The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region is considered a nodal ministry for the NE region comprising eight states. The need for having a separate ministry for northeast India itself indicates that the region has a complexity that needs special attention. The reason NE India remained backward is not because of the sep motherly behaviour of the Center post Independence but also due to its unique identities.

The identity complexity is seen every 100 kilometers where people speak different languages and practice a separate culture. Though English has united the NE region and is mostly the communicating language, identity issues, and its related politics are deep-rooted. The political movement of the region is based on identity and not development.

Development is a buzz word but it is the representation of people based on their identity that constitutes the politics of NE India. each district of the northeast in fact is having a separate identity and thereby its leader.

These leaders thrive on tall calls on identity and community-based politics many a time backed by militant insurgents. Villages fight amongst themselves on the basis of identity and land dominance is an integral part of the psyche. The region is demarcated on the basis of the dominance of a particular community in a particular demarcated district etc. 

This factor of identity leads to a psyche of ‘identity crisis’ resulting in violent uprisings keeping the development aspect as the backbencher. Everyone forgets ‘development’ and flares up into a bloody mindless fight on any given issue in a matter of minutes. And the civil administration fails to handle the situation where then the para-military is called in to maintain peace. 

Looking into these complex issues the MDoner which is mandated for the development of the Northeastern region of the country should also have other specialised cells in order to achieve its stated goal. The Ministry should have an ‘intelligence unit’ reporting directly to PMO and Home Ministry looking into the ingrained insurgency-prone society of the northeast region. 

MDoNER can also perform the role of integrator and be given the responsibility of developing harmonies among communities through a common bond of Indianness. Hindi as a language can here play a big role. Most of the people in the region are not averse to Hindi and Hindi programmes on TV, music, and films are a big attraction even though insurgent groups often ban them.

MDoNER should have close coordination between security agencies (in consultation with the state government) to fund developmental projects in far-flung areas through Central forces manning the border, particularly the Assam Rifles and Army. These will reduce the pilferage of funds spent by MDoNER and reach the last mile.

The insurgents who are siphoning off these development funds (through guns in far-flung areas manned by weak civil administration) will get a check and development will reach the last miles.

MDoNER should also have an external affairs cell as northeastern states are surrounded by foreign countries. It is best to do outreach with these countries from the Northeast than from Delhi and what best platform the Government of India can utilise to start with than MDoNER?

Each line ministry of the Government of India is allocating 10% of its budget to MDoNER besides a few ministries but what is the Return on Investment these ministries accrue from MDoNER? So if all the Ministries be it renewable energy or MSME should put specialised agencies under MDoNER to build up the region in a true sense. 

MDoNER should be made accountable for the achievement of the region and any backwardness be it ethnic violence, lack of educational facilities, etc  MDoNER should be equally accountable along with the respective state governments. 

At the end of the day, MDoNER is not just a funding agency. It is a full-fledged Ministry for the development of the Northeast. How can Northeast India develop if insurgents are ruling the states? If the states are divided on the basis of ethnic identities? What did then MDoNER achieve for the region…