India against Covid-19: DoNER to provide Rs 25 crore to NE to fight pandemic

Union Minister of State Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh held a detailed review meeting through video conference while adhering to all the guidelines of social distancing, with the Officers of Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC) in view of the outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic and measures being taken to fight the same in the NE Region.

New Delhi:The Ministry of Development for North Eastern Region (DoNER) on Friday has decided to provide Rs 25 crore to the Northeastern States for gap funding to fight Covid-19 outbreak in the region.

"This fund would be in the nature of the united fund, which can be utilised on any activity relating to Covid-19 pandemic and not covered under existing central packages. The flexibility of united funds would enable the state to respond quickly," a government official said.

This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC) to the northeastern states under the existing schemes.

This was decided in a meeting chaired by DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and other senior officials of NEC and DoNER ministry.

DoNER Minister Dr Singh held a detailed review meeting with officers of doner Ministry and NEC in view of the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting also discussed in detail on the measures being taken to fight Covid-19 in the North-Eastern region.

DoNER is a dedicated ministry for the development of northeastern states and NEC in support with the DoNER ministry implement projects in this landlocked region.

Dr Singh said that designated cargo flight for carrying essential commodities to Northeast have been planned.

"NEC Secretary may obtain the feedback regarding the supply of essential commodities in Northeastern states and the same may be brought to the notice of Ministry, so that the matter may be taken with appropriate Central Ministries," Dr Singh said.

It was informed in the meeting that 100 per cent work of the DoNER ministry was one-office, making it easier to comply with the directions of government to work from home mode.

It may be mentioned here that the northeastern states have registred two positive Covid 19 cases as of now with one each in Manipur and Mizoram.