The northeast has the potential to become the country's growth engine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, noting that peace is now being established in the entire region.

He made these remarks at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Manipur Water Supply project via a video link.

While blockades have become a part of history in Manipur, the era of decades of violence has ceased in Assam, the prime minister said in his address.

In Tripura and Mizoram too, youngsters have abandoned the path of violence and the Bru-Reang refugees are moving towards a better life, he added.

The prime minister noted that the government is making constant efforts to improve connectivity in the northeast, be it highways, laying of rail tracks or upgrading airports.

The foundation stone-laying programme, he said, is an example of the fact that even during the crisis triggered by the coronavirus, the country has not stopped working.

Till the time a vaccine is developed, everyone has to vigorously fight against the virus and the development works should also be carried forward with full force, Modi said.

Referring to the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" (self-reliant India campaign), the prime minister said clusters are being developed for value addition and marketing of local products, where all facilities will be given to agro startups and other industries.

He said the northeast has the potential to replace the country's bamboo import with local production.

There is a huge demand for incense sticks in the country, but for this, India imports bamboo worth crores of rupees every year, the prime minister lamented.

A lot of work is being done to change this situation, he pointed out.

Modi said a huge investment is being made under the National Bamboo Mission, which will benefit youngsters in the northeast and startups.

Many institutes are being set up for health, education, skill development and startups, he added. With the setting up of a sports university and world-class stadia, Manipur is becoming a major hub for the country's sports talent, Modi observed.

Speaking on the water supply project, he said it is a big day for lakhs of people of Manipur, including the residents of its capital Imphal, as it will reduce their water problems.

The women will especially benefit as they will not have to travel for kilometres to fetch clean water, the prime minister said.

Noting that a better life is directly linked to connectivity, he said the connectivity of the northeast is essential for a secure, sure and self-reliant India.

Connectivity would give a fillip to India's Act East Policy and also provide a gateway to the country's travel and tourism sector, Modi said.

The prime minister referred to the more than 20 national waterways, including those in the northeast, which would provide a seamless connectivity.

He said the northeast represents the country's cultural diversity and strength, while pointing out that the region has a great tourism potential, which still remains unexplored.

Even as the country is fighting relentlessly against COVID-19, eastern and northeastern India also had to face the dual challenge of heavy rains and floods, which cost several lives and rendered many homeless, the prime minister said, adding that the Manipur government took all the necessary measures during the nationwide lockdown and made special arrangements for the return of migrants.

He said about 25 lakh poor people in Manipur have received free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Similarly, more than 1.5 lakh women in the state were given free gas cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, he added.

Referring to the water project, Modi said it has been designed keeping in mind the needs of the next 20-22 years, adding that lakhs of people will get access to clean drinking water while thousands will get employment.

He said water connections are being provided to about one lakh households in the country every day.

"Every day, we are removing such a big worry of water from the lives of one lakh mothers and sisters," he said.

The externally-funded Manipur Water Supply project was designed to provide freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs) to the remaining households in the Greater Imphal planning area and 1,731 rural habitations, covering 2,80,756 households in all 16 districts of the state.

The project outlay is Rs 3054.58 crore, with a loan component funded by the New Development Bank.

The northeast has the potential to become the country's growth engine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, noting that peace is now being established in the entire region.

The northeast has the potential to become the country's growth engine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, noting that peace is now being established in the entire region. He made these remarks at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Manipur Water Supply project via a video link. While blockades have become a part of history in Manipur, the era of decades of violence has ceased in Assam, the prime minister said in his address. In Tripura and Mizoram too, youngsters have abandoned the path of violence and the Bru-Reang refugees are moving towards a better life, he added. The prime minister noted that the government is making constant efforts to improve connectivity in the northeast, be it highways, laying of rail tracks or upgrading airports. The foundation stone-laying programme, he said, is an example of the fact that even during the crisis triggered by the coronavirus, the country has not stopped working. Till the time a vaccine is developed, everyone has to vigorously fight against the virus and the development works should also be carried forward with full force, Modi said. Referring to the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan" (self-reliant India campaign), the prime minister said clusters are being developed for value addition and marketing of local products, where all facilities will be given to agro startups and other industries. He said the northeast has the potential to replace the country's bamboo import with local production. There is a huge demand for incense sticks in the country, but for this, India imports bamboo worth crores of rupees every year, the prime minister lamented. A lot of work is being done to change this situation, he pointed out. Modi said a huge investment is being made under the National Bamboo Mission, which will benefit youngsters in the northeast and startups. Many institutes are being set up for health, education, skill development and startups, he added. With the setting up of a sports university and world-class stadia, Manipur is becoming a major hub for the country's sports talent, Modi observed. Speaking on the water supply project, he said it is a big day for lakhs of people of Manipur, including the residents of its capital Imphal, as it will reduce their water problems. The women will especially benefit as they will not have to travel for kilometres to fetch clean water, the prime minister said. Noting that a better life is directly linked to connectivity, he said the connectivity of the northeast is essential for a secure, sure and self-reliant India. Connectivity would give a fillip to India's Act East Policy and also provide a gateway to the country's travel and tourism sector, Modi said. The prime minister referred to the more than 20 national waterways, including those in the northeast, which would provide a seamless connectivity. He said the northeast represents the country's cultural diversity and strength, while pointing out that the region has a great tourism potential, which still remains unexplored. Even as the country is fighting relentlessly against COVID-19, eastern and northeastern India also had to face the dual challenge of heavy rains and floods, which cost several lives and rendered many homeless, the prime minister said, adding that the Manipur government took all the necessary measures during the nationwide lockdown and made special arrangements for the return of migrants. He said about 25 lakh poor people in Manipur have received free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Similarly, more than 1.5 lakh women in the state were given free gas cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, he added. Referring to the water project, Modi said it has been designed keeping in mind the needs of the next 20-22 years, adding that lakhs of people will get access to clean drinking water while thousands will get employment. He said water connections are being provided to about one lakh households in the country every day. "Every day, we are removing such a big worry of water from the lives of one lakh mothers and sisters," he said. The externally-funded Manipur Water Supply project was designed to provide freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs) to the remaining households in the Greater Imphal planning area and 1,731 rural habitations, covering 2,80,756 households in all 16 districts of the state. The project outlay is Rs 3054.58 crore, with a loan component funded by the New Development Bank.

