Satinder Kumar Bhalla, a senior officer of the Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS), 1992 batch, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the North Eastern Council (NEC), effective April 1, 2025.
With over 30 years of rich experience in telecommunications and public administration, Bhalla has held several key positions in the Department of Telecommunications and other central government bodies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs. His career has encompassed strategic planning, policy development, project execution, and regulatory oversight—playing a pivotal role in advancing India's telecom sector.
As he takes charge as Secretary of the NEC, Bhalla aims to enhance the Council's mandate as the central agency for the economic and social progress of the North Eastern Region. His leadership is expected to drive renewed emphasis on regional connectivity, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
COMPLETION OF PROJECTS UNDER NEC
The road infrastructure project "Upgradation of AT Road from Tsuranga to Impur Junction (Length: 26.335 km), including construction of three bridges" in Nagaland has been successfully completed at the cost of Rs. 93.98 crore, the project has been officially declared complete. This upgraded road is benefiting 18 villages, positively impacting a population of approximately 2 lakh people by enhancing connectivity and improving access to essential services and economic opportunities.
The road infrastructure project "Up gradation of Road Chendang Saddle- Noklak (length 12.57 km), (Phase -II)" in Nagaland, has been successfully completed at the cost of Rs. 45.59 crore. This upgraded road is directly benefitting benefiting four (4) number of villages, positively impacting approximately 60,000 by improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and enhancing access to essential services and economic opportunities.
NORTH EAST STUDENTS' PROGRAMME FOR AWARENESS, REACH, AND KNOWLEDGE ON SPACE (NE-SPARKS)
This idea was conceptualized by the Home Minister. This pioneering initiative aims to spark curiosity and raise awareness about space science and technology by organizing a visit for 800 bright science students—100 from each of the eight North Eastern states—to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Bengaluru. So far, 100 students have visited the center. Over the coming months, up to November 2025, additional student batches from each state will participate, culminating in a landmark initiative to engage the North East's most promising students in the fields of space science.
This is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), the North Eastern Council (NEC), ISRO, North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC), and the respective State Governments of the North Eastern States. The total sanctioned budget is ₹3.83 crore, funded in a 60:40 ratio— ₹2.3 crore from NEC and =₹1.53 crore collectively from the State Governments (₹19.18 lakh per state).
NORTH EASTERN REGION AGRI-COMMODITY E-CONNECT (NERACE) PORTAL
The North Eastern Region Agri-Commodity e-Connect (NERACE) portal was launched on 12 July 2024 by Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Union Minister of DoNER. NERACE is expected to significantly enhance the Agro-horti landscape of our region by leveraging technology to connect producers, buyers, and service providers. It facilitates seamless transactions and fostering mutual growth, empowering our farmers by addressing the most vertical aspect of market linkage and supply chain management.
The month of April 2025 witnessed robust Agri-trade activity across the North-Eastern states of India, with a total transaction value of ₹49 Lakhs and cumulative trade volume of 188 MT. This reflects the growing momentum of inter-state agricultural marketing and the strengthening of farmer-to-buyer digital trade linkages in the region. Key highlights of the April. 2025 sales data include:
1. Ginger remained the most traded commodity, with varieties like Local and Nadia contributing significantly. Over 184.5 MT of ginger were sold, amounting to =₹47.57 lakhs and Sikkim emerged as the major supplier.
2. King Chilli, a premium product from Nagaland and Assam, fetched the highest price per kg (up to =₹3,000), with small yet high-value trades totalling ₹53 Thousands.
3. Other traded commodities included Turmeric, Maize Paddy, Black Rice, and Birds Eye Chilli, sourced from states like Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, and Manipur.
4. Assam emerged as a major buyer state, while Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Sikkim served as key seller states.
(DIPR)