India

Introduction
The North East India comprises of the seven sister
states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.

They form part of the East Himalayan region

which extends from Sikkim eastwards and embraces
the Darjeeling Hills of West Bengal.

The location of the region is strategically

important as it has international borders with
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Tibet.

The area is characterised by rich bio-diversity,

heavy precipitation and high seismicity.

It is endowed with forest wealth and

is ideally suited to produce a whole range of
plantation crops, spices, fruits and vegetables and
flowers and herbs.

The region has a high concentration of tribal population. The states of Arunachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland are mostly inhabited by a number of native tribes. Each tribe
has its own distinct tradition of art, culture, dance, music and life styles. The numerous fairs and
festivals celebrated by these communities and their friendly nature are irresistible attractions for the
visitors.

Imp: - The North East is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse regions in
India. Each of the seven states that form this part of India has its own culture and tradition
Introduction to North Eastern Languages
According to the 1971 census there are about 220 languages spoken in these states, belonging mainly
to three language families, namely Indo Aryan, Sino-Tibetan and Austric. The Indo-Aryan represented
mainly by Asamiya and Bangla, Austro-Asiatic represented mainly by Khasi and the Sino-Tibetan family of
languages is represented by the Tibeto- Burman and the Siamese-Chinese sub families also there are languages
of the Tea-Tribes.

However, the majority of languages spoken here belong to the former and the latter is represented by a few
Thai languages like Khamyang, Khamti, Aiton, Phakyal and Turung. It is worthwhile to mention here that
Ahom a language belonging to this Thai group, has over the years merged with Asamiya.

There is a hypothesis that the Tibeto-Burman tribes came through Burma and entered the hills and valleys
of the North Eastern India in about 1000 B.C. They gradually encroached upon the Austric settlers who
have been in these parts since 2000 to 2500 B.C. and forced most of them to take refuge in the
mountainous area. That was how the Khasis thrived in their mountainous homes high on the hills of
Meghalaya.

However, the maximum concentration of the Tibeto-Burman speakers is found in the North Eastern
part of the country in comparison to any other part of the country. The North-eastern part of India is
bounded by Bhutan, Tibet, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It consists of the seven states of Assam, Meghalaya,
Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura.

Introduction to people of North East

The people of the Northeast Zone are more or less mixtures of different ethnicity, though some special
characteristics are especially conspicuous on each tribe, which gave them their special identity. Owing to
geographical barrier, the tribes have lived for centuries in isolation - from among the other tribes as well as
from the people of the plains.

The ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity of the region is as much breath-taking and awesome as its
verdant hills, meandering rivers and lush valleys. Two third of the region consists of hilly terrain and the rest
is flat land and valleys including the Brahmaputra, Barak and Imphal valleys. Ethnically, this diverse and
heterogeneous region boasts of 209 tribes and 192 languages and dialects. Many races and cultures fuse and
melt into the composite culture of the melting pot that is India.

This seclusion together with the instinctive passion for survival by keeping their heritage intact, have cast
many rigidities – in their, marriages, funeral ceremonies, at child birth, festivals, religious rites, even in
dresses, crafts, songs, music and poetry. They are usually very rigid on use of colours.
Formation of North Eastern States
In the early 19th century, both the Ahom and the Manipur kingdoms fell to a Burmese invasion. The ensuing
First Anglo-Burmese War resulted in the entire region coming under British control. In the colonial period
(1826–1947), North East India was made a part of Bengal Province from 1839 to 1873, when Assam
became its own province.

After Indian Independence from British Rule in 1947, the North-eastern region of British India consisted of
Assam and the princely states of Manipur and Tripura. Subsequently, Nagaland in 1963, Meghalaya in 1972,
Arunachal Pradesh in 1975 (capital changed to Itanagar) (formed on 20 February 1987) and Mizoram in
1987 were formed out of the large territory of Assam. Manipur and Tripura remained as Union Territories of
India between 1956 until 1972, when they attained fully-fledged statehood. Sikkim was integrated as the
eighth North Eastern Council state in 2002.

The city of Shillong served as the capital of the Assam province created during British Rule. It remained as
the capital of undivided Assam until formation of the state of Meghalaya in 1972. The capital of Assam was
shifted to Dispur, a part of Guwahati, and Shillong was designated as the capital of Meghalaya.

