SHILLONG, Dec 8 ? The Centre has accepted the recommendations of an 11-member committee, which was constituted to suggest measures for the revitalisation and to operationalise the revised mandate of the North Eastern Council (NEC), which was established in 1972.
Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha recently, Union Tribal Affairs and DoNER Minister PR Kyndiah said that the Centre has, by and large, accepted recommendations of the committee, an official statement issued here said.
The recommendations relate to the organisational and functional restructuring of the NEC secretariat, setting up of sectoral empowered committees, measures for regional planning for sustainable growth and development, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, role of NEC in border trade and operationalising NEC?s mandate relating to security and public order.
The DoNER minister will be the chairman of the NEC, as recommended by the committee. Similarly, the recommendation relating to the nomination of three members of NEC has also been accepted.
It has also been decided to nominate member (North-east), Planning Commission as one of the members of the Council. The nomination of the remaining two experts in socio-economic planning has also been recommended. The nominated members will be given the same status, terms and emoluments as are being enjoyed by the members of the Planning Commission.
Kyndiah told the House that the decision taken by the government will go a long way in restructuring and strengthening the NEC to enable it to play its role more effectively as a catalyst in the process of sustained economic growth and development of the NE. The committee had submitted its report to the government on July 30 last.