Context
Recently, a seven-day cultural festival of the northeast as part of the celebrations of 75 years of Independence under the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav programme concluded at the National Museum, Delhi.
Key-points
- Aim: To bring the rest of India closer to North East (NE) India.
- It holds a special presentation of art and craft, textiles, ethnic products, tourism promotion etc. of the eight northeastern states.
- Ministry of Development of North-East Region.
- North Eastern Council (NEC): It is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the NE Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
- It was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament.
- National Museum: The blueprint for establishing the National Museum in Delhi was prepared by the Maurice Gwyer Committee in May 1946.
- It was initially looked after by the Director-General of Archaeology until 1957 when the Ministry of Education declared it a separate institution and placed it under its direct control.
- At present, the National Museum is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture.
Assessing importance of the northeast region
- Sandwiched between neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Bhutan, and Nepal, India’s Northeast holds strategic and political importance.
- It ensures India’s connectivity with the rest of East Asian countries.
- The region is one of the 17 biodiversity hotspots in the world.
- With just 7.98% of the geographical area of the country, the northeast (NE) has nearly 25% of India’s forest cover.
- The NER has immense natural resources, accounting for around 34% of the country’s water resources and almost 40% of India’s hydropower potential.
- Sikkim is India’s first organic state.
- The region is home to a large number of ethnic communities and diverse tribal groups having unique dialects and traditions.
- Tribes in NER have their own culture. Popular festivals include the Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Pang Lhabsol of Sikkim, etc.