Connectivity to northeast will give fillip to India's Act East policy: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday once again reiterated Indian position that the consensus created in Vladivostok with Russian President Vladimir Putin was that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and that there should be no interference in the internal affairs of the country.&nbsp;

On the lighter note, PM Modi said that "President Putin invited me before the elections, reposing the same confidence which people of India did during the elections".&nbsp;

“He had faith in me as people of India,” said Narendra Modi. Asserting beginning of a new relationship, the prime minister announced that he is extending <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-extends-1-billion-line-of-credit-for-development-of-russias-far-east-pm-modi-247730">$1 billion credit line to the Far East region of Russia</a>. 
&nbsp; 
He also said that it is also happening for the first time and also announced that he has invited all 11 governors of the Russian Far East to India. Prime minister Modi said that initiatives taken by India in the Far East ARE an expression of economic diplomacy. 
&nbsp; 
Prime Minister looked deeply satisfied with his engagement with President Putin and thanked him for spending time with him. PM Modi emphasised that Putin on the first day of his visit was with him till 1 am. 
&nbsp; 
The prime minister also said that there is immense love for the people of India in Russia and dimensions have been added to the Indo-Russian relationship.&nbsp;

PM also said that we have set ambitious targets and India and Russia will deepen cooperation in Space and deep-sea exploration.&nbsp;

He also emphasised on Vladivostok-Chennai sea connection and said that it will connect big markets. PM also said that he is very happy as more than 150 private businessmen from India participated in the Forum and their memorandum of understandings (MoUs) have surpassed that of the public enterprises. Since there has been a lot of focus on Russian forests, Prime Minister Modi reemphasised that "we take from nature only what is required".

 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday once again reiterated Indian position that the consensus created in Vladivostok with Russian President Vladimir Putin was that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and that there should be no interference in the internal affairs of the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday once again reiterated Indian position that the consensus created in Vladivostok with Russian President Vladimir Putin was that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected and that there should be no interference in the internal affairs of the country. On the lighter note, PM Modi said that "President Putin invited me before the elections, reposing the same confidence which people of India did during the elections". “He had faith in me as people of India,” said Narendra Modi. Asserting beginning of a new relationship, the prime minister announced that he is extending $1 billion credit line to the Far East region of Russia. He also said that it is also happening for the first time and also announced that he has invited all 11 governors of the Russian Far East to India. Prime minister Modi said that initiatives taken by India in the Far East ARE an expression of economic diplomacy. Prime Minister looked deeply satisfied with his engagement with President Putin and thanked him for spending time with him. PM Modi emphasised that Putin on the first day of his visit was with him till 1 am. The prime minister also said that there is immense love for the people of India in Russia and dimensions have been added to the Indo-Russian relationship. PM also said that we have set ambitious targets and India and Russia will deepen cooperation in Space and deep-sea exploration. He also emphasised on Vladivostok-Chennai sea connection and said that it will connect big markets. PM also said that he is very happy as more than 150 private businessmen from India participated in the Forum and their memorandum of understandings (MoUs) have surpassed that of the public enterprises. Since there has been a lot of focus on Russian forests, Prime Minister Modi reemphasised that "we take from nature only what is required".

PM Modi in Vladivostok: India extends $1 billion credit line to Russia's Far East

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Indo-Pacific is the logical step after Act East for India.

"The Indo-pacific is not tomorrow's forecast, but yesterday's reality. The Indo-Pacific naturally means different things to different powers, but it is undeniably a priority for all of them. For India, it is the logical step after Act East and a break out from the confines of South Asia," Jaishankar said during his address at the Indian Ocean Conference.

"For Japan, the movement into the Indian Ocean is the key to its strategic normalisation. For the United States, a unified theatre, aggressive burden-sharing requirements... and the stakes are high for China as well because its naval capabilities are indeed a prerequisite to its emergence as a global power. The ASEAN is the latest to make its move in this regard and it has tabled an approach on the Indo-Pacific as well," he continued.

"What we can no longer doubt that this is unquestionably the era for the contemporary version of the Great Game where multiple players with diverse ambitions display their strategic skills," said the EAM.

"The Indo-Pacific may be a fashion as a strategic concept right now, but the fact is it has been an economic and cultural reality for centuries. after all Indian and Arabs have left their imprint all the way up to the eastern coast of China. In fact, this reality is not remote at all and the seamlessness of waters only sharpens the appetite of western powers who enter it," he added.

"The British empire operated its own version of the Indo-Pacific even if it was not free or open. Its visualisation of both resources and interests was a cross integrated zone explaining many of the events of the 19th and 20th century. Other powers, in turn, followed the approach of the dominant one. If Indian troops fought in the Boxer Rebellion of 1901, the Japanese marines too intervened in Singapore in 1950. And not least it was the enormous logistical effort from India by the Anglo-American alliance that sustained China in its war against Japan after 1942," the EAM said.

"Strengthening a sense of extended neighbourhood is part of India's reclaiming of history. Its cultural basis is so visible that it needs little affirmation whether it is Southeast Asia, Gulf or Central Asia," Jaishankar also stated.

"Even its economic bases are now strengthening as trade, investment and mobility make an impact. What it lacks is that connectivity underpinning that was disrupted seven decades ago. As our connectivity, vision, and capabilities expand this critical road (Indian Ocean) can be played once again," he said.

