File Photo: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that the Centre's retrogressive policies were responsible for the sluggish development of the North East Region.
Referring to a report of the World Bank and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion where Assam has been clubbed in the 'jump start' category, Mr Gogoi alleged the NDA government's policies are mainly responsible for the lopsided industrial development in the region.
In an official release, Mr Gogoi alleged the NDA government at the Centre immediately after coming to power has put the North East Industrial Investment and Promotion Policy in suspended animation, which has stopped the inflow of investments in the state and the region as a whole.
Moreover, withdrawal of Special Category status and delinking of several welfare schemes from the Central assistance has again put a spanner on the 'ease of doing businesses' in the region, he alleged.
"The abolition of many schemes and pattern of funding by the Centre are responsible for not so impressive growth of the state in the last one year," Mr Gogoi said.
The Ministry of DoNER, which was set up to expedite the fledging development process in the remote and land-locked North East, has fallen flat as the Centre failed to allocate required funds for the region, he added.
"North-East is geographically and economically backward and unless the Centre accords special importance, the region will continue to be lagging behind," Mr Gogoi said, while urging the Centre to formulate policies conducive to large scale investments and reducing regional disparities.
The Chief Minister requested the Centre to pay special treatment to the region by not "merely paying lip sympathy" but by rendering concrete action to fulfil its promise and help North East catch up with other developed parts of the country.