Shillong, June 4: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today chaired the 73rd Plenary Meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, bringing together Governors, Chief Ministers, senior officials, and policymakers from across the North East to deliberate on key development priorities and strengthen regional cooperation.

The high-level meeting was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia, Meghalaya Governor C. H. Vijay Shankar, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Union Minister of State for DoNER Sukanta Majumdar, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and Secretary of the Ministry of DoNER Sanjay Jaju.

The plenary session also witnessed the participation of the Governors and Chief Ministers of all eight North Eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, along with senior bureaucrats, representatives of various central ministries and NEC officials.

The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of ongoing developmental initiatives in the North East and exploring new strategies to accelerate growth across sectors such as infrastructure, connectivity, tourism, agriculture, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, education, healthcare and skill development. Discussions also centered on enhancing inter-state collaboration and ensuring the effective implementation of projects aimed at improving the quality of life of people in the region.

Addressing the gathering, Amit Shah emphasized the Centre’s commitment to transforming the North East into a major growth engine of the country. He highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts between the Central Government and state governments to achieve inclusive development, strengthen connectivity and unlock the region’s vast economic potential.

The NEC Plenary Meeting serves as the apex regional forum for policy discussions and coordination among the North Eastern states. The annual gathering provides an opportunity for state governments to present their priorities, share best practices and seek support for key developmental projects from the Centre.

The 73rd NEC Plenary Meeting in Shillong is expected to play a significant role in shaping future development strategies for the North East, reinforcing the spirit of cooperative federalism and regional partnership for sustainable and inclusive growth.