Why in news?
India has condemned a European Parliament resolution on the ethnic clashes in Manipur state, calling it an "interference" in its internal affairs.
In this context let us delve into the various developmental aspects of North-East India

Understanding North East India  
Unlike other states of the country, the Northeast of India is unique with its cultural and geopolitical characteristics. The region shares 96% of its border internationally with four countries including China, and is an extremely complex region with more than 200 ethnic groups with distinct cultures, food habits, languages, or dialects. 
Amongst all the northeastern states, Manipur is the most complex state with more than thirty-five ethnic groups. The state shares a large part of its boundary with Myanmar (398 Kilometers) presently ruled by the Military junta.  
Manipur also shares a boundary of 96 Km with Mizoram,205 km with Assam and 204km with Nagaland. The state has a diverse demography.  Nagas (24%) and Kukis (16%) are mostly Christians whereas Hindu Meities and Muslims constitute 53% and 6% of the population respectively.
 While India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh is fenced, the border with Myanmar is not. There is also a policy of Free Move Regime (FMR) which allows Citizens of both countries to come up to 16 Kilometers within each other’s territory without a visa or passport documentation. Though the aim of FMR is noble as it allows better interaction amongst people who are mostly from the same ethnic tribe,  it is prone to exploitation by militants, as well as smugglers.

Data/Statistics:  
• Contribution to GDP: North East India contributes to around 3% of the country’s Gross domestic product (GDP).
• Roadways: It is estimated that for every 100 sq.km area, the North East region has road length of 65 km against national average of around 75 km.
• Railways: The eight northeastern states together have only about 2,700 km of railway. Most of the northeast railway is situated in Assam.
• Irrigation: Despite one of the highest rainfall zones in the world, the total gross irrigated area is mere 10-15% of total gross cropped area.

Reasons for Underdevelopment of North East  
1. Historical legacy
• Isolation: North East region did not get the warranted focus during British period because of its isolation. Communication during pre-Independence era was primarily through East Bengal.
• Autonomy: The British have permitted a large deal of autonomy to the tribal regions which hinder connect with other parts of the country.

2. Geographical  
• Difficult terrain: Inaccessible terrain of North East makes completion of infrastructural projects difficult as it requires additional financial and human resources.
o Example: Almost 70% of the NER is hilly which poses one of the greatest constraints to rapid economic development.
• High rainfall: Very high rainfall and shifting river courses cause severe floods and landslides in the region which cause loss to valuable agricultural land.
• Ecological and geological fragility: Several mega government projects especially hydro power sector faced many implementation issues due to geological unstability of the region.
• Geopolitical factors: Cross- border conflicts and other illegal activities affect the development prospects of the region.
o Example: The recent military takeover in Myanmar and rising anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh further creates problems in the region.

3. Economic  
• Limited financial space: The tax collection and internal resources of North East region is meagre which increases the dependence on the central devolution.
• Land acquisition problems: Absence of land records is major hindrance which obstruct the development of the region.
• Poor communication: Road and rail connectivity is poor and prone to disruption due to inclement weather, land-slides and human intervention.
• Lack of Physical and Social Infrastructure: NER has complained of step motherly treatment from the mainland, especially in the context of development projects in the region.
• Lack of infrastructure: Lack of basic infrastructural facilities like roadways, waterways, and energy as well as social infrastructure like educational institutions, health facilities etc.
• Informal Economy: There is rampant narcotics trading, as well as other illegal activities like weaponry trading and trafficking of rare animals and poaching leading to limited official border trade.
• Trade facilitation with neighboring countries: Goods must be transloaded between vehicles of different countries, and the clearance processes are lengthy, which adds to the time and cost of transportation.
• Exploitation of natural resources: Militants have periodically targeted oil and gas pipelines for sabotage in oil rich regions of Assam.

4. Social  
• Social unrest: Because of armed insurgency, cross-border migration, movements that demand for separate federal states and autonomous units, and ethnic conflicts impede NER development.
• Socio-environmental dynamics: NER is also an ecologically sensitive zone, inhabited by several ethnic communities. Land is intrinsically linked to culture, and thus makes it imperative to ensure that any development activity takes this into account.
• Migration: Remarkable growth of migration from the North East to different parts of the country mostly in search of education and job opportunities gives big blow to the local society.
• Sensitive demography: Due to sensitive demography of the North East, several local organizations oppose connectivity projects citing potential influx of outsiders in the region.