"Giving the steady externalisation of its economy, and the shifting focus towards the East, India cannot remain unaffected by developments that impinge on the freedom of navigation or of overflight. The conceptual justification, therefore, centres around the expanding interests of India. It is buttressed by its self-perception as a rule-abiding power that contributes positively to global commerce," the EAM added.

"Given that its core interests are in the Indian Ocean, a presence beyond also contributes to ensuring a peaceful periphery. Since maritime activity has such a profound impact on overall equations, India's participation goes some way in contributing to a stable balance of power in Asia. While much of this advocacy would focus on the expansion of its interests, the fact remains that where India can really make a difference is in the Indian Ocean itself," said Jaishankar.

"For India, getting its Indo-Pacific approach right rests on ensuring that it gets its Indian Ocean strategy even more correctly," he said while also shedding light on the SAGAR initiative during his address.

The EAM also threw light on India's comprehensive maritime strategy, adding that it can be best depicted through concentric circles in India's case.

"A comprehensive maritime strategy naturally has a spectrum of activities and these in India's case, are best depicted in terms of concentric circles. The core is constituted by a combination of the maritime infrastructure of the homeland, development of island assets, connectivity to immediate neighbours with littoral implications and capabilities which can be brought to bear on a daily basis," he said.

"The next circle includes the maritime space beyond India's waters and its immediate island neighbours like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles...The outermost circle takes India into the Pacific, engaging convergent interests to ensure core security while promoting stable periphery," the EAM added.

Jaishankar also talked about the Chabahar port during his address on Tuesday and outlined the sea access it can provide to Afghanistan. 
&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Indo-Pacific is the logical step after Act East for India. "The Indo-pacific is not tomorrow's forecast, but yesterday's reality.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Indo-Pacific is the logical step after Act East for India. "The Indo-pacific is not tomorrow's forecast, but yesterday's reality. The Indo-Pacific naturally means different things to different powers, but it is undeniably a priority for all of them. For India, it is the logical step after Act East and a break out from the confines of South Asia," Jaishankar said during his address at the Indian Ocean Conference. "For Japan, the movement into the Indian Ocean is the key to its strategic normalisation. For the United States, a unified theatre, aggressive burden-sharing requirements... and the stakes are high for China as well because its naval capabilities are indeed a prerequisite to its emergence as a global power. The ASEAN is the latest to make its move in this regard and it has tabled an approach on the Indo-Pacific as well," he continued. "What we can no longer doubt that this is unquestionably the era for the contemporary version of the Great Game where multiple players with diverse ambitions display their strategic skills," said the EAM. "The Indo-Pacific may be a fashion as a strategic concept right now, but the fact is it has been an economic and cultural reality for centuries. after all Indian and Arabs have left their imprint all the way up to the eastern coast of China. In fact, this reality is not remote at all and the seamlessness of waters only sharpens the appetite of western powers who enter it," he added. "The British empire operated its own version of the Indo-Pacific even if it was not free or open. Its visualisation of both resources and interests was a cross integrated zone explaining many of the events of the 19th and 20th century. Other powers, in turn, followed the approach of the dominant one. If Indian troops fought in the Boxer Rebellion of 1901, the Japanese marines too intervened in Singapore in 1950. And not least it was the enormous logistical effort from India by the Anglo-American alliance that sustained China in its war against Japan after 1942," the EAM said. "Strengthening a sense of extended neighbourhood is part of India's reclaiming of history. Its cultural basis is so visible that it needs little affirmation whether it is Southeast Asia, Gulf or Central Asia," Jaishankar also stated. "Even its economic bases are now strengthening as trade, investment and mobility make an impact. What it lacks is that connectivity underpinning that was disrupted seven decades ago. As our connectivity, vision, and capabilities expand this critical road (Indian Ocean) can be played once again," he said. "Giving the steady externalisation of its economy, and the shifting focus towards the East, India cannot remain unaffected by developments that impinge on the freedom of navigation or of overflight. The conceptual justification, therefore, centres around the expanding interests of India. It is buttressed by its self-perception as a rule-abiding power that contributes positively to global commerce," the EAM added. "Given that its core interests are in the Indian Ocean, a presence beyond also contributes to ensuring a peaceful periphery. Since maritime activity has such a profound impact on overall equations, India's participation goes some way in contributing to a stable balance of power in Asia. While much of this advocacy would focus on the expansion of its interests, the fact remains that where India can really make a difference is in the Indian Ocean itself," said Jaishankar. "For India, getting its Indo-Pacific approach right rests on ensuring that it gets its Indian Ocean strategy even more correctly," he said while also shedding light on the SAGAR initiative during his address. The EAM also threw light on India's comprehensive maritime strategy, adding that it can be best depicted through concentric circles in India's case. "A comprehensive maritime strategy naturally has a spectrum of activities and these in India's case, are best depicted in terms of concentric circles. The core is constituted by a combination of the maritime infrastructure of the homeland, development of island assets, connectivity to immediate neighbours with littoral implications and capabilities which can be brought to bear on a daily basis," he said. "The next circle includes the maritime space beyond India's waters and its immediate island neighbours like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles...The outermost circle takes India into the Pacific, engaging convergent interests to ensure core security while promoting stable periphery," the EAM added. Jaishankar also talked about the Chabahar port during his address on Tuesday and outlined the sea access it can provide to Afghanistan.

Indo-Pacific logical step for India after Act East: S Jaishankar

Day one of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's Thailand visit saw a focus on Act East policy, Indo Pacific concept and meeting 10 of his counterparts. EAM is who is on 2-day visit to Bangkok speaking at the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting called the grouping a " critical element of India's act east policy and strategy" and that "acting east is also implementing our Indo Pacific outlook and its the logical extrapolation."

