Zonal Councils and North Eastern Council: Structures, Objectives and Regional Development Initiatives

Development Initiatives

The Zonal Councils, established in 1956, aim to enhance cooperation and coordination among States within their regions. They serve as advisory bodies, addressing disputes, fostering collaboration, and improving policy implementation. The North Eastern Council (NEC), created in 1971, focuses on the development of India’s northeastern States. Both councils play crucial roles in regional development and national integration.

Zonal Councils and the North Eastern Council

Structure

• Establishment: The concept of Zonal Councils was introduced by India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1956. 
  • These councils were established as statutory bodies under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 to promote cooperation and coordination among States within their respective zones.

The five Zonal Councils in India are constituted as follows

• Northern Zonal Council:

• • • States: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan
    • Union Territories: National Capital Territory of Delhi, Chandigarh

• Central Zonal Council:

• • • States: Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
  • Eastern Zonal Council:
    • States: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal

• Western Zonal Council:

• • • States: Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra
    • Union Territories: Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli

• Southern Zonal Council:

• • States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
  • Union Territory: Puducherry

Composition

• Chairman: Each Zonal Council is chaired by the Union Home Minister.
• Vice-Chairman: The Chief Ministers of the States within each zone rotate annually as Vice-Chairman.
• Members:
  • Chief Minister and two other Ministers from each State within the zone
  • Two members from Union Territories included in the zone
• Advisers:
  • One person nominated by the Planning Commission for each Zonal Council
  • Chief Secretaries of each State within the zone
  • One officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each State within the zone

Objectives

The primary objectives of Zonal Councils are:

• National Integration: Promote unity and cohesion among India’s diverse States.
• Regional Cooperation: Foster collaboration and coordination among States within their respective zones.
• Effective Governance: Facilitate smooth cooperation between the Central government and the States.
• Development Initiatives: Promote balanced and sustainable development across the regions.

Functions

Zonal Councils serve as advisory bodies with the authority to discuss and make recommendations on various issues, including:

• Economic and Social Planning: Address regional economic and social development concerns.
• Border Disputes and Inter-State Relations: Resolve inter-State disputes and promote harmonious relations.
• Linguistic Minorities: Protect and promote the rights of linguistic minorities.
• Infrastructure Development: Facilitate regional infrastructure development projects.
• Resource Management: Coordinate the management of shared resources, such as water, forests, and minerals.

North Eastern Council

Establishment: In 1971, the North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the Indian Parliament (The North Eastern Council Act, 1971) as the leading agency for the social and economic development of India’s northeastern region, encompassing the eight States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, and Tripura. 

• Significance of NEC: The inception of the NEC marked a pivotal moment, ushering in an era of focused and coordinated efforts to accelerate the region’s development.

Composition

The North Eastern Council (NEC) is composed of the following members:

• Ex-Officio Chairman: Union Home Minister
• Ex-Officio Vice-Chairman: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)
• Permanent Members:
  • Governors of the eight North Eastern States
  • Chief Ministers of the eight North Eastern States
• Nominated Members:
  • Three members nominated by the President of India

Objectives

The North Eastern Council (NEC) is guided by a set of comprehensive objectives that aim to transform the North Eastern Region (NER):

• Balanced and Sustainable Development: To promote balanced, integrated, and sustainable development across the NER, ensuring equitable growth and environmental stewardship.
• Infrastructure Development: To formulate and coordinate a comprehensive plan to address the NER’s infrastructure needs, encompassing transportation, communication, energy, and other essential services.
• Social and Economic Empowerment: To provide ample opportunities for social and economic development, enabling the people of the NER to enhance their livelihoods and well-being.
• Infrastructure Investment: To aggressively promote infrastructure development and other development activities, stimulating economic growth and improving living standards across the NER.
• Institutions of National Importance: To support the establishment of an Institute of National Importance in the NER, fostering academic excellence and contributing to the region’s intellectual capital.
• Regional Integration: To foster seamless integration of the NER with mainland India, strengthening connectivity, cultural exchange, and economic linkages.

Functions

Its primary functions encompass:

• Regional Dialogue and Planning:
  • Facilitating discussions among its members, formulating comprehensive regional development plans, and providing expert advice to the Central and State governments on developmental issues.

• Infrastructure and Resource Management:
  • Prioritising critical areas such as social and economic planning, Interstate transport, communication, flood control, and common power projects to address the region’s infrastructure and resource needs.
• Unified Regional Plans:
  • Developing unified regional plans that encompass matters of common importance, including project priorities and locations, to ensure coordinated and strategic development.
• Project Monitoring and Coordination:
  • Reviewing and inspecting schemes and projects under these plans to enforce coordination among concerned State governments and ensure timely implementation.
• Financial Assistance Advocacy:
  • Recommending the financial assistance required for regional plan projects to the Central government, which then allocates the necessary funds.
• Project Feasibility Assessment:
  • Suggesting the conduct of surveys and feasibility studies to incorporate new projects into regional plans, ensuring their viability and effectiveness.
• Public Order and Security Evaluation:
  • Evaluating State measures for maintaining public order and security, offering necessary recommendations to promote peace and stability in the region.

NER Vision 2020

• Overview of NER Vision 2020: The NER Vision 2020 document outlines a comprehensive plan for the rapid and sustainable development of India’s North Eastern Region (NER). 
• Objective: This visionary document aims to transform the NER into a vibrant and prosperous region, bridging the gap with other parts of the country.
• Key Initiatives: To achieve its ambitious goals, the NER Vision 2020 document encompasses a range of initiatives:
• Sector-Specific Action Plans: Seventeen thematic groups, composed of sector experts, were formed to develop detailed action plans for various sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
• Infrastructure Development: Priority is placed on enhancing infrastructure across the region, with a focus on roads, railways, airways, and power.
• Economic Growth: Strategies to promote economic growth and sustainable development are outlined, emphasising job creation, entrepreneurship, and tourism.
• Social Development: Initiatives to improve social welfare, including healthcare, education, and skill development, are emphasised.
• Progress and Evaluation: The implementation of the NER Vision 2020 document has resulted in significant progress:
• Improved Telecom Connectivity: Telecom connectivity across the NER has witnessed considerable improvement.
• Infrastructure Enhancement: Major infrastructure projects in the roads, railways, airways, and power sectors have been implemented.
• Economic Growth: The average GDP growth of NER States reached 9.8% during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17).
• Ongoing Evaluation: The Vision 2020 document is undergoing academic evaluation to identify areas for improvement and ensure effective implementation.

Conclusion

The Zonal Councils and the North Eastern Council have significantly contributed to regional harmony and development. 

• By addressing disputes, promoting collaboration, and focusing on balanced growth, they help streamline governance and improve infrastructure. 
• Ongoing efforts under initiatives like NER Vision 2020 further enhance these regions’ growth and connectivity, bridging gaps and fostering national unity.

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