NEW DELHI : DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced a significant shift in the government’s approach to the Northeast region during yesterday’s (August 1) Rajya Sabha session.

Responding to a question from Manipur MP Leishemba Sanajaoba about developmental projects in the area, Scindia declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed the Northeast from “the last point of India” to “the first point of India” over the past decade.

Scindia emphasised the region’s growing importance in India’s historical, cultural, and economic agenda, with a particular focus on Arunachal Pradesh. He presented key financial data to support this claim:

 1. Cumulative expenditure in the Northeast over the past 10 years: 5.22 lakh crores, surpassing the allocated 5.15 lakh crores.

 2. Revised estimates for the region increased from 27,539 crores to 91,802 crores – a 3.5-fold increase over a decade.

 3. Actual expenditure has also risen by 3.5 times during this period.

The Minister highlighted that this level of investment is unprecedented in India’s 75-year post-independence history.

While Scindia did not provide specific details on individual projects undertaken by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in the last three years, his statement indicates a broader shift in policy focus and resource allocation towards the region.