New Delhi, July 23 (MExN): The Union Budget 2024-2025unveiled on Tuesday by Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman showed a modest hike in allocation of just Rs 8 crore for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for the current fiscal.
As per the data on Ministry-wise Summary of Budget Provisions, the total allocation for the DoNER Ministry increased from Rs 5892 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 5900 crore in 2024-25. It comprised Rs 2040.68 crore in revenue expenditure and Rs 3859.32 crore in capital expenditure.
Out of the total allocation, a large chunk pertains to the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme, a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding launched approved in 2022.
After actual allocation of Rs 121.19 corer in 2022-2023, the allocation for PM-DevINE surged to Rs 2200 core in 2023-24. The amount remained the same for 2024-25.
The scheme was launched with total outlay of Rs 6600 crore for the four year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (remaining years of 15th Finance Commission period).
Another large portion of allocation was for the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) at Rs 2491 crore for 2024-25, more or less same as the previous fiscal.
The allocation for Central Sector Schemes/Projects Schemes of North East Council, meanwhile, increased from Rs 800 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 820 in the current fiscal.
For the fiscal year 2024-2025, the secretariat is allocated Rs 32.34 crore, a modest increase from Rs 31.74 crore in 2023-2024.
The allocation also included Special Development Packages for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC); Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC) and Dima Hasao Territorial Council (DHATC).
Additionally, in her budget speech, Sitharaman stated that more than 100 branches of India Post Payment Bank will be set up in the North East region to expand the banking services.