India's 'act east'&nbsp;policy that evolved from the "look east" policy call for greater engagement with ASEAN countries.&nbsp;

Talking about connectivity with ASEAN, EAM said, "India seeks greater connectedness with the ASEAN region. We envision connectivity with the region in very broad terms including physical, economic and political connectivity and close contact at people to people level."

Adding, "The historic, cultural, economic political that have existed between India and ASEAN region are the stepping stones to achieve the vision of a more connected India and ASEAN region and a closer partnership."

The ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting which was co-chaired by EAM and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai also reviewed progress on implementation of decisions between ASEAN and India during the 25th Anniversary ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit held in New Delhi on 25 January 2018.&nbsp;

The Indo-pacific concept is expected to dominate conversations in Bangkok as Delhi and Washington are both keen on it and ASEAN has also issued its outlook on it.

"I was heartened to see ASEAN recently released its outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which also supports sovereignty, transparency, good governance, a rules-based order, among many other things" US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said during his opening remarks at U.S.-ASEAN Ministerial in Thailand on Thursday.

Prime Minister Modi had spoken about India's vision Indo-pacific concept last year at Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore and this year in Maldivian parliament and said New Delhi is vision is an inclusive one.&nbsp;

EAM also participated in 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Ministerial Meeting and met 10 of he counterparts on the sidelines of the Asean plus gathering. These were Thai FM Don Pramudwinai, New Zealand FM Winston Peters, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy &nbsp;Federica Mogherini, Japan FM Taro Kono, Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi, British FS Dominic Raab, Singapore's FM Vivian Balakrishnan, &nbsp;Foreign Minister of Australia Marise Payne and Chinese FM Wang Yi.&nbsp;

EAM goes to China later this month for a preparatory visit for the 2nd India China informal summit that will happen by the end of this year.&nbsp;

On day 2 of his visit, Jaishankar will be participating at the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM) &amp; 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Day one of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's Thailand visit saw a focus on Act East policy, Indo Pacific concept and meeting 10 of his counterparts. EAM is who is on 2-day visit to Bangkok speaking at the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting called the grouping a " critical element of India's act east policy and strategy" and that "acting east is also implementing our Indo Pacific outlook and its the logical extrapolation.

Day one of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's Thailand visit saw a focus on Act East policy, Indo Pacific concept and meeting 10 of his counterparts. EAM is who is on 2-day visit to Bangkok speaking at the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting called the grouping a " critical element of India's act east policy and strategy" and that "acting east is also implementing our Indo Pacific outlook and its the logical extrapolation." India's 'act east' policy that evolved from the "look east" policy call for greater engagement with ASEAN countries. Talking about connectivity with ASEAN, EAM said, "India seeks greater connectedness with the ASEAN region. We envision connectivity with the region in very broad terms including physical, economic and political connectivity and close contact at people to people level." Adding, "The historic, cultural, economic political that have existed between India and ASEAN region are the stepping stones to achieve the vision of a more connected India and ASEAN region and a closer partnership." The ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting which was co-chaired by EAM and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai also reviewed progress on implementation of decisions between ASEAN and India during the 25th Anniversary ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit held in New Delhi on 25 January 2018. The Indo-pacific concept is expected to dominate conversations in Bangkok as Delhi and Washington are both keen on it and ASEAN has also issued its outlook on it. "I was heartened to see ASEAN recently released its outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which also supports sovereignty, transparency, good governance, a rules-based order, among many other things" US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said during his opening remarks at U.S.-ASEAN Ministerial in Thailand on Thursday. Prime Minister Modi had spoken about India's vision Indo-pacific concept last year at Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore and this year in Maldivian parliament and said New Delhi is vision is an inclusive one. EAM also participated in 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Ministerial Meeting and met 10 of he counterparts on the sidelines of the Asean plus gathering. These were Thai FM Don Pramudwinai, New Zealand FM Winston Peters, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Japan FM Taro Kono, Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi, British FS Dominic Raab, Singapore's FM Vivian Balakrishnan, Foreign Minister of Australia Marise Payne and Chinese FM Wang Yi. EAM goes to China later this month for a preparatory visit for the 2nd India China informal summit that will happen by the end of this year. On day 2 of his visit, Jaishankar will be participating at the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM) & 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

Day-1 of S Jaishankar in Thailand: Focus on Act East, Indo-Pacific and meeting 10 foreign ministers

In a bid to boost India's relations with its neighbours, the government has signed agreements with Bangladesh and South Korea, under which Doordarshan India will be available in those countries, while their state channels will be shown on DD Free Dish.

The government has decided to show BTV World, a channel owned by Bangladesh TV, on the Doordarshan Free Dish which will be available for the viewers of Doordarshan in India, an official statement said.

At the same time, DD India would be made available in Bangladesh, it said.

"India has entered into an agreement with Bangladesh so that DD India will be shown on Bangladesh TV. In return, Bangladesh's official channel will also be available in India on DD Free Dish. DD Free dish is available in 35 million households," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said.

The move is part of a robust cultural exchange in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East policy, he said.

The government has also approved the proposal of Prasar Bharati for making available the KBS World, an English 24x7 channel of the government of the Republic of South Korea on the DD Free Dish for the Indian viewers. Simultaneously, people of South Korea would be able to view DD India in their country.

The arrangement with Bangladesh is as a result of an MoU signed between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh TV (BTV) May 7, 2019.

BTV World would be of special interest to the viewers of eastern India and the decision marks an important watershed moment in the strengthening of ties between the two countries, the statement said.

The pact comes after an earlier decision taken by the two governments to co-produce a film on Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which will be directed by eminent film director/producer Shyam Benegal.

Talking about the World Yoga Day, Javadekar said the government's decision to honour media houses for their contribution towards promoting healthy living through yoga has been well received and several media houses had shown enthusiasm in promoting the ancient Indian practice.

