SENAPATI, May 16: The North Eastern Council (NEC) has welcomed Satinder Kumar Bhalla, a senior officer of the Indian Telecommunication Service (1992 batch), as its new Secretary, effective April 1, 2025. Bhalla, who brings over three decades of expertise in telecommunications and public administration, is expected to infuse strategic direction into the NEC’s development initiatives aimed at transforming the North Eastern Region (NER).
Under Bhalla’s leadership, the NEC Secretariat is prioritizing major development projects across sectors, with a renewed push toward connectivity, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.
One of the key highlights is the successful completion of the Yairipok Bazar to Chagangpat Road project in Manipur. Sanctioned at a cost of ₹7.026 crore in August 2017, the road was completed on April 9, 2025. It has already improved regional mobility, facilitated access to essential services, and boosted local economic activity.
Further strengthening Manipur’s road network, the NEC released ₹10.570575 crore under the NESIDS (Roads) scheme in April 2025. This includes ₹10.415 crore for upgrading the Tadubi–Chowainamei Khunou–Maopungdung Road (Senapati district, 10.046 km), and ₹0.155575 crore for the upgradation of the Moirang Sendra Road (8.5 km) in Bishnupur district. These projects aim to ensure smoother transportation across the state’s challenging hilly terrain.
In addition, the NEC sanctioned ₹0.6985 crore in April for the “Skill cum Rural Entrepreneurship Development Centre” in Senapati district. This initiative promotes skill development and rural entrepreneurship, aligning with NEC’s inclusive development goals.
On the education and innovation front, the NE-SPARKS (North East Students’ Programme for Awareness, Reach, and Knowledge on Space) initiative was launched to ignite interest in space science among the region’s youth. Conceptualized by the Union Home Minister, the program will take 800 meritorious science students from the eight northeastern states to visit ISRO in Bengaluru. With a budget of ₹3.83 crore (₹2.3 crore from NEC and ₹1.53 crore from the states), 100 students have already visited ISRO, with more visits planned through November 2025.
