Shillong, July 13: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday said the Northeast has undergone an unprecedented transformation over the past decade, marked by improved connectivity, stronger scientific infrastructure and expanding employment opportunities.
Speaking after chairing a review meeting of science and technology institutions at the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) in Shillong, Singh said states that once had little or no railway connectivity were now being linked through expanding rail networks. He said the development of airports and improvement of road infrastructure across the region had reduced travel time and significantly improved accessibility.
Highlighting advances in scientific infrastructure, Singh said the number of weather radars in the Northeast had increased from two before 2014 to 13, with further expansion planned under Mission Mausam. The number of seismological observatories and stations in the region had also increased from around 80 to more than 170, strengthening earthquake monitoring and disaster preparedness in the seismically active region, he said.
Singh said these developments had brought the Northeast closer to the national mainstream, while the region’s youth were increasingly excelling in sectors such as aviation, tourism, healthcare and nursing. He cited the recent recruitment of nurses for Japan, in which a large number of selected candidates were reportedly from the Northeast, particularly Meghalaya.
Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sustained focus on the region, Singh said the Prime Minister had visited the Northeast nearly 80 times, reflecting the Centre’s commitment to its development, scientific advancement and national integration. He added that improvements in telecommunications and digital connectivity were further accelerating the region’s participation in the country’s economic growth.
Earlier, Singh reviewed the Mobile Food Processing Unit jointly developed by NECTAR and the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute. The unit brings food-processing technologies to farmers’ doorsteps to promote value addition and livelihood generation.
He also visited the Vasundhara Soil Organic Carbon Detection Laboratory-cum-Manufacturing Unit, established under the PM-DevINE scheme using technology transferred from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for accurate on-site soil testing.
The Minister visited NECTAR’s STEM Education Laboratory, where he interacted with students and witnessed demonstrations involving robotics, coding, artificial intelligence and 3D printing. He also inaugurated an advanced GeoInformatics Laboratory equipped with drone, LiDAR and geospatial technologies to strengthen research and geospatial applications in the region.
During the review meeting, heads of various science and technology institutions presented updates on their programmes, achievements and future initiatives in research, innovation, capacity-building and socio-economic development. Senior representatives from NECTAR, CSIR-NEIST, CSIR-CMERI, CSIR-NGRI, the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, the India Meteorological Department, the National Centre for Seismology and other scientific organisations attended the meeting.
Singh urged scientific institutions to focus on transformational initiatives with measurable outcomes and highlighted the government’s support for science and technology through increased investment, public-private partnerships, the National Quantum Mission and the IndiaAI Mission. He called for greater collaboration among scientific institutions, IITs, universities, industries, medical institutes and state governments to translate research into practical solutions.
The Minister also urged institutions to work in a convergent mission mode aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and to take technology to the grassroots to improve livelihoods and generate employment.
Congratulating NECTAR and its partner institutions, Singh said their initiatives reflected the Centre’s commitment to using science and technology for inclusive development and improving the quality of life of people across the Northeast.