State Historic Name Capital(s) Statehood

Arunachal 1987 (earlier a Union Territory of

North-East Frontier Agency Itanagar
Pradesh India, constituted in 1971)

Shillong (till
Assam Pragjyotisha, Kamarupa 1947
1969), Dispur

1971 (earlier a Union Territory of

Manipur Kangleipak Imphal
India, constituted in 1956)

Khasi hills, Jaintia hills and

Meghalaya Shillong 1971
Garo hills

1987 (earlier a Union Territory of

Mizoram Lushai hills Aizawl
India, constituted in 1971)

Nagaland Naga hills Kohima 1963

Sikkim Sukhim Gangtok 1975

1971 (earlier a Union Territory of

Tripura Tipperah Agartala
India, constituted in 1956)
 Fast Facts

Demographics

2011 Census of India

The total population of Northeast India is 46 million with 68 percent of that living in Assam alone. Assam
also has a higher population density of 397 persons per km² than the national average of 382 persons per
km². The literacy rates in the states of the Northeastern region, except those in Arunachal Pradesh and
Assam, are higher than the national average of 74 percent. As per 2011 census, Meghalaya recorded the
highest population growth of 27.8 percent among all the states of the region, higher than the national
average at 17.64 percent; while Nagaland recorded the lowest in the entire country with a negative 0.5
percent.

Are
Sex Rural Urban Densi
Populati Femal Literacy a
State Males Rati Populati Populati ty
on es % (km
o on on (/km²)
²)

Arunach
al 1,383,727 713,912 669,815 938 65.38 870,087 227,881 83,743 17
Pradesh

15,939,4 15,266,1
Assam 31,205,576 958 72.19 23,216,288 3,439,240 78,438 397
43 33

1,290,17 1,280,21
Manipur 2,570,390 992 79.21 1,590,820 575,968 22,327 122
1 9

Meghala 1,491,83 1,475,05

2,966,889 989 74.43 1,864,711 454,111 22,429 132
ya 2 7

Mizoram 1,097,206 555,339 541,867 976 91.33 447,567 441,006 21,081 52

Nagalan 1,024,64
1,978,502 953,853 931 79.55 1,647,249 342,787 16,579 119
d 9

Sikkim 610,577 323,070 287,507 890 81.42 480,981 59,870 7,096 86

350
1,874,37 1,799,54
Tripura 3,673,917 960 87.22 2,653,453 545,750 10,486
6 1

Ethnic groups

2011 Census of India

Northeast India has over 220 ethnic groups and equal number of dialects in which Bodo form the largest
indegenous ethnic group. The hills states in the region like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and
Nagaland are predominantly inhabited by tribal people with a degree of diversity even within the tribal
groups. The region's population results from ancient and continuous flows of migrations from Tibet, Indo-
Gangetic India, the Himalayas, present Bangladesh and Myanmar.
  Anāl Naga  Khasi  Poumai
 Adivasi  Khampti  Purvottar maithili
 Assamese  Koch  Rabha
 Bahun  Kom  Ranglong
 Bhutia  Kuki (Langrong)
 Bishnupriya  Lepcha  Reang
 Biate  Limbu  Rongmei
 Bodo  Mao  Singpho
 Chakma  Maram  Sylheti
 Chhetri  Meitei  Tamang
 Chorei  Mishing  Tangkhul
 Deori  Mizo  Tiwa
 Dimasa  Monsang  Tripuri
 Garo  Mishmi  Zomi people (Paite,
 Gurung  Naga Vaiphei, Zou,
 Hajong  Nepali Teddim, Simte,
 Hmar  Noatia Gangte)
 Jamatia  Paite
 Karbi  Pnar

Culture

2011 Census of India

State Staple diet Popular dishes

Arunachal Rice, fish, meat, leaf

Thukpa, momo, apong (rice beer)
Pradesh vegetables

Rice, fish, meat, leaf Assam tea, khar, tenga, pura, pitha, tamul (betel nut)
Assam
vegetable – paan, rice beer

Eromba, u-morok, singju, ngari (fermented

Manipur Rice, fish, local vegetables
fish), kangshoi

Jadoh, ki kpu, minil, nakham (dried

Meghalaya Rice, spiced meat, fish
fish), momo, bamboo shoot

Bai, bekang (fermented soya beans), sa-

Mizoram Rice, fish, meat
um (fermented pork), sawhchiar

Rice, meat, stewed or fermented bamboo shoot, smoked pork and

Nagaland
steamed vegetables beef, axone, bhut jolokia
 Sikkim Rice, meat, dairy products Thukpa, momo, sha Phaley, gundruk, sinki, sel roti

Tripura Rice, fish, meat Fish stew, bamboo shoot, fermented fish

Economy

2011 Census of India

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is the deciding body under Government
of India for socio-economic development in the region. The North Eastern Council under MDoNER serves
as the regional governing body for Northeast India.

