External affairs minister Mr. S Jaishankar, in his recent session at Kirori Mal College, Delhi, highlighted the potential of using drones, and other technologies such as electric conductors, for improving connectivity in the Northeast region, which has challenging terrain and has remote locations.
Mr. Jaishankar mentioned that we must protect the special culture and heritage and natural environment of the Northeastern states, as they are part of the culture, while also creating more business opportunities there. He wants a careful balance where we can grow businesses but also preserve the beauty of nature. The aim is to strike a balance in the way such that development takes place in a way that doesn't harm the Northeast's beautiful forests, animals, and environment that makes it unique and also promotes the business interests of the country. The goal is to bring more money and jobs to the region and take charge of the development of the states without damaging the cultures, land, and wildlife precious to that part of the region.
The introduction of new technology, along with drones could also play a pivotal role in monitoring and managing the efforts towards ecological conservation efforts, economic growth and structural development.
He mentioned that drones could be utilized for transporting goods, medicines, and other essential supplies to remote areas, bridging the connectivity gap that was formed due to the Indian Partition, making the north-eastern states suffer due to the political instability.
Jaishankar said Northeast, India's location can help make business ties better with Southeast Asia and Japan, thus establishing a strong relationship with other Asian countries, and improving the possibility of trades and business from the northeastern part of the country as well.
He highlighted the need for better roads, trains, and air travel to help trade and people travel between places, thus establishing a good connectivity among different locations, for travel, tourism and business purposes.
Future Strategies:
Mr. Jaishankar envisions the need for a comprehensive approach that helps in maintaining a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability of the northeastern region. He advocated for promoting eco-tourism, which could generate income while preserving the region's natural resources. He emphasized the importance of involving the local communities in the final decision-making processes and to make sure that all the future decisions and initiatives include the interests of the Northeastern people and they actually benefit from the decisions and initiatives and also focused upon the opportunity of potential collaboration with other Asian countries in terms of renewable energy, sustainable energy, trading, and climate change reduction efforts.
