Odisha, Odisha — Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently unveiled development projects worth ₹17,500 crore in Assam, accusing the Congress of ignoring the Northeast region.

Background

The Northeast region has long been a focal point for the Centre’s development initiatives, with the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme being a key catalyst for growth in the region. The scheme aims to strengthen the health, oil and gas, railway, and housing sectors, among others.

Community Impact

According to official reports, the PM unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of ‘Ahom general’ Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat, marking a significant milestone in the region’s rich history. The PM also laid the foundation stone of projects under the PM-DevINE scheme, including a Medical College and Hospital at Sivasagar and a Hemato-Lymphoid Centre in Guwahati. These projects are expected to have a significant impact on the community, providing better healthcare and education facilities to the people of Assam.

The PM also inaugurated a new medical college and hospital at Tinsukia and the 718-km-long Barauni-Guwahati Pipeline, built at a cost of about ₹3,992 crore. Additionally, he inaugurated approximately 5.5 lakh homes under PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, constructed at a cost of about ₹8,450 crore. The PM also inaugurated railway projects worth more than ₹1,300 crore in the State, including the Dhupdhara-Chhaygaon section of the New Bongaigaon-Guwahati via Goalpara doubling project and the New Bongaigaon-Sorbhog section of the New Bongaigaon–Agthori doubling project.

What Happens Next

The development projects unveiled by the PM are expected to have a significant impact on the community, providing better infrastructure and facilities to the people of Assam. The PM’s visit to the region is seen as a significant step towards strengthening the Centre’s development initiatives in the Northeast. As the region continues to grow and develop, it will be interesting to see how the community responds to these initiatives and what the future holds for the region.

The Congress has been critical of the PM’s visit, accusing him of ignoring the “disturbed” parts of the Northeast. The party has questioned the PM’s decision to visit the region without addressing the issues of insurgency and terrorism. However, the PM’s visit has been seen as a significant step towards strengthening the Centre’s development initiatives in the region, and it remains to be seen how the community responds to these initiatives in the coming days.

The community’s response to these initiatives will be crucial in determining the success of the PM-DevINE scheme. The region’s growth and development will depend on how effectively the community utilises the new infrastructure and facilities provided by the Centre.