NEW DELHI, Nov 26 - Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, will get one seat each for cancer super-specialisation in DM (Oncology) from the current session, while MCh (Oncology) has been introduced from February this year, announced Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Dr Jitendra Singh.
The DoNER Ministry has begun sponsoring short-term cancer medicine and cancer surgery training from doctors from all the eight states of the region in the country�s reputed cancer institutes. A big boost has been given to upgrade the health care facility in the region, said Dr Singh.
The minister was presiding over the fifth meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of DoNER, which was attended among others by the MPs from the Northeast. Dr Singh said that a number of pathbreaking initiatives have been undertaken in the past one year or so to address certain issues that had been pending for the last several years.
The minister further announced that the Northeast will be developed as the �organic capital� of India. This will not only generate revenue through agriculture and trade, but also offer job avenues and entrepreneurship opportunities for young �startups�, he said.
Dr Singh said the Northeast Road Sector Development Scheme had been introduced for the upkeep and maintenance of interconnecting roads between the states, which were lying neglected because each of the two states expected the other state to bear the cost of maintenance, as a result of which these roads had earned the dubious nomenclature of �orphan� roads.
Between the last meeting of the consultative committee and the current one, Dr Singh said that another achievement has been the setting up of the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis at the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, from October 15 this year. In addition to providing strategic policy support for development of handloom, handicraft, horticulture and tourism, �this centre is also the DoNER Ministry�s humble tribute to one of the greatest Indian scientists of our times who had breathed his last during a lecture visit to Shillong,� he said.
The airport in Sikkim is also expected to become functional next year, Dr Singh said, adding, the extension of the runway at Umroi Airport at Shillong is under way. Among the very recent decisions taken include the revival of the North East Industrial Policy and setting up of the Northeast Tourism Development Council.
Among those present in the meeting were MP CL Ruala, Neiphiu Rio, Vincent H Pala, Naba Kumar Sarania, and senior officials from the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council.
