Mizoram CM Lalduhoma chairs high-level task force meeting on north east economic corridor
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Guwahati: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma chaired a meeting of the High-Level Task Force on the North East Economic Corridor , set up by the Ministry of DoNER to accelerate economic growth in the North Eastern region of India.As the Convener of the Task Force, Chief Minister Lalduhoma welcomed all participants and expressed his gratitude for their commitment to the development of the region. He outlined key challenges and priorities, particularly underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure development in the Northeast. He noted that Mizoram's Road density remains significantly below the national average and that other critical infrastructure sectors also require focused attention.The Chief Minister stressed that improved infrastructure will not only enhance regional connectivity but also strengthen cross-border trade with neighbouring Asian countries, creating substantial employment opportunities in the process. He also conveyed his appreciation to Union DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for his continued leadership and proactive role in advancing development in the North East.Lalmalsawma Pachuau, Secretary of the Planning & Programme Implementation Department, Government of Mizoram, presented a report summarizing key points from the first meeting consultations and inputs received from member states. This was followed by a detailed discussion on the findings and recommendations.The meeting was attended by Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister of DoNER; Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya; Chandra Mohan Patowary, Minister from Assam; PK Singh, Chief Secretary of Manipur; V. Umashankar, Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport undefined and senior officials from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), among others.Participants shared their perspectives and proposals, reaffirming their commitment to hold follow-up consultations aimed at achieving a collective and coordinated approach to the corridor's development.The High-Level Task Force was constituted by the Ministry of DoNER to identify key interventions and formulate actionable short-term, medium-term, and long-term strategies for the integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor.Lalduhoma chaired a meeting of the Mizoram State Policy Coordination Committee at the CM's Conference Hall. The meeting reviewed the progress of the state government's flagship programme — the Handholding Scheme.As of now, a total of 11,438 applications have been received under the scheme's loan component. Of these, 588 have been approved by the concerned line departments, and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared for 1,687 applicants. Verification and scrutiny are ongoing for 8,249 applications, while 914 applications have been rejected. Rejected applicants are being informed of the reasons and guided on how to reapply correctly or make necessary modifications.So far, 517 approved applications have reached the banking stage, and 51 beneficiaries have received their loans. One of the main reasons for the slow pace of disbursal is technical and procedural issues with the PMEGP portal. However, improvements have been observed recently, and banks are showing increased commitment to disburse loans to eligible applicants.Under the Chief Minister's Special Package, the government has set a target to support 2,000 individuals. So far, 2,226 applicants have been shortlisted. However, some proposals involve exaggerated cost estimates, which may result in adjustments to the final number of beneficiaries. Selected applicants will undergo mandatory training before receiving financial assistance.Line departments have been instructed to complete the scrutiny of all remaining applications within July. The next round of fresh applications is scheduled to begin in August.
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