PM Modi hailed India’s Northeast as the nation’s “forward face,” emphasizing its transformation into a hub of connectivity, culture, and commerce. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia highlighted the region’s growing role as India’s natural gateway to Southeast Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described India’s Northeast as more than just the nation’s frontier—calling it the country’s forward face and a symbol of progress, inclusivity, and national pride. His statement came in response to an insightful article by Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who recently shared his reflections on the transformative journey of the region.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi said, “In this insightful article, Union Minister JM Scindia shares his experience of visiting the North East, describing its beauty and the indomitable spirit of its people. Highlighting the North East as ‘Ashtalakshmi,’ the Minister explains how it is becoming India’s natural gateway to Southeast Asia. He emphasises that the North East is not just India’s frontier—it is now its forward face.”
Scindia, who recently visited Assam and Meghalaya, wrote that the trip left him “deeply moved and profoundly inspired.” He praised the breath-taking beauty of the region and the warmth and resilience of its people. “The breath-taking beauty of the Northeast is matched only by the warmth, simplicity, and indomitable spirit of its people, who have left a lasting impression on me. I return home from this visit with a renewed resolve to work even harder and with greater rigour for the region’s progress and prosperity,” he said.
Northeast: From Landlocked to Land-Linked
Highlighting the transformation of the Northeast under the Modi government, Scindia noted that the region is witnessing a historic shift—from being landlocked to becoming land-linked. This change, he said, is turning the region into India’s natural gateway to Southeast Asia, driving new opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government of India is transforming the Northeast into a vibrant centre of connectivity, culture, and commerce,” Scindia emphasized. “Had it not been for his farsighted vision and ability to turn challenges into opportunities, this resurgence of hope and possibility might still have remained a distant dream.”
The minister further added that development in the region is now being driven by inclusivity, dignity, and sustainability—hallmarks of the government’s “Act East” and “Act Northeast” policies.
Grassroots Transformation and Green Entrepreneurship
During his visit, Scindia toured the Mushroom Development Centre in Upper Shillong, Meghalaya—a project that embodies the region’s grassroots innovation and commitment to sustainable livelihoods. Established in 1982 under the North Eastern Council, the centre now includes the newly established Shiitake Mushroom Production and Training Centre.
The centre produces nearly 1.5 lakh sawdust blocks each year, with each block capable of yielding about one kilogram of shiitake mushrooms, valued at up to ₹1,000 in the market. This initiative, Scindia noted, represents more than just economic activity—it reflects the community’s determination to create dignified livelihoods and promote green entrepreneurship.
“Beyond the numbers, what stayed with me were the faces and stories of the farmers I met,” Scindia shared. “Their eyes gleaming with pride as they spoke of how this initiative is driven by a purpose of creating dignified livelihoods, nurturing green entrepreneurship, and growing a truly atmanirbhar (self-reliant) Northeast envisioned by the Prime Minister.”
A Resurgent Northeast
PM Modi’s government has consistently placed the Northeast at the heart of India’s development narrative. From improving infrastructure and digital connectivity to promoting tourism and sustainable industries, the region has seen rapid progress in recent years. The Prime Minister’s recognition of the Northeast as India’s “forward face” underscores its strategic and cultural importance in shaping the nation’s future.
With expanding air, road, and rail connectivity and growing cross-border linkages with Southeast Asian countries, the region is emerging as both a bridge of opportunity and a beacon of India’s inclusive growth model.
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As Scindia aptly concluded, “One can feel the pulse of transformation in every corner of the Northeast—where development walks hand in hand with inclusivity, and progress is rooted in pride and purpose.”