Javadekar had earlier this month announced 33 awards -- 11 for each newspaper organisations, TV and radio channels. A six-member jury will consider the entries in all 23 official languages.

"This (yoga) has become a public movement in India. We declared one scheme for media houses that have been well received," he said.

"As far as yesterday's decision on a dance reality show is concerned, it has been well received by all sections of the society," Javadekar said, adding that psychologists and choreographers have lauded the move.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked all private satellite TV channels to avoid showing children in an indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner in dance reality shows or other such programmes.

In a bid to boost India's relations with its neighbours, the government has signed agreements with Bangladesh and South Korea, under which Doordarshan India will be available in those countries, while their state channels will be shown on DD Free Dish.

In a bid to boost India's relations with its neighbours, the government has signed agreements with Bangladesh and South Korea, under which Doordarshan India will be available in those countries, while their state channels will be shown on DD Free Dish. The government has decided to show BTV World, a channel owned by Bangladesh TV, on the Doordarshan Free Dish which will be available for the viewers of Doordarshan in India, an official statement said. At the same time, DD India would be made available in Bangladesh, it said. "India has entered into an agreement with Bangladesh so that DD India will be shown on Bangladesh TV. In return, Bangladesh's official channel will also be available in India on DD Free Dish. DD Free dish is available in 35 million households," Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said. The move is part of a robust cultural exchange in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Act East policy, he said. The government has also approved the proposal of Prasar Bharati for making available the KBS World, an English 24x7 channel of the government of the Republic of South Korea on the DD Free Dish for the Indian viewers. Simultaneously, people of South Korea would be able to view DD India in their country. The arrangement with Bangladesh is as a result of an MoU signed between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh TV (BTV) May 7, 2019. BTV World would be of special interest to the viewers of eastern India and the decision marks an important watershed moment in the strengthening of ties between the two countries, the statement said. The pact comes after an earlier decision taken by the two governments to co-produce a film on Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which will be directed by eminent film director/producer Shyam Benegal. Talking about the World Yoga Day, Javadekar said the government's decision to honour media houses for their contribution towards promoting healthy living through yoga has been well received and several media houses had shown enthusiasm in promoting the ancient Indian practice. Javadekar had earlier this month announced 33 awards -- 11 for each newspaper organisations, TV and radio channels. A six-member jury will consider the entries in all 23 official languages. "This (yoga) has become a public movement in India. We declared one scheme for media houses that have been well received," he said. "As far as yesterday's decision on a dance reality show is concerned, it has been well received by all sections of the society," Javadekar said, adding that psychologists and choreographers have lauded the move. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked all private satellite TV channels to avoid showing children in an indecent, suggestive and inappropriate manner in dance reality shows or other such programmes.

DD India to be available in Bangladesh, South Korea

Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-terror-attacks-finally-lead-back-to-single-source-modi-to-us-vp-mike-pence-177357">Narendra Modi</a> participated&nbsp;in the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Breakfast Summit,&nbsp;followed by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-arrives-in-singapore-for-rcep-summit-177173">13th East Asia Summit</a> in Singapore on Thursday.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders attend ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit in Singapore. <a href="https://t.co/2N5XxMcP1l">pic.twitter.com/2N5XxMcP1l</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1062870391549554688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/putin-stresses-cooperation-against-terrorism-in-first-official-meeting-with-asean-leaders-177301">ASEAN meetings</a>, they are annual meetings and they are very integral part of our diplomatic calendar. It is where India engages with the ASEAN countries essentially because we have a very active Act East Policy, we have continued engagements with our Eastern neighbours," Vijay Thakur Singh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) had said at a media briefing on November 12.

The 13th East Asia Summit will be held in two segments on Thursday- the East Asia Lunch Retreat followed by the EAS in a plenary setting. Prime Minister Modi will emplane for India after the EAS'&nbsp;conclusion.

The EAS is a leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region comprising all 10 ASEAN member states- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam- and its eight dialogue partners, India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia.

This will be Prime Minister Modi's fifth engagement with EAS since the summit's inception in 2005.The leaders of the member nations are slated to discuss international development issues like ICT, Smart Cities, Maritime Cooperation, Education, Finance, Food Security, Environment and Energy at the EAS.

The Prime Minister became the first head of government to deliver the keynote address at Singapore Fintech Festival on November 14, where he shared India`s financial inclusion story that has transformed governance and delivery of public services.

He then launched the Application Programming Interface Exchange (APIX) with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore T&nbsp;Shanmugaratnam.

Prime Minister Modi also visited the India Pavilion at the Fintech festival, following which he met the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and exchanged views on cooperation in financial technology, enhanced connectivity, and regional economic integration.

"Prosperity through partnership. PM @narendramodi had a warm meeting with @VP of United States Michael Pence in #Singapore. Productive discussion on all aspects of global strategic partnership based on growing convergence of interests on regional and global issues," Raveesh Kumar, MEA's Spokesperson had tweeted after Prime Minister Modi met with US Vice President Mike Pence.

During a day full of diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Modi further met with Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia and Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister of Thailand in separate meetings to discuss areas in inter-country relations.

Prime Minister Modi also attended the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit.

"Shaping the agenda for regional cooperation. PM @narendramodi attended the 2nd #RCEP Summit in Singapore with 16 member states. PM reiterated that India was committed to an early conclusion of high quality comprehensive and balanced regional economic partnership agreement," Kumar tweeted on Wednesday.

Lastly, Prime Minister Modi attended the gala dinner hosted by Loong, before calling it a day in Singapore.

