NEW DELHI, May 26: The Union Home ministry is preparing a four point draft action plan for North-East, following Prime Minister I K Gujral's visit to the region. The thrust of the plan is development and effective utilisation of the Rs 6100 crore package announced by former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, and not insurgency.

``Insurgency has been tackled to such an extent that the plan emphasises the need for better cross border ties and for initiating a dialogue with the militant outfits,'' said a senior official. Though the indication for a dialogue had been given during the visit, the government is yet to receive any feelers from the militants.

The focus of the plan is on creating an effective communication network, improving education, and preservation of tribal culture. Within this framework, the ministry has written to the planning commission to prepare a list of all the schemes launched in the sector during the last three years, their status and date of completion and the funds utilised so far.

The plan also lays down a quarterly review of the all the development schemes started by the Prime Minister's office, which shall also supervise the development work henceforth.

``Details of all the schemes shall be published in newspapers, and pamphlets in regional languages about the various projects shall be displayed at the project sites. This will help the rural population, who are not even aware of the projects launched, leave alone avail of their benefits,'' said the official.

Another reason given for emphasis on ``dissemination of information'' is the misappropriation and underutilisation of funds kept for projects. The letter to the planning commission highlights the leakage of funds to the militant outfits. Several NGOs may also be roped in to monitor and supervise the working of the projects. A vigilance system is also being proposed to monitor the politician-militant nexus in the region.

More frequent visits by the ministers and officials to the district and sub-district level has also been suggested. `

Till now the visits were few and far in-between and limited to the state capitals,'' pointed out an official.

According to officials, the plan is about better implementation of existing schemes. ``As of now, 10 per cent of the planning commission's outlay was earmarked for the region but not much has been utilised.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.