The North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) is a Public Limited Company providing
assistance to micro, small, medium and large enterprises within the north eastern region (NER). Other
organisations under MDoNER include North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited
(NERAMAC), Sikkim Mining Corporation Limited (SMC) and North Eastern Handlooms and Handicrafts
Development Corporation (NEHHDC).

Issues
Indigenous rights

Context
India is home to about 700 tribal groups with a population of 104 million, as per 2011 census. These indigenous
people constitute the second largest tribal population in the world after Africa. As industries encroached upon
their lands, many communities were displaced and some continued to wage a struggle to either protect their
homes or demand a fair compensation.
The battle for Niyamgiri may be won by Odisha’s Dongria Kondhs and the Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh
may have become the first indigenous people to get habitat rights in India after a century-long struggle, but
these developments don’t dwarf the challenge that lies in promotion and protection of indigenous people’s
rights.

Battle over oil, coal and forests

As India debates how to allocate natural resources, the north-eastern states face a peculiar challenge:
communities want recognition of their ownership over coal, forests and oil, the three "nationalised"
resources.

These tribal communities have traditionally controlled vast tracts of land and its resources, such as
forests and coal, through well-established community institutions. They are now eager to exercise their
ownership over oil
The Centre has for long protected their autonomy through various Constitutional provisions. The state
governments have acknowledged this. But as the value of natural resources touch an all-time high, the
governments turn their eyes to the largely untapped region, perhaps the most resource-rich landscape in the
country.

Natural Resources

The state governments have acknowledged this. But as the value of natural resources touch an all-time high, the
governments turn their eyes to the largely untapped region, perhaps the most resource-rich landscape in the
country.

The hydrocarbon reserves in Nagaland may increase India's on-shore oil and natural gas production potential by
75 per cent. The coal reserves in Meghalaya are worth 10 times the state's GDP.

In Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, 60 per cent and 30 per cent of forests are with communities.
Issues with oil Industry
The struggle of Kithan’s tribe, Lotha, dates back to the early 1980s. With the state’s permission, the country’s
multinational public sector unit, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), had just begun extracting crude oil
from the rigs it had sunk near Changpang. The area is part of Schuppen Belt that is believed to hold 600 million
tonnes of crude oil and natural gas.

ONGC over-extracted our oil but gave us very little share in the profits,” alleges Kithan

Demand

The Changpang Land Owners’ Union (CLOU) argued that Nagaland enjoys a special status under Article 371-A
of the Constitution, which recognises customary rights of communities over land and its resources. The state
cannot allow ONGC to exploit the resources without their consent.

CLOU demanded that the company should sign a lease agreement with the village council (traditional decision-
making body in a village) or Lotha hoho (the apex body of the tribe).

The Naga Students’ Federation joined the protest, alleging that ONGC mined 1.02 million tonnes of oil, which is
much more than the amount permitted to it in the exploration lease.

Risks involved in oil mining

Every summer, as the crude oil heats up at those depths, the rigs start leaking. With the first gush of rain, the
spilled oil flows down into villages.

The oil spill is affecting the soil quality and health of all living beings in the village, the non-profit said in its
report. “Many people in the village now suffer from respiratory and skin problems. Crop yields have also taken a
hit.

Ploy against people

The abandoned oil rigs had divided the community of Changpang into two groups: people on whose land rigs
were sunk and those who were affected by oil spill.

Timeline

Between 2006 and 2007, the Centre again allotted oil blocks in Nagaland to ONGC. But the company could not
proceed due to community opposition.

The Nagaland government seized the opportunity. “Some politicians came to our village and said we tried to
trade in oil but messed it up.