India and ASEAN celebrated 25 years of their engagement in 2017, which culminated in the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit on January 25th this year. The summit was followed by the participation of all ASEAN leaders in India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guests. 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Breakfast Summit, followed by the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Breakfast Summit, followed by the 13th East Asia Summit in Singapore on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders attend ASEAN-India Informal Breakfast Summit in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/2N5XxMcP1l — ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2018 × "The ASEAN meetings, they are annual meetings and they are very integral part of our diplomatic calendar. It is where India engages with the ASEAN countries essentially because we have a very active Act East Policy, we have continued engagements with our Eastern neighbours," Vijay Thakur Singh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) had said at a media briefing on November 12. The 13th East Asia Summit will be held in two segments on Thursday- the East Asia Lunch Retreat followed by the EAS in a plenary setting. Prime Minister Modi will emplane for India after the EAS' conclusion. The EAS is a leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region comprising all 10 ASEAN member states- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam- and its eight dialogue partners, India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia. This will be Prime Minister Modi's fifth engagement with EAS since the summit's inception in 2005.The leaders of the member nations are slated to discuss international development issues like ICT, Smart Cities, Maritime Cooperation, Education, Finance, Food Security, Environment and Energy at the EAS. The Prime Minister became the first head of government to deliver the keynote address at Singapore Fintech Festival on November 14, where he shared India`s financial inclusion story that has transformed governance and delivery of public services. He then launched the Application Programming Interface Exchange (APIX) with the Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore T Shanmugaratnam. Prime Minister Modi also visited the India Pavilion at the Fintech festival, following which he met the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and exchanged views on cooperation in financial technology, enhanced connectivity, and regional economic integration. "Prosperity through partnership. PM @narendramodi had a warm meeting with @VP of United States Michael Pence in #Singapore. Productive discussion on all aspects of global strategic partnership based on growing convergence of interests on regional and global issues," Raveesh Kumar, MEA's Spokesperson had tweeted after Prime Minister Modi met with US Vice President Mike Pence. During a day full of diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Modi further met with Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia and Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister of Thailand in separate meetings to discuss areas in inter-country relations. Prime Minister Modi also attended the second Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. "Shaping the agenda for regional cooperation. PM @narendramodi attended the 2nd #RCEP Summit in Singapore with 16 member states. PM reiterated that India was committed to an early conclusion of high quality comprehensive and balanced regional economic partnership agreement," Kumar tweeted on Wednesday. Lastly, Prime Minister Modi attended the gala dinner hosted by Loong, before calling it a day in Singapore. India and ASEAN celebrated 25 years of their engagement in 2017, which culminated in the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit on January 25th this year. The summit was followed by the participation of all ASEAN leaders in India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guests.

PM Modi to attend ASEAN and East Asia summits today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the&nbsp;inaugural session of the Advantage Assam-Global Investors&#39;&nbsp;Summit in Guwahati.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> PM Modi addresses the inaugural session of Advantage Assam-Global Investors Summit in Guwahati <a href="https://t.co/mjh3hQZnxT">https://t.co/mjh3hQZnxT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/959692997699883011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The prime minister said that India&#39;s growth story would be expedited once the Northeast developed.

&quot;India&#39;s growth story will pick up more speed when people living in Northeast region will see fast development in a balanced manner,&quot; the prime minister said at the summit which aims at positioning the state as India&#39;s expressway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

&quot;We created the Act East Policy and the Northeast is at the heart of it,&quot; PM Modi said&nbsp;

The prime minister&nbsp;said the tagline of the of the summit, &#39;Advantage Assam: India&rsquo;s Expressway to ASEAN&rsquo;, was very appropriate and gave a big message.

&quot;Advantage Assam: India&rsquo;s Expressway to ASEAN&rsquo; is not just a statement but it is a comprehensive vision,&quot; PM Modi said.

PM Modi praised Assam for ranking first among the Northeast states in the Ease of Doing Business report.

&quot;Assam is ranked first among the Northeastern States in the Ease of Doing Business report. With the present leadership of the state government, Assam is going to further improve its current position to emerge as one of the most sought-after states for investment,&quot; the prime minister said.

PM Modi said his government was restructuring the National Bamboo mission with an amount of Rs 1300 crore. 
 
&quot;We are restructuring the &#39;National Bamboo mission&#39;&nbsp;with the amount of Rs 1300 crore. This will benefit people of Northeast, especially the farmers of this region,&quot; he said.

PM Modi also said the working style of the government had been changed.

&quot;We have changed the working style of govt. We want all programmes to be completed ahead of target,&quot; he said.

The prime minister also spoke about the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme announced in the budget, stating that it would benefit 45-50 crore people. He added that the scheme had enhanced possibilities of setting up hospitals in tier 2 and 3 cities.

&quot;Government in the budget announced Ayushman Bharat Yojana, This is one of its kind, the biggest programme in the World. Someone who has lived in poverty, who had endured pains of poverty and moved forward, that person always realises that the biggest concern of poor is the treatment of diseases,&quot; PM Modi said.

He also spoke about how the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector was a priority for the government which had given a &quot;big relief&quot; to the MSMEs in this year&#39;s budget.

&quot;Development of the MSME sector is a priority for us. In this year&#39;s budget we are giving big relief to MSMEs by reducing the rate of income tax to 25% on companies reporting a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore.

Also in attendance was the Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay.

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM Narendra Modi with Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay at Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018 in Guwahati. <a href="https://t.co/LhWr8v4Bbx">pic.twitter.com/LhWr8v4Bbx</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/959705676695171074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

The two-day summit, organised by the Assam Government, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), will showcase Assam&#39;s manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic advantages to foreign and domestic investors.

