Connectivity remains a major challenge in Northeast India, 67 years after independence. The seven sister states remain cut off from the mainland due to lack of adequate roads and electricity infrastructure. While funds are available from various sources like the World Bank and Government of India, the challenge is to properly monitor how these funds are utilized due to the poor connectivity and infrastructure in the region. The World Bank has allocated over $1.2 billion for various projects aimed at improving transportation, agriculture, power and other sectors in Northeast India.

2. Connectivity is THE CHALLENGE in North East. Sixty seven years after the independence, the
seven states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura) –
or famously called the ‘Seven Sisters’ , they still remain cut off from the mainland. Be it
electricity supply (power) or roads, the less said about the better.

3. Barring a few hundred kilometres, most of roads in northeastern states are something like
this. Paucity of funds from respective state governments or lack of public prodding? Maybe
both. Unless and until the locals pressurize their local elected representatives , things are
unlikley to improve. On the availability of money to undertake these projects, there is no
dearth.

4. Onno Ruhl, Country
Director for World Bank
in India, has gone on
record that a sum of
US$500 million is being
released for various
projects in North East..
The Bank has already
released US$600 mn in
this regard.
In Assam, discussions
are underway for
projects to improve
agri-marketing, power
transmission and water
transport.
In Mizoram, the Bank
has sanctioned US$107
million for the “Regional
Transport Connectivity”
project.

5. Under the India Development Marketplace Programme, the World Bank has disbursed US$1.2
million to 14 social enterprises in Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram. The biggest challenge will
be in monitoring how these funds are utilised. Though Government of India allocates a huge
chunk of money for developmental activities in North East, due to lack of connectivity and
poor infrastructur, inpsections by the Central team are rare, thus leaving a bigger scope for
misuse at the end user level.

6. So, it is not the question
of how much money is
being funneled in
improving the living
conditions of people in
the much neglected
North East region, but
the challenge before
Onno Ruhl and his tm in
India is to keep a vigil
on the utilization part of
those funds demarcated
for usage.
Having said that, it has
to be acknowledged
that overseas donors –
unlike Government of
India - are more
diligent and watchful in
tracking how their
generosity is being put
to use.