In 2009, the state suspended all activities related to oil and annulled previous exploration and mining leases. It
formed a Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) to work out modalities for governing oil and natural gas. But there was
another stumbling block. Before Nagaland was formed in 1963, the Centre had introduced the Oil Fields
Regulation and Development Act, 1948, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959, which authorised it to
develop and regulate hydrocarbon reserves across the country.
HYDRO POWER PROJECTS

The Ministry of Development of North East Region (DoNER) has been allocated Rs
3,000 crore for 2018-19 in the Union Budget
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) is a Government of India
ministry, established in September 2001, which functions as the nodal Department of the
Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-economic development of the
eight States of Northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim
The North Eastern Region of India is blessed with the highest hydro power potential far exceeding the
region’s internal requirement for power. As per the report of the ranking studies conducted by Central
Electricity Authority, government of India, there are 1,48,701MW hydro power potential spreading in 845
different schemes in the country. Of which 66,065 MW from 140 schemes have been identified as potential
sites from North Eastern states contributing 44.43 per cent of total hydro power potential of the country.

Functions and responsibilities

The Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was created in 2001 and was accorded
the status of a full-fledged ministry on May 2004. The ministry is mainly concerned with the creation of
infrastructure for economic development of North-Eastern region.
Main activities/functions of the DoNER.
 Non Lapsible Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)
 North Eastern Council (NEC)
 Coordination with the Central Ministries and the State Governments of the NE states.
 Capacity Building
 Advocacy and Publicity
 International Cooperation
 Enterprises of the Department

Northeast India connectivity projects

Major initiatives covered are Transport between India and Bangladesh, Bangladesh–India border, India-
Myanmar barrier, Bhutan–India border, McMahon Line, etc.

Waterways
International NE waterways
India-Myanmar
Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
India-Bangladesh
Waterways as per "Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Trade":
Kolkata-Pandu, Guwahati-Kolkata
Kolkata-Karimganj-Kolkata
Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi
Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu

Inland National waterways in NE

NER Waterways: 20 National Waterways in NE
National Waterway 2: Sadiya and Dhubri on Bangladesh-India border 891 km stretch of Brahmaputra River
is already operational.
19 additional NE National Waterways under development (as of Dec 2017)
 Identified Capacity
Capacity
Region/ Capacity(MW) as Capacity Developed + Capacity yet to
under
State per reassessment Developed Under be developed
construction
study Development

Above
Total (MW) % (MW) (%) (MW (%) (MW) %
25 MW

Sikkim 4286 4248 570 13.42 2421 56.99 2991 70.41 1257 29.59

NORTH EASTERN REGION

Meghalaya 2394 2298 198 8.62 124 5.39 322 14.01 1976 85.99

Tripura 15 0 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.00

Manipur 1784 1761 105 5.96 0 0.00 105 5.96 1656 94.04

Assam 680 650 375 57.69 0 0.00 375 57.69 275 42.31

Nagaland 1574 1452 75 5.17 0 0.00 75 5.17 1377 94.83

Ar.Pradesh 50328 50064 405 0.81 2710 5.41 3115 6.22 46949 93.78

Mizoram 2196 2131 0 0.00 60 2.82 60 2.82 2071 97.18

Sub Total
58971 58356 1158* 1.98 2894 4.96 4052 6.94 54304 93.06
(NER)

15 new rail projects for Northeast

The Centre is committed to put all the state capitals of the northeast on the rail map
and is executing 15 new projects in the region.
The government of India is executing 15 new rail line projects of 1,385 km length, at
a cost of over Rs 47,000 crore
Reason behind this project
Lack of connectivity is one of the biggest hurdles in the path of development of the
north-eastern region

Northeast India solar revolution

Northeast India’s largest solar power plant began generating power last month in Tripura
state, bringing the state government a step closer to achieving ambitious plans to turn the
state capital Agartala into a solar city.
The 5 MW Monarchak plant is run by the North Eastern Electric Power
Corporation(NEEPCO) and solar hot water systems are to be set up in hotels, nursing
homes, hostels, government guest houses, hospitals and shopping centres as part of the city’s
solar master plan.

NEEPCO plans to generate at least 1,500 MW of power from renewable energy in the
Northeast by 2020 under the United Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
initiative. NEEPCO has plans for another 5 MW solar plant at Hojai-Lanka in Assam and a
2 MW windmill in northern Arunachal Pradesh.