Shillong, Jul 13: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, today said that the North East has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, emerging as a region with improved connectivity, stronger scientific infrastructure and expanding opportunities for its people.
Speaking to the media after chairing a comprehensive review meeting of Science and Technology (S&T) institutions at the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) here, Singh highlighted the significant progress made in the North East over the past decade. He said that states which once had little or no railway connectivity are now being connected through expanding rail networks, airports have been developed across the region, and road infrastructure has significantly improved, reducing travel time and enhancing accessibility.
Highlighting the strengthening of scientific infrastructure, the Minister said the number of weather radars in the North East has increased from just two before 2014 to 13, with further expansion planned under Mission Mausam. He further noted that the number of seismological observatories and stations in the region has increased from around 80 to over 170, considerably strengthening earthquake monitoring and disaster preparedness across the seismically active region. He added that several other visible improvements and advancements are taking place across various sectors in the region, reflecting the government’s continued focus on holistic development and inclusive growth.
Singh said these developments have not only improved connectivity and infrastructure but have also brought the North East closer to the national mainstream. He observed that the region’s youth are increasingly excelling in sectors such as aviation, tourism, healthcare and nursing, citing the recent recruitment of nurses for Japan in which a large number of selected candidates were from the North East, particularly Meghalaya.
Singh said the Prime Minister has visited the North East nearly 80 times, reflecting the government’s unwavering commitment to the region’s holistic development, scientific advancement and national integration. He added that similar progress is being witnessed in telecommunications and digital connectivity, further accelerating the North East’s integration with the country’s growth story.
The minister called for greater collaboration among scientific institutions, IITs, universities, industry, medical institutes and state governments to translate research into field-level solutions. Appreciating the collaborative initiatives being undertaken by NECTAR and other institutions, he urged all organisations to work in a convergent mission mode aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and the PM’s development priorities for the North East. He also stressed the importance of taking technology to the grassroots to improve livelihoods and generate employment, while reviewing the progress of the National Seismological Network, which has significantly strengthened earthquake monitoring across the seismically active region.
Earlier in the day, Singh inaugurated the two-day national conference on Next Generation Administrative and e-Governance Reforms, jointly organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Meghalaya.
During his speech, said that national conferences on governance reforms are now being organised across different regions of the country instead of remaining confined to New Delhi. He said this approach has strengthened collaboration between the centre and the states.
He expressed confidence that, like the earlier Shillong Declaration, the present conference would also culminate in a “Shillong Declaration 2.0” to carry the reform agenda forward.
Calling upon states and union territories to adopt successful governance practices from one another, Singh said the next generation of reforms should focus on Artificial Intelligence-enabled public administration, integrated digital citizen services, cybersecurity, process re-engineering, evidence-based policymaking and resilient institutions capable of responding to emerging challenges.
