Abolish northeastern development ministry: panel

By IANS

New Delhi : A government panel has recommended that the Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region (Doner), created seven years ago to accelerate development in the northeastern region, be abolished.


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The second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), headed by former Karnataka chief minister M. Veerappa Moily, has recommended abolition of the ministry, which is currently headed by union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.

“The ministry for Doner may be abolished and the responsibility for the development of the region should be restored to the ministry of home affairs,” said the ARC report on ‘Capacity Building For Conflict Resolution: Friction To Fusion’ released Monday.

“The responsibility of sanctioning funds from the non-lapsable central pool resources should be entrusted to the North Eastern Council,” the report said.

“It is desirable that a 10-year perspective plan is prepared for the entire region encompassing areas like development of human resources and infrastructure. A governance reform agenda should also form part of this plan.”

The report said that the Planning Commission should lay down a framework for preparation of plans “with priorities and not as an assortment of schemes by the North Eastern Council”.

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