Bagmita Borthakur and Bishaldeep Kakati
The lavish greeneries and hills, the scenic places, the unity in diversity and the confluence of culture make Northeast one of the tourist hotspots of India. It also won't be wrong to state that nature has lavishly bestowed her belongings to this distinctive area of the nation. However despite these natural advantages, Northeast India has historically grappled with numerous challenges, impeding comprehensive regional progress. Persistent issues such as insurgency, illegal immigration, inter-tribal tensions, administrative oversight, and inadequately executed developmental policies have collectively hindered the region's growth. However, ever since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, the road map for development of the Northeast region has brought a complete new outlook to it, the result of which is evident from the development of the Northeast region from different spheres. In fact, acknowledging the potential of the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the northeastern states as "Ashtalakshmi," symbolically recognizing the states combined capacity for making the entire nation prosper. Following this, the central government under his leadership effectively initiated policies addressing insurgency, immigration, and inter-tribal conflicts. The outcomes of these measures are evident, supported robustly by recent data and statistics.
Issues like insurgency, immigration, dissatisfaction amongst different tribes, ignorance and improper and unexecuted plans and policies have made the region lose its real charm and glory. It was the honourable Prime Minister of India, Sri Narendra Modi who first tagged the states of Northeast as 'Ashtalaksmi' and as such the government at the center came up and executed many plans and policies to tackle many pertinent issues like insurgency, immigration, inter tribe clashes etc that has changed the overall outlook of the region. Northeast now dons a newer look with peace, progress and prosperity and the data and statistics available on record portray the same picture.
Violence and the related instability have always dampened the spirit of progress of the region. However, The Home Ministry's consistent efforts have dramatically reduced violence in Northeast India, bringing remarkable stability to the region. Official data underscores a substantial decline in unrest: violent incidents have decreased by 70%, casualties among security forces have dropped by 72%, and civilian casualties have diminished by 85%. Furthermore, the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which was once prevalent, now has its jurisdiction reduced significantly by 70%, reflecting the improved security situation and enhancing public trust. This reduction in violence has not only improved the daily lives of local communities but has also opened the region to new economic and developmental opportunities.
Further to uphold the sentiments and desires of the people of the region, the Government in the last many years has also signed many accords and treaties. The government’s proactive approach towards dialogue and negotiation has led to significant progress in resolving decades-long conflicts in Northeast India. Since 2019, the Home Ministry has successfully signed 12 landmark peace agreements with various insurgent and tribal groups, including NLFT (2020), Bru-Reang groups (2021), Karbi groups (2022), various tribal organizations, Assam-Meghalaya border accord (2022), agreements with DNL, UNLF, ULFA, and the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border (2023), and recently with Tripra, NLFT, and ATTF in 2024. These agreements collectively facilitated over 10,900 insurgent youths to abandon violence and reintegrate into mainstream society, marking a pivotal moment towards permanent peace, social harmony, reduction in militancy, and an environment conducive for stable development, signifying a landmark achievement in regional peace-building.
Complementing its peace initiatives, the Home Ministry has intensified efforts to promote socio-economic development, significantly increasing the Northeast development budget by 153%. The Bodoland Agreement is a remarkable success story in this regard, facilitating local education in the Bodo language, safeguarding cultural practices, and fostering widespread economic activity. This agreement has translated into concrete action, attracting investment MoUs worth ₹5 lakh crore in Assam, fueling industrialization and job creation. Similarly, the Bru Rehabilitation Agreement has notably transformed lives by rehabilitating 37,000 displaced Bru-Reang families from Mizoram, providing each family with a 150-yard home, community halls, education facilities, healthcare centers, and dedicated skill-training programs for two youths per household. In fact, Home Minister Amit Shah’s personal observations of these transformations underline significant improvements from dire poverty to newfound stability and prosperity, further improving local livelihoods and empowering communities across the region.
Furthermore, because of its geographical location, infrastructure and robust connectivity was another major issue of Northeast, which meant many important places of the region couldn't be properly explored, somewhat leading to the region being alienated from the mainland. However, in the tenure of the BJP government, infrastructure development and connectivity enhancement have emerged as central pillars of the Home Ministry's intervention in Northeast India. Recognizing the importance of robust infrastructure in integrating the region, the central government has heavily invested across sectors: ₹81,900 crore in railways, ₹41,500 crore in highways, and ₹47,000 crore in rural road development. Additionally, 64 new air routes and helicopter services have considerably reduced the geographical distance between Northeast India and the rest of the country, facilitating smoother people-to-people and trade linkages. Under the ambitious Vibrant Village Programme, ₹4,800 crore has been specifically allocated to Arunachal Pradesh, dramatically altering the narrative of remote border villages, redefining them from the "last villages" to the "first villages" of India. Amit Shah’s firsthand account of visiting Kibithoo illustrates the enhanced enthusiasm and optimism among residents, symbolizing a profound emotional and infrastructural integration that has historically eluded this strategically vital region.
In addition to this, initiatives like completion of 17 power projects, 40 water supply projects, 44 educational facilities, 43 healthcare establishments, 7 sports facilities, and 4 tourism development projects, including strategic missions such as the Oil Mission, Bamboo Mission, organic farming, and sector-specific projects in fisheries, poultry, and dairy sectors have further enabled the states to achieve economic self-sufficiency and sustainable livelihoods.
Therefore, the Home Ministry’s comprehensive interventions in Northeast India have ushered in a new era marked by reduced violence, sustained peace, economic development, and deeper emotional integration with the rest of India. Strategic peace agreements, substantial infrastructure investments, focused community welfare programs, and enhanced connectivity collectively represent a transformative chapter for the region. The ongoing commitment demonstrated by the Modi government not only signifies genuine dedication but also ensures a lasting foundation for continued peace and prosperity. With sustained attention and consistent developmental efforts, Northeast India is poised to emerge stronger, more stable, and deeply integrated with the national fabric.
Bagmita Borthakur, PhD Research Scholar, BITS Pilani and Bishaldeep Kakati, Assamese Advisory Board Member, Sahitya Akademi
