Development of the North-Eastern region
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Economy
- Published
6th Mar, 2020
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Context
- North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFI) through its Microfinance Scheme has facilitated generation of indirect employment to about 7.97 lakh women.
- Number of women beneficiaries in livelihood project of North Eastern Region Community Resources Management Project (NERCORMP) is 3,45,489 Female beneficiaries in the events undertaken by North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) is 577.
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About North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFI)
- The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) is a Public Limited Company registered under the Companies Act 1956 on 9th August, 1995.
- It is notified as a Public Financial Institution under the Act and was registered as an NBFC in 2002 with RBI.
- The shareholders of the Corporation are IDBI, SBI, LICI, SIDBI, ICICI, IFCI, SUUTI, GIC and its subsidiaries.
- The management of NEDFi has been entrusted upon the Board of Directors comprising representatives from shareholder institutions, DoNER, State Governments and eminent persons from the NE Region and outside having wide experience in industry, economics, finance and management.
- NEDFi provides financial assistance to micro, small, medium and large enterprises for setting up industrial, infrastructure and agri-allied projects in the North Eastern Region of India and also Microfinance through MFI/NGOs.
- It conducts sector or state specific studies under its Techno-Economic Development Fund (TEDF) and is the designated nodal agency for disbursal of Govt. of India incentives to the industries in the North-East India under North–East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2007 (NEIIPP 2007).
- The mission is for the economic development of the North Eastern Region of India by identifying, financing and nurturing commercially and financially viable projects in the region.
- NEDFi is also facilitating marketing support to the artisans of NER through exhibition participation and its various showrooms at Guwahati & Khetri in Assam, Imphal in Manipur, Aizwal in Mizoram, Namchi in Sikkim and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
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Scheme for the Development of the North-Eastern region
- Though the schemes of MDoNER are generally gender neutral and the schemes are gap filling measures related to development of infrastructure in North Eastern Region, NER.
- There is one livelihood programme called North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP), where female have been benefitted. The other livelihood scheme i.e. North East Rural Livelihoods Project (NERLP), has concluded on 30.09.2019.
- Similarly, two PSUs under the Ministry namely, North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) and North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) have benefitted some women entrepreneurs.
- Also, Cane & Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) have benefitted women in the region.
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Details of the Schemes:
- North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP):
- NERCORMP a livelihood project is being implemented in four States, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya, running under North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (NERCRMS) (A registered Society under North Eastern Council, Chaired by Secretary NEC).
- The project strategy of forming NaRMGs (Natural Resource Management Groups) with equal representation of men and women, and promotion of women SHGs has strengthened women empowerment and agency of women in decision making processes alongside the men on matters of household and community wellbeing.
- Social sector project interventions in particular are aimed at reducing drudgery of women through access to safe drinking water and low cost latrines enhancing in improved hygiene and social dignity of women.
- NERLP (North East Rural Livelihoods Project):
- Ministry of DoNER was implementing World Bank assisted NERLP (North East Rural Livelihoods Project) in the four States namely Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura for a period of 5 years.
- The objective of the project was to improve rural livelihoods, especially that of women, unemployed youth and the most disadvantaged in these four States.
- The project was completed on 30th September, 2019.
- North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation:
- NERAMAC (North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation) under its Integrated Export Development Project funded by NEC has supported 35 female beneficiaries from Assam and Mizoram.
- Under this programme, skill development training on Export Management was held in Guwahati, Assam and Aizawl, Mizoram.
- North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation:
- NEHHDC (North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation) was set up in March 1977 with the mandate of promotion and development of handicrafts and handlooms of the North Eastern Region of India.
- Over the years Ministry of DoNER has been supporting NEHHDC to provide supports to the female Artisans and Weavers of the North Eastern Region.
- Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC):
- The Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre (CBTC) is mandated for incubating farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs for becoming self-sustaining by setting up micro and small enterprises using cane and bamboo as raw material.
- In this process, the CBTCs has reached villages of all North Eastern States since its inception. Women have also participated in skill and awareness programmes conducted by CBTC and got motivated to set up enterprises.
- CBTC has also been supporting these women to market their products in domestic and international market through exhibitions and tying up with wholesalers of bamboo handicraft.
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North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) - An initiative towards Women Empowerment
- To support micro and small borrowers including small farmers and recognizing that financial inclusion is a key driver of economic development and poverty alleviation in the region, NEDFi started the “NEDFi Micro Finance Scheme (NMFS)” to assist the grass-root small borrowers in unserved and underserved areas of the region.
- Capacity building support to NGOs/ MFIs: In addition, NEDFi provides hand-holding support to the local organizations in developing them as Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) and capacity building initiatives involving trainings on risk management, operation management, systems and process, financial management, human resource management, etc.
- Women Empowerment through Microfinance: The Micro finance scheme has been beneficial to the weaker sections in un-served & underserved areas of the region. About 96% of the beneficiaries are women and the project has enabled most of them to increase their earnings above the Poverty Line.
Quick Recap
- North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFI)—Public Limited Company—on 9th August, 1995.
- Shareholders of NEDFI—IDBI, SBI, LICI, SIDBI, ICICI, IFCI, SUUTI, GIC and its subsidiaries.
- NEDFI provides financial assistance to micro, small, medium and large enterprises to set up projects in North Eastern Region of India.
- North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project-- in four States, viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya-- under North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Society (Chaired by Secretary NEC).
- North East Rural Livelihoods Project—implemented by Ministry of DoNER—assisted by World Bank—in four States (Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura)—completed on 30th September, 2019.
- Integrated Export Development Project—funded by North Eastern Council—under North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation—supported 35 female beneficiaries from Assam and Mizoram.
- North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation—set up in March 1977—promote and develop handlooms in N-E Region—supported by Ministry of DoNER.
- Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre—for farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs to become self-sustained by setting up micro and small enterprises using cane and bamboo as raw material.