Guwahati, May 23: Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, redefined India’s Northeastern Region not as a remote outpost but as the nation’s “strategic and digital frontier”—a convergence point “where policy meets possibility, nature meets networks, and heritage meets hyper-connectivity.”
Speaking at the session titled “IT for Ashtalakshmi – Beyond the Bits and Bytes, into AI and 5G” at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital, Dr. Shekhar spotlighted the Northeast as a critical pillar in India’s digital and geopolitical future. The session saw participation from key dignitaries including Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and the Chief Secretary of Manipur.
Highlighting the dramatic digital transformation since 2014, Dr. Shekhar credited the Union government’s visionary policies—especially the Act East Policy—for repositioning the Northeast from a policy afterthought to a dynamic growth engine. He emphasized the catalytic role of Union DoNER Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia in unlocking the region’s potential across infrastructure, innovation, and inclusion.
“The Northeast, known as Ashtalakshmi for its eight culturally rich states, has overcome decades of digital exclusion to become a vibrant innovation hub,” he said. “With over ₹1.5 lakh crore invested in infrastructure—including ₹50,000 crore for BharatNet and Digital North East—connectivity has become a cornerstone of transformation.”
Today, 90% of the region enjoys 4G coverage, with 80% of rural households connected by fiber optics.
Dr. Shekhar stressed that physical infrastructure is only part of the story. The true engine of transformation is the digitally skilled youth.
Institutions like IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar are producing world-class talent, while homegrown startups such as AgSpert are harnessing AI and drone tech to revolutionize agriculture. “We are not just building networks; we are building a digital nation. And the Northeast is at the forefront,” he asserted.
Showcasing real-world applications, Dr. Shekhar cited examples such as a 5G-enabled telemedicine network in Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura’s BHASHINI initiative, which uses AI to enable real-time multilingual governance across 22 languages.
From AI-driven security systems guarding international borders to AR-powered tourism in Kaziranga and Sikkim, Dr. Shekhar laid out a vision in which digital technology enhances not just governance and commerce, but cultural preservation and global reach.
“Our local languages, our handicrafts, our history—they’re not relics; they’re assets for the digital economy. With AI, they can be preserved, promoted, and monetized,” he said.
Dr. Shekhar positioned the Northeast as India’s “natural gateway” to ASEAN’s $5 trillion digital economy, citing the region’s 98% international border connectivity, green energy potential, and climate suitability for sustainable data infrastructure.
He said the tea gardens of Assam that once fueled the British Empire will now power AI algorithms. The strategic borders that once defined our security challenges will now be our competitive advantage in defense tech. “The future of India will rise not just from its metros—but from every corner where there is vision, courage, and the will to transform dreams into reality” he concluded.
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