Government approves PM-DevINE Scheme

Context 

The Union Cabinet has recently approved the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for the North East Region (PM-DevINE).

About

• Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) is a new scheme for the Northeastern states which was announced in the Union Budget. 
• The scheme will be operational for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission, from 2022-23 to 2025-26, and will have an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore.
• This scheme was announced to address the Basic Minimum Services (BMS) shortfalls and development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER).
• PM-DevINE will target: 
• The creation of infrastructure
• Support industries
• Social development projects
• Create livelihood activities for the youth and women, with a focus on job creation. 
• These projects will include basic infrastructure in all primary healthcare centres and government schools.
  
  
• Funding and implementation
• It is a central sector scheme with 100% central funding.
• PM-DevINE will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), through the North Eastern Council or central ministries and agencies.
• Time constraints
• Efforts will be made to complete the PM-DevINE projects by 2025-26 so that there are no committed liabilities beyond this year.

Significance of bringing the scheme

• The parameters of N-E states in respect of Basic Minimum Services (BMS) are well below the national average and there are critical development gaps as per the NER District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2021-22 prepared by NITI Aayog, UNDP and MDoNER.