GUWAHATI, Jan 30: Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, called on the country to embrace the cultural wealth and transformative potential of the Northeast in his address during the Rashtriya Ekatmata Yatra 2025 on January 30.
Speaking to a gathering of young students from the Northeast and winners of the Mann Ki Baat Quiz Competition, Dhankhar stressed the importance of national engagement with the region, urging all Indians to make it a habit to “travel east, tour east, and contribute to the development of the east.”
The Vice-President highlighted the Northeast as a “treasure trove of culture, ethnicity, and unparalleled natural beauty,” underscoring its unique cuisine, tribal traditions, and vibrant arts. He also praised the government’s efforts to advance the region’s development, noting the significant attention it has received under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“The number of visits the Prime Minister has made there is remarkable. All I am suggesting is, and through you to every Indian, there is no more attractive tourist destination in the world than the Northeast,” Dhankhar stated. “We Indians, all of us in togetherness, must make it a habit to travel east, tour east, and contribute to the development of the east.”
He also celebrated the growing interest in the region, citing the increasing number of tourists traveling to the Northeast, which now exceeds 1.25 crores annually—a testament to the area’s rising popularity.
During his address, Dhankhar shared his personal experience visiting each of the nine states involved in the Rashtriya Ekatmata Yatra: Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam. He spoke about the rich culture, cuisine, tribal traditions, and the abundance of talent he witnessed across the region.
“I have been to each of the states. I have seen your rich culture, cuisine, tribal traditions and the talent which is there,” he remarked, referring to his previous tenure as Governor of West Bengal, where he also headed the Eastern Zone Cultural Centre.
The Vice-President also applauded the government’s ‘Act East’ policy, which has been pivotal in boosting the region’s infrastructure and opening up new opportunities. He highlighted the construction of new airports, bringing the total number of airports in the region to 17, with five states now connected by air. Additionally, three international airports have been established, and the region now enjoys 95% 4G digital coverage—key milestones in the region’s ongoing development.