The focus sectors identified by the state include agriculture and food processing, organic farming, bamboo, handloom, textile and handicrafts, inland water transport, riverfront development and logistics.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from&nbsp;agencies) 
&nbsp;

PM Modi said that India's growth story would be expedited once the North East developed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the Advantage Assam-Global Investors' Summit in Guwahati. #WATCH PM Modi addresses the inaugural session of Advantage Assam-Global Investors Summit in Guwahati https://t.co/mjh3hQZnxT — ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2018 × The prime minister said that India's growth story would be expedited once the Northeast developed. "India's growth story will pick up more speed when people living in Northeast region will see fast development in a balanced manner," the prime minister said at the summit which aims at positioning the state as India's expressway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. "We created the Act East Policy and the Northeast is at the heart of it," PM Modi said The prime minister said the tagline of the of the summit, 'Advantage Assam: India’s Expressway to ASEAN’, was very appropriate and gave a big message. "Advantage Assam: India’s Expressway to ASEAN’ is not just a statement but it is a comprehensive vision," PM Modi said. PM Modi praised Assam for ranking first among the Northeast states in the Ease of Doing Business report. "Assam is ranked first among the Northeastern States in the Ease of Doing Business report. With the present leadership of the state government, Assam is going to further improve its current position to emerge as one of the most sought-after states for investment," the prime minister said. PM Modi said his government was restructuring the National Bamboo mission with an amount of Rs 1300 crore. "We are restructuring the 'National Bamboo mission' with the amount of Rs 1300 crore. This will benefit people of Northeast, especially the farmers of this region," he said. PM Modi also said the working style of the government had been changed. "We have changed the working style of govt. We want all programmes to be completed ahead of target," he said. The prime minister also spoke about the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme announced in the budget, stating that it would benefit 45-50 crore people. He added that the scheme had enhanced possibilities of setting up hospitals in tier 2 and 3 cities. "Government in the budget announced Ayushman Bharat Yojana, This is one of its kind, the biggest programme in the World. Someone who has lived in poverty, who had endured pains of poverty and moved forward, that person always realises that the biggest concern of poor is the treatment of diseases," PM Modi said. He also spoke about how the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector was a priority for the government which had given a "big relief" to the MSMEs in this year's budget. "Development of the MSME sector is a priority for us. In this year's budget we are giving big relief to MSMEs by reducing the rate of income tax to 25% on companies reporting a turnover of up to Rs 250 crore. Also in attendance was the Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay. PM Narendra Modi with Bhutanese PM Tshering Tobgay at Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit 2018 in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/LhWr8v4Bbx — ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2018 × The two-day summit, organised by the Assam Government, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), will showcase Assam's manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic advantages to foreign and domestic investors. The focus sectors identified by the state include agriculture and food processing, organic farming, bamboo, handloom, textile and handicrafts, inland water transport, riverfront development and logistics. (With inputs from agencies)

Northeast at heart of Act East policy: PM Modi in Assam

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The &lsquo;Act East Policy&rsquo; is a political gesture to increase the pace of &lsquo;Look East Policy&rsquo; that is meant to connect North-East India (NEI) to South and South-East Asia(SaSEA). It is a policy that has been couched as an answer to various questions of geopolitics, national security, nation building, infrastructure development, resource utilisation, and trade in the region. As a gesture, it is imbibed with a lot of symbolisms and meanings.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, the policy has drawn a flak from various sections of society within North-East India. In principle, it has been a conscious policy of infrastructural ensemble and re-colonisation of resources which by-passes the local. This particular outlook of the state of India is driven by a certain discourse, perpetually pushing, at the same time, multiple conflicts under the carpet.

&nbsp;

Look East Policy was initiated during PV Narasimha Rao&rsquo;s government in the year 1992. As a policy outline, it sought to integrate the region and its margins to a much-developed area (SEA) as well as increase the connectivity of NEI region to the rest of India. The Rao government moved in snail&rsquo;s pace to realise its goals&mdash;building mega-dams, Trans-Asian highways, Asian Railway Link, Natural Gas and so on.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On a later stage, the policy was extended beyond SEA to the South and East Asian countries too. This policy can be seen in the light of reshaping of political alliances after the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. Moreover, the East Asian miracle also was of much interest to most countries. India hoped that it could benefit from its neighbours due to its geographical proximity and the positive relations that it shares with SEA. It is also in other sense, a policy which is directed at building &lsquo;security architecture&rsquo; of the country.

&nbsp;

The right wing government at the centre argues that the pace of development during the short life of Act East, when compared to Look East, is very promising. It seeks to further the philosophy of looking east through its focus on &lsquo;connectivity, culture and commerce&rsquo;. They argue that the bilateral trade agreements have leap-frogged.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Act East policy goes beyond ASEAN countries and now reaches out to Japan, Australia, Pacific Island Nations, South Korea and Mongolia. The optimists even claim that the fruits of such a foreign and trade policy are sweet indeed. Japan&rsquo;s promised investment in the high-speed railway is shown to us as the shining example of such benefits.

&nbsp;

However, there were many organised oppositions against the consequences of such an extensive infrastructural development and policy by various local tribal bodies, student unions in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, members of the academia, and from the larger civil society. For instance, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee (KMSS) led by the peasant leader and Rights to Information Act (RTI) activist Akhil Gogoi has been the forefront of this battle on dams in North-east.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

These various concerned groups were asking the basic question&mdash;at what cost, and for who is this so called development? As much as these questions are moral and ethical in its nature, it is also essentially a reflective of survival of local people and their everyday living. Raising question to such developmental projects and opposing them can also make life difficult for people, as we saw in the case of Akhil Gogoi and his colleagues who have been continually harassed by successive governments.

