanimously.
Scindia provided additional context by pointing out that, over the past three years, unutilized funds equivalent to 103% of the GBS from these 54 ministries have been allocated for the development of northeastern states. He further mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had instructed ministers to provide even more funds to accelerate the region’s development.
As of now, approximately ₹1,02,074 crore of unutilized funds from various central ministries have been allocated for northeastern development. This initiative aims to address regional disparities, improve infrastructure, enhance connectivity, and boost economic growth in the region. Scindia’s statement reassured that the government’s focus on the northeastern states remains a top priority, with consistent efforts to ensure that funds are utilized effectively for the region’s progress.
