Shri Ghatowar Addresses Conference of Social Welfare Ministers of North Eastern States

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Chairman of North Eastern Council (NEC), Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has addressed thethe Conference of Ministers of Welfare/Social Justice of North Eastern States inShillong today.  The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri MukulWasnik was also present on the occasion. In his address, Shri Ghatowar said that as stipulated by the Government of India, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has to earmark 2% of their Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) for expenditure in the North Eastern States in case of schemes for SCs. For other schemes, the money to be earmarked is as per norms of 10% of GSB, he added. The Minister informed that the schemes of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region pertain, mainly, to investment in physical infrastructure. He said that under major scheme of NLCPR, till date, 1393 projects worth Rs. 11529.17 crorehave been taken up in sectors such as roads & bridges, education, health, power, irrigation & flood control, water supply, sports etc. He outlined that under North Eastern Council (NEC), despite having limited outlay for Human Resource Development and Education, following projects/programmes have been funded: (i)          National Tournament on Cricket for Physically Challenged Players in Manipur during 2010-12; (ii)         Construction of School Building and Hostel at Lyntijam Welfare Development Association, Mawtnum, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya for the benefit of physically challenged students; (iii)        Part-funding of construction of De-addiction Centres; (iv)       Sponsored a Training Programme on Hearing Disability Sector organized by IGNOU at Shillong for disabled persons Shri Ghatowar expressed confidence that the Conference would prove to be an important milestone in journey towards achieving a just and equitable growth leading to all-round development of the nation as a whole and North Eastern States, in particular. **** NSK/DB