Boosting growth, jobs and infrastructure in NE states to be top priority: Vijay Kumar Singh

NEW DELHI: Enhancing infrastructure, providing job opportunities to youths and boosting economic growth in the North Eastern states will be top priority of General (Retd) V K Singh, who assumed charge as Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) today.

Singh said the government will focus on improving road infrastructure in entire North East including border areas besides trying to ensure robust economic growth in the region.

"I have a plan for overall development of North East. We will try our best address all the problems facing the region. There is tremendous amount of work to be done for the region," the Minister of DoNER with independent charges said.

The 63-year-old former Army chief said he has a fair idea about the region and will make sincere efforts to ensure that it progresses on par with rest of the country.

Singh has the experience of serving in the North East in different capacities as an Army officer. He was also the GoC-in-C of the Eastern Command looking after the Eastern and entire North Eastern region.

Singh said he will try to find a solution to complaints of harassment of people from North East in the Delhi and will also focus on addressing the sense of alienation among people in the region.

"Creating job opportunities for the youths will be another priority area for the government," he said.

Asked whether he will focus more on creating better infrastructure in areas along the Indo-China border in Arunachal, Singh said priority will be to address infrastructure bottlenecks in the entire region.

At the same time, he said, if required, steps will be taken to improve infrastructure in particular areas in consultation with the armed forces.

Asked to comment on reports of Chinese incursions, Singh, who is also Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs, said there have been different "perceptions" about the boundary.

Singh, who won from Ghaziabad Lok Sabha seat, said he has a plan for addressing various problems being faced by people in his constituency. He identified long-power cuts in Ghaziabad as a matter of concern.