The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi, today has approved a new Scheme – “Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)” for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26.

This new Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding; will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).

It will have an outlay of Rs.6,600 crore for the four year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (remaining years of 15th Finance Commission period).

Efforts will be made to complete the PM-DevINE projects by 2025-26, so that there are no committed liabilities beyond this year.

This implies front-loading of the sanctions under the Scheme primarily in 2022-23 and 2023-24. While expenditure would continue to be incurred during 2024-25 and 2025-26, focused attention will be given to complete the sanctioned PM-DevINE projects.

PM-DevINE will lead to creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects and create livelihood activities for youth and women, thus leading to employment generation. It will be implemented by Ministry of DoNER through North Eastern Council or Central Ministries/ agencies.

Measures would also be undertaken to ensure adequate operation and maintenance of the projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE so that they are sustainable.

In order to limit construction risks of time and cost overrun, falling on the Government projects would be implemented on Engineering-procurement-Construction (EPC) basis, to the extent possible.

The objectives of PM-DevINE includes – Fund infrastructure convergently in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti; Support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER; Enable livelihood activities for youth and women; Fill the development gaps in various sectors.

According to an official communique issued by the PIB, there are other MDoNER Schemes for the development of northeastern region. The average size of projects under other MDoNER Schemes is about Rs 12 crores.

It will provide support to infrastructure and social development projects which may be larger in size and will also provide an end-to-end development solution instead of isolated projects. Therefore, it will be ensured that there is no duplication of project support under PM-DevINE with any of the other schemes of MDoNER or those of any other Ministry/Department.

The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER). Announcement of PM-DevINE is yet another instance of the importance being attached to the development of NE Region by the government.

Meanwhile, the central scheme is an additionality to the quantum of resources available for the development of the NER; which will not be a substitute for existing Central and State Schemes.

Although some of the projects to be approved for 2022-23 under PM-DevINE are part of the Budget announcement, projects with substantial socio-economic impact or sustainable livelihood opportunities for the general public (e.g., basic infrastructure in all Primary Health Care Centres, comprehensive facilities in Government Primary and Secondary Schools, etc) may be considered in the future.

The justification for announcement of PM-DevINE is that the parameters of NE States in respect of Basic Minimum Services (BMS) are well below the national average and there are critical development gaps as per the BER District Sustainable Development Goad (SDG) Index 2021-22 prepared by NITI Aayog, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MDoNER.

This new Scheme, PM-DevINE was announced to address these BMS shortfalls and development gaps.