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PC: India Today

Context

Although often exaggerated, India's "unity in diversity" continues to be a significant national strength, especially in the northeastern region, which encompasses cultural richness, natural resources, and geopolitical importance. However, despite these improvements, there are still issues that require careful attention.

Diversity and Complexity of the Northeast

• Cultural Diversity: The region is home to a wide range of ethnicities, languages, and tribes, making it both culturally rich and conflict-prone.
• Manipur Conflict: The violence in Manipur (from May 3, 2023) between the Kuki and Meitei communities exemplifies unstable intercommunity interactions.
• Geopolitical Complexity: The region's complex terrain, historical context, and sensitive boundaries all complicate governance.

Historical Background – From Conflict to Connectivity 

• Insurgency & Separatist Movements:
  Post-independence decades witnessed multiple insurgent and separatist groups like Naga, Mizo, ULFA, and NDFB.
  
  
• Assam Accord (1985):
  Signed after major anti-infiltration protests led by AASU and AAGSP, marking a political turning point.
  
  
• Security-Centric Approach:
  The Union government largely viewed the Northeast through a security lens for decades.
  
  
• Look East Policy (1990s):
  Initiated by PM P. V. Narasimha Rao to enhance ties with South and Southeast Asia.
  
  
• DoNER Ministry (2001):
  Institutional focus on regional development established by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
  
  
• Catalyst for Change (2011):
  Hillary Clinton’s Chennai speech emphasized India’s eastern engagement, prompting strategic rethinking.
  
  
• Act East Policy (2014):
  Adopted by the Modi government to deepen connectivity, trade, and cultural ties, shifting the region’s role from conflict zone to a gateway for cooperation.

Policy Transformation Under Current Government

• The Northeast region has been repositioned as a geostrategic pivot and gateway to ASEAN and East Asia, enhancing its geopolitical significance.
  
  
• The political integration of the region was strengthened as the ruling party at the Centre formed governments in multiple Northeast states between 2015–2018, facilitating a robust developmental push.
  
  

Infrastructure Push

• Several Union ministries maintained a continuous ministerial presence in the Northeast, ensuring focused attention.
  
  
• The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) allocated 10% of its budget to the region, resulting in the construction of 4,950 km of National Highways with an investment of around $5 billion.
  
  
• The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) was launched in 2018 with a dedicated budget of $1 billion to accelerate infrastructure development.
  
  

Development Initiatives: Infrastructure & Investment

• Under the present Central government, the Northeast has seen a major infrastructure boost.
  
  
• Key projects include the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, Bhupen Hazarika Bridge in Assam, development of 11,000 km of highways, expansion of railways and airports.
  
  
• Connectivity has been enhanced through improved waterways on the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers, alongside expanded mobile connectivity.
  
  
• The establishment of the Northeast Gas Grid (1,600 km) is advancing energy access and boosting the region’s industrial potential.
  
  
• Industrial investment has grown, marked by Tata’s ₹27,000 crore semiconductor plant in Assam, indicating rising investor confidence.
  
  
• The region is witnessing tourism growth due to improved infrastructure, better perception, and its abundant green cover.

Strategic Location and Connectivity Projects

• The region shares 5,484 km of international borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet (China), positioning it as a crucial gateway to Southeast Asia.
  
  
• Key connectivity projects include:
  
  
• India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway
  
  
• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
  
  
• Revival of Stilwell Road
  
  
• These projects aim to boost land-based trade between India and Southeast Asia.
  
  
• Sittwe Port (Myanmar) and Chittagong Port (Bangladesh) provide strategic access to the world’s busiest sea routes in the Indian Ocean.
  
  

Investment Focus – Aligning with Regional Strengths

Renewable Energy:

• The Northeast holds about 40% of India’s hydropower potential (estimated 62,000 MW), but only 6.9% is currently utilized.
  
  
• Solar power potential stands at 57,360 MW, with just 17% capacity installed.
  
  
• There is also significant scope for wind and small hydro projects.
  
  

Tourism Development:

• Compared to Thailand’s 35 million foreign tourists annually and Cambodia’s 2 million at Angkor Wat, the Northeast receives less than 2 lakh foreign visitors.
  
  
• The region has enormous eco-tourism and cultural tourism potential, with sites like Kaziranga National Park, Kamakhya Temple, Living Root Bridges, Tawang Glaciers, and Loktak Lake.
  
  

Human Resource Development:

• Despite a high literacy rate (~80%) and good English proficiency, skill gaps persist, necessitating enhanced capacity building and training infrastructure.
  
  

Peace Efforts and Security Reforms

• The NSCN (IM) Talks: The Framework Agreement signed in August 2015 has stalled, indicating challenges in finalizing peace deals.
  
  
• Peace Accords: Significant progress includes the Bodo Peace Accord and Bru refugee settlement in January 2020.
  
  
• AFSPA Rollback: Partial withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in key areas signals a move toward civilian governance and normalcy.
  
  
• These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to resolving insurgencies and promoting peace and reconciliation in the Northeast.

Persistent issues and emerging risks

• Manipur remains insecure, while peace talks in Nagaland appear to have halted.
• Border conflicts: Inter-state border conflicts, such as those between Assam and Mizoram, Nagaland, remain unresolved, but there has been some progress in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Hydroelectric Projects Controversy: The push for hydroelectric projects (mostly in Arunachal Pradesh) has aroused local opposition because of relocation fears and environmental concerns in this disaster-prone region.
• Social Tensions: The political rhetoric surrounding Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants has worsened regional tensions.

Strategic significance: Linking to the Act East Policy

• Strategic Importance: The northeast is critical to India's Act East Policy.
• Success factors include internal stability and equitable development.
• Diplomatic Coherence: Maintaining diplomatic coherence with neighbours such as Bangladesh and Myanmar is critical.

Practice Questions Q. Analyze how India’s northeastern region can serve as a strategic gateway for the Act East policy while addressing internal conflicts, environmental concerns, and development aspirations.