&nbsp;

There is no change of opinion from Pranab Mukherjee to Narendra Modi. They speak the same language of the state that bypasses the people&#39;s voice or consent. Look East, and subsequently Act East, reduces the entire region&#39;s cultural, social and economic spaces into a mere corridor to fulfill the dreams of the policy initiative. It is nothing but &lsquo;politics of self-actualization&rsquo;. Policies directed at the region are &lsquo;blind, self-directed and intransitive&rsquo;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Between Look East and Act East, the choices of people suffered the most. It is the most undemocratic of its kind. It is only capable of fulfilling the elite, upper caste and Delhi-based politicians. Such bypassing of the local in arriving at a consensus is a typical example of structural violence orchestrated by the various institutions of the state&mdash;a modern micro and macro governmentality complex.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Look East, by its very name, suggests that the people do not have a vision in life! However, the people have been looking East and have interacted with the East for centuries. There is no need to even remind us to Act East either. If that is the case, whose looking and acting are we talking about?

&nbsp;

The nation is not shared equally nor is the market. Act East/Look East leaves everything to the market to achieve&mdash;a holy equilibrium of supply and demand. The market in a capitalist state is a site of injustice. This positionality of the state&mdash;imposing development and making people thankful about&mdash;brings about a typical case of life as narrated by Dostoevsky in &lsquo;Underground Man&rsquo;. Similar to Dostoevsky&rsquo;s character, where he is engaged in an &lsquo;inexhaustible dialogue&rsquo;, the Act East policy is also a reality of our predicament.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is a question not just of one&rsquo;s life but of the entire cosmos that surrounds that life&mdash;a life world. The state likes the infrastructural ensemble. However, the larger question is&mdash;would you like to live in a place where there is an impending danger of your home and hearth being washed away? Or, is it a glass palace the Modi and Ambanis want to build it, and not live in it?

Between Look East and Act East policy, the choices of people suffered the most

The ‘Act East Policy’ is a political gesture to increase the pace of ‘Look East Policy’ that is meant to connect North-East India (NEI) to South and South-East Asia(SaSEA). It is a policy that has been couched as an answer to various questions of geopolitics, national security, nation building, infrastructure development, resource utilisation, and trade in the region. As a gesture, it is imbibed with a lot of symbolisms and meanings. However, the policy has drawn a flak from various sections of society within North-East India. In principle, it has been a conscious policy of infrastructural ensemble and re-colonisation of resources which by-passes the local. This particular outlook of the state of India is driven by a certain discourse, perpetually pushing, at the same time, multiple conflicts under the carpet. Look East Policy was initiated during PV Narasimha Rao’s government in the year 1992. As a policy outline, it sought to integrate the region and its margins to a much-developed area (SEA) as well as increase the connectivity of NEI region to the rest of India. The Rao government moved in snail’s pace to realise its goals—building mega-dams, Trans-Asian highways, Asian Railway Link, Natural Gas and so on. On a later stage, the policy was extended beyond SEA to the South and East Asian countries too. This policy can be seen in the light of reshaping of political alliances after the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union. Moreover, the East Asian miracle also was of much interest to most countries. India hoped that it could benefit from its neighbours due to its geographical proximity and the positive relations that it shares with SEA. It is also in other sense, a policy which is directed at building ‘security architecture’ of the country. The right wing government at the centre argues that the pace of development during the short life of Act East, when compared to Look East, is very promising. It seeks to further the philosophy of looking east through its focus on ‘connectivity, culture and commerce’. They argue that the bilateral trade agreements have leap-frogged. The Act East policy goes beyond ASEAN countries and now reaches out to Japan, Australia, Pacific Island Nations, South Korea and Mongolia. The optimists even claim that the fruits of such a foreign and trade policy are sweet indeed. Japan’s promised investment in the high-speed railway is shown to us as the shining example of such benefits. However, there were many organised oppositions against the consequences of such an extensive infrastructural development and policy by various local tribal bodies, student unions in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, members of the academia, and from the larger civil society. For instance, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee (KMSS) led by the peasant leader and Rights to Information Act (RTI) activist Akhil Gogoi has been the forefront of this battle on dams in North-east. These various concerned groups were asking the basic question—at what cost, and for who is this so called development? As much as these questions are moral and ethical in its nature, it is also essentially a reflective of survival of local people and their everyday living. Raising question to such developmental projects and opposing them can also make life difficult for people, as we saw in the case of Akhil Gogoi and his colleagues who have been continually harassed by successive governments. There is no change of opinion from Pranab Mukherjee to Narendra Modi. They speak the same language of the state that bypasses the people's voice or consent. Look East, and subsequently Act East, reduces the entire region's cultural, social and economic spaces into a mere corridor to fulfill the dreams of the policy initiative. It is nothing but ‘politics of self-actualization’. Policies directed at the region are ‘blind, self-directed and intransitive’. Between Look East and Act East, the choices of people suffered the most. It is the most undemocratic of its kind. It is only capable of fulfilling the elite, upper caste and Delhi-based politicians. Such bypassing of the local in arriving at a consensus is a typical example of structural violence orchestrated by the various institutions of the state—a modern micro and macro governmentality complex. The Look East, by its very name, suggests that the people do not have a vision in life! However, the people have been looking East and have interacted with the East for centuries. There is no need to even remind us to Act East either. If that is the case, whose looking and acting are we talking about? The nation is not shared equally nor is the market. Act East/Look East leaves everything to the market to achieve—a holy equilibrium of supply and demand. The market in a capitalist state is a site of injustice. This positionality of the state—imposing development and making people thankful about—brings about a typical case of life as narrated by Dostoevsky in ‘Underground Man’. Similar to Dostoevsky’s character, where he is engaged in an ‘inexhaustible dialogue’, the Act East policy is also a reality of our predicament. It is a question not just of one’s life but of the entire cosmos that surrounds that life—a life world. The state likes the infrastructural ensemble. However, the larger question is—would you like to live in a place where there is an impending danger of your home and hearth being washed away? Or, is it a glass palace the Modi and Ambanis want to build it, and not live in it?

The Act East policy of Government of India and beyond

act-east

Act East, News on Act East, stories on Act East, articles on Act East, Act East stories at Wion, Act East news, Act East latest news