The document proposes several solutions to realize the growth potential of North-East India, which faces problems like inadequate infrastructure, low productivity, and underdeveloped economy. It suggests establishing a separate time zone to increase productivity, exploiting shale gas reserves to boost energy security and local economies, promoting agriculture, infrastructure development through public-private partnerships, improving education, and developing cultural tourism to promote the region. Overall, the key is to focus on connectivity both within North-East India and with neighboring countries, leverage private sector funding, and strengthen trade and economic ties under initiatives like the 'Look East' policy to transform the region.

1. Sunrise States:
Realizing the
growth potential of
North-East
Team Details
Akhilesh Gupta, akhigraphy@gmail.com
Deepansh Jain
Aayush Maheshwari
Digvijay Jain
Atul Panchal
Unrealised
Potential

3. Problems (cont.)

4. SEPARATE TIME ZONE FOR NER
While Singapore’s longitude is 105°E they have kept
their time on 120°E, keeping the country permanently
one hour ahead.
This could be one of the reasons for the
Singaporean’s greater productivity and prosperity of
the island state
SOLUTION
The proposed new time zone would put the
North-Eastern states six-hours ahead of
GMT, at par with Bangladesh.
IF DST (Daylight Saving Time) was
observed
Total money wastage on electricity in past
40 years in NER : Rs. 95,000 crore
approx.(Home and Offices)
Total time wastage in 62 years from
independence till now on nearly 2-3 hrs per
day : 55800 hours.
Northeast has gone behind by 25 years 10
months in productivity since
independence*.
Advantages
1. Increased productivity: An early start would have
more energetic people in the offices.
2. Reduced power consumption: Starting and closing
an hour earlier would result in a saving an hour of
electricity in offices.
A conservative estimate shows that starting the day an
hour earlier would result in a saving of about 550
MW of power in northeast India alone.
3. Curbing alcoholism: With five to six “available
extra hours” after work and with little else to do most
people fall prey to alcoholism.
Drawbacks
Create initial confusion in minds of people and will
cause some administrative problems but the benefits
easily outweigh these small problems

5. SOLUTIONSOLUTION
SOLUTION
INFRASTRUCTURE
Problems
Till date, the North- Eastern region presents a dismal picture
in terms of transportation networks. It has the lowest road
and railway density in the country. Inadequate road and
rail links have left many areas inaccessible and their great
potential in forest products, cash corps, hydropower, animal
husbandry and tourism remain unexploited.
Cost of making roads in NER is nearly Rs 80 lakh per km
which is almost double as compared to plains.
Post Offices and telephone exchange as social overheads
for communication therefore are costlier in the region as
compared to the country, which is mainly attributable to the
sparse location of settlements and low density of population
in the region.
Proposed Solutions
Better tourism development initiatives and
greater stakeholder participation in the growth
process are key imperative for the region.
Time-bound implementation of projects,
conducive centre-state relations, political
stability, monitoring of fund–flows and necessary
marketing and branding can truly transform this
goldmine of a region into a vibrant hub for
business, tourism and trade.
While the Government both at the Centre and the
States have made tireless efforts towards the
same, given the volume of investments required
private intervention is strictly called for to
achieve the targeted capacity. So perfect solution
to it is PPP( public private partnership).

6. Promoting Horticultural
and Organic Crops
• Oranges, Cardamom, Rubber,
Bamboo, etc as conditions are
suitable in NER
• Dairy, poultry , meat, fishery
would also boost employment
opportunities.
• E.g. The youth can be
trained by introducing
activities in schools that aim
at teaching these
professional lessons.
Consolidation of fragmented
land and better land
management practices
• Discontinue shifting
cultivation. It will help in
maiintaing the sufficient flora
to check landslides and other
disasters.
• Integration of land under
coordinated efforts so as to
maximizeland productivity
E.g. Set up local authorities
to administer these
practices.
Establishment of
warehouses and proviiding
better facilities
• Perishable goods are
wasted due to
mismanagement. Proper
warehouses with
facilities like cold
storage will promote
business here.
• E.g. The locals can be
put incharge of these
facility centres.
Agricultural Reforms
SOLUTION

7. SOLUTIONS
Improving Education System
• Setting up more schools to reduce the drop out rate.
Moral persuasion to encourage children to continue their studies
Increase the number of teachers, more funds, patch the demand-supply gap, etc.
Setting up national institutes with reservation for local students.
Other Suggestions
Boost industry and academic relationship.
• Updating technologies and the syllabus at regular intervals
• New need based & innovative programmes to be launched with market orientation
• Faculty & Industry personnel exchange programme at regular basis
• Quality in education-NBA, NAAC accreditation, ISO certification
• Quality research-Application orientation-patents
• Emphasis on better package with special hard area incentives for employees and
faculties with more rigorous selection process
• Fair performance appraisal system for institution’s growth
• Application oriented courses need to be o ffered to enhance employability of the
students
• Encouraging private quality institutions in the region

