Khandu seeks special policy support for Arunachal Pradesh at NITI Aayog meet

Itanagar, Jun 12 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday sought special policy interventions and enhanced support mechanisms from NITI Aayog to address the state's “unique developmental and strategic challenges”. Niti Aayog on Friday convened an interaction with chief ministers of the northeastern states in New Delhi to deliberate on development priorities, innovations and challenges, according to an official statement. Khandu called for a review of the population-based funding criteria, dedicated infrastructure support and a separate All India Services cadre for Arunachal Pradesh. In his address, he said Arunachal Pradesh, despite being the largest state in the region by area, continues to face developmental constraints due to its difficult terrain, scattered population and strategic location. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for continued support to the northeast and for implementing the Act East Policy “in both letter and spirit”. Khandu said the PM’s vision has transformed connectivity, infrastructure and public confidence across the region, opening new avenues for inclusive growth. Highlighting the state's hydropower potential, the chief minister said Arunachal Pradesh has set a target of generating 40,000 MW of hydropower by 2047, and sought coordinated support from NITI Aayog and the ministries concerned for its sustainable development. He stressed the need to skill the youth and promote ancillary industries so that local communities can fully benefit from ongoing and future hydropower projects. Khandu urged NITI Aayog to review the existing population-based funding formula, saying it places geographically large but sparsely populated states like Arunachal Pradesh at a disadvantage. He called for an alternative criteria that better reflect the state's vast area, difficult terrain and strategic importance. On rural connectivity, the CM sought expansion of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to include all unconnected villages with a population of 250 and above. While appreciating the success of the Vibrant Villages Programme, he said many border villages still lack road connectivity and require focused intervention. Khandu said Arunachal Pradesh has received “limited benefits” from externally aided projects compared to several other northeastern states, and urged NITI Aayog to explore mechanisms to bridge the gap and accelerate development activities. On administrative reforms, Khandu advocated the creation of a separate All India Services cadre for Arunachal Pradesh, saying the present arrangement leads to frequent transfers and affects continuity in governance. He proposed a joint cadre with Mizoram, a suggestion that received support from the Mizoram chief minister. In another key proposal, Khandu suggested that the North Eastern Council (NEC) should be empowered to function as the ‘NITI Aayog of the North East’ to better address region-specific issues and coordinate development priorities across the eight states. During the interaction, the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog lauded the diversity and human capital of Arunachal Pradesh, and called for strengthening Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) through partnerships with major hydropower companies. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised Arunachal Pradesh's “progressive hydropower policies”, and underlined the need for effective mechanisms for sustainable utilisation of natural resources. PTI UPL RBT