Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 15: COVID and related health projects for Northeast will get priority fund sanctions and the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) will make sure that funds are made available for such projects on priority for each of the eight North Eastern States.
This was disclosed here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, after convening a detailed meeting with the senior officers of Ministry of DoNER, including Secretary DoNER, Additional Secretary DoNER, the Joint Secretaries, Financial Advisor and Economic Advisor. The meeting was held at the DoNER headquarters in Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, while observing social distancing norms.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that each of the North Eastern States has been asked to submit projects related to COVID pandemic or health infrastructure under the NESIDS (North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme). The projects submitted under this scheme will be sanctioned on priority and promptly, if they are meant to strengthen the health care infrastructure and to fight against COVID 19 pandemic, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh further revealed that some of these States have already started submitting projects after they were given this option. These include, for example, Mizoram which has sent proposal worth Rs. 25.7 crore for augmenting ICU bed capacity and related infrastructure, setting up Oxygen Plants, CT Scan Machine, protection and sterilization facility etc. Similarly, Meghalaya has also sent a proposal for setting up Corona Care Center in West Garo Hills district at a cost of Rs.10.67 crore, he said.
This morning, the Manipur State Government has also sought to send a proposal for setting up an Infectious Disease hospital devoted to COVID and other infections, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction at the manner in which North Eastern States have, by and large, been able to contain the spread of COVID pandemic in the region. These containment measures, he said, could very well be a model for the rest of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh appreciated the proactive role of Ministry of DoNER which had, in the beginning itself, provided immediate relief of 25 crore and set up a Control Room in the North Eastern Council headquarters at Shillong. He said, he is himself in regular touch with all the eight Chief Ministers of North Eastern Region, the Ministers and the Resident Commissioners based in New Delhi.
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