8. Exploitation of Shale Gas Reserves
Induced hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracturing, commonly known
as fracking, is a technique in which typically water is mixed with sand
and chemicals, and the mixture is injected at high pressure into
a wellbore to create small fractures along which fluids such as
gas, petroleum, uranium-bearing solution,[and brine water may migrate
to the well.
Fracking has made it possible to unlock massive new supplies of oil
and clean-burning natural gas from dense deposits of shale .These
supplies can increase India’s energy security and improve our ability
to generate electricity, heat homes and power vehicles for generations
to come.
Benefits and how it can help NER
The US Energy Information Administration estimated that India held
38 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves,a conservative
estimate at best.It is good enough for the needs of the nation for 29
years
A government policy framework on shale gas exploration expected in
the next 2 years .India can look forward to commercial production of
shale gas in the next five years or by 2017.
India is the world's top producer and exporter of the guar gum seed.It
satiates 80 percent of world demand for guar. Guar is a major
ingredient used in the fracking process.
Hydraulic fracturing provides a major boost to the local economies by
generating royalty payments to property owners, providing tax
revenues to the government and creating job opportunities.
Engineering and surveying, construction, hospitality, equipment
manufacturing and environmental permitting are just some of the
professions experiencing the positive ripple effects of increased oil and
natural gas shale development.
It will give a new life to NER and will help abolishing most of their
problems.

9. ECONOMY
WHAT GOVT. DID
• look east policy to create economic
hub in north east India
• Exploring the trade and commerce
prospects with its ASEAN neighbors
• Relied heavily on central funding.
• development of physical connectivity
between NER and Southeast Asia
• As a result, India has initiated certain
bilateral projects and also become
party to some multilateral projects
WHAT WENT WRONG
• Focused only on trade and commerce
and forgot to focus on connectivity
between NER and other parts
• Excluded private sector for funding
• the huge amounts of grants and
subsidies have not generated any
substantial economic growth, but
given rise to an age of rampant
corruption and the current glitch of the
Indian polity, namely, “Kleptocracy”
or ‘the rule of thieves.
Now….
• The integration of the NER within a dense
economic framework spreading over Myanmar
to Korea through Bangladesh, Thailand and
the new ASEAN states, “might ultimately help
the marginalized region to transcend the
historical tyranny of fixed borders and allow
its inhabitants the fullest possible benefits in
the process of economic exchanges qua the
Look East move.
• by investing on community building and soft
border exercises, the LEP could envisage a
successful economic transformation of the
North-east.
• Besides the natural resources, the need of the
hour is to focus on those areas which would
lead to growth of the economy like tourism
and border trade and including private sector
along with public sector.
• Maximize the use of rivers by setting
hydropower projects which will generate
electricity, increase employability, develop the
economy etc.
• Try increasing its agriculture business by
starting exporting its good quality oranges and
cardamom around the world which will also
improve its trade balance.
• Extract oil and natural gas through technique
of fracking which will help in fulfilling India’s
oil demands and hence help country to
improve trade balance.

10. Economic Tourism Development
Innerline permit should be discontinued which has been mandatory till
now in NER.
Organise Summits of UNESCO in the NER which will project the
region in the world map
Brand ambassadors, advertisements, Campaigns to promote.
Subsidize Tour packages (Introduce Govt. Tour packages) and lucrative
offers for attracting more tourists .
Promoting attractive natural regions like Patkai, Kajiranga, Bombdila
, tawang, etc.
Awareness programs for existing govt benefits. Eg. There’s a facilty for
govt employes to enjoy free 15 days in NER. But people are not aware.

11. Promote Culture and
Sports
Culture and sports are quintessential part of North-Eastern States which binds the whole plethora of distinct
cultures together as sisters. Sports nourishes the spirit, brings a sensation of victory and joy .
We have following ideas to promote the culture of North Eastern States:
1. It is observed that people of the states have proclivity towards western culture and music. Many Western
Musical Institutes are mentored by these people across the country. So a better platform should be created to
promote their taste so that there is a sense of belongingness in our brothers and sisters of North East.
2. A plethora of festivals are celebrated in the states. Some of the major are Hornbill Festival, Brahmaputra
Festival, Losar Festival, Shillong Autumn Festival, etc. The aim should be to promote these festivals across the
nation. Media can play a major role by broadcasting and promoting the panache, zest and verve of the states.
3. This region has produced acclaimed directors like Jahnu Barua and Utpal Borpujari and actors like Danny
Denzongpa and Adil Hussain, but sadly the northeast has never been on Bollywood’s radar.
4. It is often believed by the people of the states and seen by us that the people there carry a distinct fashion be it
attire or makeup. An attracting appearance is never gone ignored. So there should be promotions of their style
and fashion through exhibitions and shows.
5. The North East has given this country legends like MC Mary Kom, Dingko Singh, Baichung Bhutia, Somdev
Devvarman, etc. This side of India has constantly proved the quality of sportsmen it can produce.