Scindia pushes coordinated sports and food ecosystem strategy for Northeast
Guwahati: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, on Wednesday participated in two High-Level Task Force (HLTF) meetings aimed at accelerating coordinated, data-driven, and outcome-focused development across the Northeast.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of DoNER constituted eight HLTFs led by the Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states, following consensus at the 72nd NEC Plenary Session in Agartala, marking a shift toward participatory regional planning.
Focus on Sports: ‘One Sport, One State’ Strategy Reinforced
The HLTF on Sports, chaired by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, was attended by Union MoS for Sports and Youth Affairs Raksha Khadse, Sports Ministers of Mizoram and Meghalaya, senior DoNER officials, representatives from Assam, and the Sports Authority of India.
The meeting reaffirmed the “One Sport, One State” vision, under which each state will focus on developing one strategic discipline:
- Mizoram: Football
- Manipur: Boxing and Weightlifting
- Tripura: Judo
- Meghalaya: Archery
- Nagaland: Archery and Taekwondo
- Sikkim: Taekwondo
Scindia urged states to submit micro-proposals developed jointly by Sports Ministers and Secretaries in coordination with MoS Sports and the SAI DG, ensuring alignment, ownership, and long-term continuity.
He stressed the adoption of the “60–40 model”—
60% focus on human capital: coaching, technology-enabled training, talent scouting, athlete management
40% focus on infrastructure.
“While facilities exist across the country, the real priority is high-quality coaching and advanced, standards-driven training. The Ministry of DoNER will fully support this vision,” Scindia said.
He also called for a comprehensive sports calendar built from preschool to university and block levels, with interstate exposure and competition pathways. The objective, he said, is for at least one Northeastern discipline to emerge as a national model of sporting excellence.
The discussions underline the Centre’s commitment to unlocking the Northeast’s sporting potential and positioning the region as a future high-performance sports hub, consistent with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Pushing Food Self-Reliance: HLTF Sets Roadmap for Milk, Eggs, Meat, and Fisheries
The second HLTF meeting—on Self-Reliance in Milk, Eggs, Poultry, Meat, and Fisheries—was chaired by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, with participation from state officials, the DoNER Ministry, and representatives from all eight Northeastern states.
The task force undertook a comprehensive demand–supply assessment, laying the groundwork for a unified food-systems strategy.
Discussions focused on:
- Connectivity and logistics
- Infrastructure and cold-chain gaps
- Value chain upgrades
- Human resource development
- Breeding and productivity improvements
- Expanding credit access and mobilising private investment
“Our aim is to build a connected, efficient, and resilient food ecosystem for the Northeast that strengthens livelihoods, expands market access, and ensures better nutrition for every citizen,” Scindia said.
To accelerate implementation, the meeting agreed to initiate pilot interventions in two states for each product category—milk, eggs/poultry, meat, and fisheries—creating real-time learnings that can be scaled across the region.
A clear implementation structure was outlined, involving central ministries, state departments, and private sector partners. Each intervention will map responsibilities across the value chain, with shared funding commitments.
The session also emphasised viewing the Northeast as one integrated market, enabling:
- Better movement of surplus to deficit areas
- State-wise specialisation based on competitive strengths
- Stronger intra- and inter-state trade linkages
Over time, this approach is expected to drive efficient logistics, deeper market access, and broader regional economic opportunity.
Concluding the meeting, Scindia said: “By strengthening production, upgrading value chains, and improving logistics, we are laying the groundwork for a self-reliant, market-ready food economy driven by shared prosperity.”