Cultural fest of Northeast India - Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav

An update on festival related to northeast India

Cultural fest of Northeast India - Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• The story: A seven-day cultural festival of the northeast as part of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence under the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav programme was conducted. It celebrated the rich heritage of North East India, under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region & North Eastern Council (NEC)’s initiative titled “Destination NorthEast India”.
• North Eastern Council (NEC): It is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the NE Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. It was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament. 

1. National Museum - The blueprint for establishing the National Museum in Delhi was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946. It was initially looked after by the Director General of Archaeology until 1957, when the Ministry of Education declared it a separate institution and placed it under its own direct control. The National Museum is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture.
2. Importance of NE Region - The NER is strategically located with access to the traditional domestic market of eastern India, along with proximity to the major states in the east and adjacent countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar. With ASEAN engagement becoming a central pillar of India’s foreign policy direction, NE states play an important role as the physical bridge between India and Southeast Asia. The India's Act East Policy places the northeastern states on the territorial frontier of India's eastward engagement. The NER has immense natural resources, accounting for around 34% of the country’s water resources and almost 40% of India’s hydropower potential.

• Government Initiatives for NE Region: 

1. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): A Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was established in 2001. It was elevated to a full ministry in 2004.
2. Infrastructure: Under Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP), road stretches aggregating to about 5,301 km in NER have been approved for improvement. The North East has been kept as a priority area under RCS-UDAN (to make flying more affordable).
3. Connectivity Projects: Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project (Myanmar) and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor. 
4. North-East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS): In order to promote employment in the North East States, the Government is incentivizing primarily the MSME Sector through this scheme. The National Bamboo Mission has a special significance for the Northeast.

• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Suggest four steps to ensure greater integration of northeast region into mainstream of India. (2) Explain how can a hugely diverse nation like India stay a vibrant, viable constitutional democracy.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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