DoNER minister Jitendra Singh held a detailed review meeting while adhering to all the guidelines of social distancing, with the officers of the ministry and North Eastern Council (NEC).
The meeting was held in view of COVID-19 outbreak.
The meeting discussed the measures to be taken to fight the same in the northeast.
The meeting was attended by DoNER secretary along with the additional secretary, NEC secretary and other senior officers of MDoNER and NEC.
At the outset Jitendra Singh was informed that 100 per cent work of the ministry was on e-Office, making it easier to comply with the directions of government to work from home mode.
Singh also stated that designated cargo flights for carrying essential commodities to Northeast have been planned.
NEC secretary may obtain the feedback regarding the supply of essential commodities in the northeast and the same may be brought to the notice of ministry, so that the matter may be taken with appropriate Central ministries.
It was decided that the DoNER ministry and NEC would provide Rs 25 crores to the northeast for gap funding to fight the COVID-19 outbreak effectively.
This fund would be in the nature of the untied fund, which can be utilized on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic, and not covered under existing central packages.
The flexibility of untied funds would enable the states to respond quickly.
This fund would be in addition to the funds otherwise allocated by the DoNER ministry/NEC to the northeast under the existing schemes.