Citizens, entrepreneurs, educational institutions, youth organisations, civil society and the media must become active stakeholders in taking forward India’s Act East Policy, Lieutenant General (Retd) Rana Pratap Kalita, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, said at a brainstorming session organised here on Wednesday.
The session, organised by Seemanta Chetna Mancha Purvottar on the theme “Act East Policy: The Role of Citizens and the Way Forward”, brought together former military and police officials, policymakers, development-sector professionals, media representatives and civil-society stakeholders to deliberate on strengthening the Northeast’s role in India’s engagement with its eastern neighbours.
Lt Gen Kalita, who chaired the session, called for a shift from policy announcements to a clearly defined implementation mechanism. He proposed that the Government of India may consider establishing a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the Act East Policy, with representation from relevant ministries, State Governments, security and border-management agencies, infrastructure institutions and economic and trade bodies. He said major objectives under Act East Policy should be converted into specific projects, with designated implementing agencies, clear funding arrangements and defined timelines. Progress should be regularly monitored against measurable milestones to ensure that projects do not remain at the planning or approval stage indefinitely.
The discussions emphasised that the Northeast must be prepared to take advantage of opportunities arising from greater engagement with Southeast and East Asia. Shri Parth P. Das, Advisor, Tourism, Government of Assam, observed that although the continuing political and security situation in Myanmar remains a major challenge, the Northeast cannot afford to wait indefinitely for conditions across the border to normalise. He stressed the need to strengthen the region’s internal infrastructure, human resources, skills and economic capacities so that Assam and the Northeast be ready and prepared when circumstances permit greater cross-border engagements.
There was a unanimous call for an integrated approach covering connectivity, commerce, capacity building and cultural linkages, with particular emphasis on road, rail, inland waterways, aviation and digital connectivity. The discussions also highlighted the need for better logistics, tourism development, entrepreneurship and institutional coordination. Skill mapping across the Northeast emerged as another important area of discussion. Participants suggested identifying existing and emerging skills in sectors including tourism and hospitality, logistics, healthcare, technology, handicrafts, food processing, agriculture, construction and services, and aligning them with future markets to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people.
The session also highlighted the historical and civilisational links between the Northeast and the wider Indo-China region. Participants noted that the eastern frontier had historically functioned not merely as a political boundary but also as a zone of trade, movement and cultural exchange, and stressed that this legacy should inform contemporary approaches to Act East.
Speaking on the role of young people and the media, Shri Debojit Goswamy, a young media spokesperson, said that from the launch of the Look East Policy in 1991 to its transformation into the Act East Policy in 2014, the Northeast has received considerable policy attention, but implementation needs to become more visible and measurable. “There has been no shortage of discussion in Delhi, but the Northeast now needs visible action, measurable outcomes and time-bound implementation,” he said, calling for greater transparency in monitoring projects and stronger participation of local stakeholders in determining priorities.
The session identified last-mile connectivity, border-area development, logistics infrastructure, tourism, skill development, entrepreneurship, education, cultural diplomacy, trade facilitation and digital connectivity among the key areas requiring sustained attention. The participants stressed that the Northeast should not be viewed merely as a geographical gateway to Southeast Asia, but as an active economic and cultural bridge between India and its eastern neighbourhood.
The session was coordinated by Pradeep Kumar, IPS (Retd.), former DGP(HG&CD),Assam, and actively supported by Sh Pallab Bhattacharya IPS (Retd.), former DGP(SB) Assam. Former Deputy Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly Shri Numal Momin, Shri Manoranjan Das, Deputy General Manager, and senior representatives of various institutions, along with members of civil society and the media, participated in the deliberations.
Shri Pradeepan, National Convener, Seemanta Chetna Mancha Purvottar, said the organisation would continue to promote informed public participation and constructive dialogue on issues concerning the strategic and developmental future of Northeast India.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Sanjay Aditya Singh
The deliberations concluded with a broad consensus that the success of Act East would depend not only on government policy and infrastructure, but also on the preparedness, participation and enterprise of the people of Northeast India.