5. Security  
• Informal economy: There is rampant narcotics trading, as well as other illegal activities like weaponry trading and trafficking of rare animals and poaching.
• Insurgency issues: Various north eastern states have significant presence of insurgency thus affecting the development of infrastructure in the region.
• Political violence: Political violence, civil strife and inter-state conflicts have all become hindrances to the development of North East region.
 
Importance of Development of North Eastern region 
• Geo-Strategic Location: The development of North East region connects India to the robust Southeast Asian markets and facilitate international trade with these countries.
• Bridge socio-economic gap: Infrastructure development is necessary to bridge socio-economic and cultural gap between the region and other parts of the country.
• Huge potential in agriculture trade: The favorable agro-climatic conditions and suitable soil makes the region attractive for agricultural exports.
• Tapping natural resources: Natural resources such as oil and gas, mineral deposits, land, forest vegetation etc., which are essential for economic growth are either underutilized, unutilized, and mismanaged.
• India's Act East Policy: Development of North-East region is quintessential for the success of India’s Act East policy.
• Gateway to South East Asia: Development across Northeast India will build a strong network of cross-border production chains particularly with SouthEast Asia and Bangladesh.
• Address Security concerns: Infrastructure development is essential for checking insurgency, ensuring food and energy security
• Presence of potent input market catalysts such as social capital (diversity, cultural richness), physical (potential energy supply hubs), human (inexpensive, skilled labour) and natural (minerals, forests) resources.

Government Initiatives for Development of North East:  
1. Creation of Separate Ministry: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) is responsible for the matters relating to planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in North Eastern region to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the region.
2. North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS): It is a central sector scheme which aims to enhance the physical infrastructure related to power, connectivity and water supply, and social infrastructure in the form of health infrastructure.
3. Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD-NER): The aim of the mission is to promote organic farming in the region. It seeks to replace traditional subsistence farming with a cluster-based approach.
4. Northeast Desk: Under DPIIT, a dedicated Northeast Desk has been set up within Invest India, to support the Northeast states in their outreach activities to the investors as well as in facilitating and handholding select companies.
5. North East Venture Fund: It is the first and only dedicated venture fund for NER which aims to promote business growth and skill development.
6. Infrastructural projects: Bogibeel Rail cum Road Bridge on Brahmaputra river, Ro- Ro service between Neamati-Kamlabari in Assam etc.
7. Connectivity Projects: To decrease dependence on Chicken’s neck, government has planned various initiatives such as Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project, trilateral highway linking with Myanmar and Thailand, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor, etc.
8. Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE):
• Union Budget (2022-23): The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER).
• Objective: Its major objectives are to 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 and fill the development gaps in various sectors.
• Central sector scheme: It is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
• Identification of Projects: The projects under the scheme would be identified using NER District SDG Index (Base
• Funding: It will have an outlay of Rs. 6,600 crores for the four year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26.

Way Forward  

1. Economic
• Create development opportunities: The large number of youths who are fluent in English can make the policy makers go a big way setting up BPOs in the region.  
• Infrastructure: Development of logistics hubs and corridors and tapping the potential of low-cost inland waterways and expanding air connectivity.
• Setup MSMEs: Setting up small and medium scale industries based on huge quantities of bamboo, cane and medicinal plants. 
• Investments: Create a hospitable investment climate to encourage investment by the private sector particularly for infrastructure.
• Connectivity: Development of logistics hubs and corridors, Ensuring interoperability of transport systems, improving trade facilitation, Tapping the potential of low-cost inland waterways, expanding air connectivity etc.
• Promote Tourism: Tourism in the region has the potential to channel the region into mainstream development.

2. Socioeconomic  
• Social empowerment: To empower rural communities, create sustainable institutions so that they manage common activities around microfinance, livelihoods and natural resource management.
• Economic empowerment: Develop the capacity of rural communities to plan and manage funds for various economic initiatives and common activities for the public.
• Bezbaruah committee recommendations: Promote better integration of North East states with rest of India, proactive steps to provide a safe social environment of mutual respect and understanding for migrant people of NER to different part of country.

3. Political  
• Partnership development: Partner with foreign investors, resource institutions and public and private sector organisations to bring resources such as finance, technology, and marketing into the projects so that the community groups are able to improve their livelihoods.
• Subregional forums: More focused approach in subregional forums, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), can play an important role in enhancing trade and connectivity between the NER and India’s neighbouring countries.
• Ascertain consent of people to implement policies: To ensure that economic development does not come at the expense of the environment or the social and cultural fabric of the region.