The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to allot 30 per cent of the North Eastern Council’s (NEC) allocation for new projects for focused development of deprived areas, neglected sections of society and emerging priority sectors.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the new allocation under the existing schemes of North Eastern Council. The balance allocation will be bifurcated in the existing two components —state component (comprising 60 per cent) and central component of 40 per cent.

“The projects under the existing ‘Schemes of NEC’ will accrue socio-economic benefits to the marginalised and vulnerable groups of people in backward and neglected areas of the northeastern states. It will lead to faster decision making and quick implementation of the projects,” a communiqué stated.

Further, the cabinet approved the revision of the NEC guidelines for simplification of appraisal and approval mechanism.

From now on, projects under the state component, upto 25 per cent of each state’s normative allocation, for sectors not covered in the mandate of the council, but which are considered important according to local felt needs as per the recommendations of the state governments, would be allowed.