The North East India Rally (NEIR) 2026 was flagged off from College of Agriculture, Pasighat on January 14, marking the start of an ambitious journey of Pasighat and beyond. The event brought together policymakers, academics, social leaders, and young campaigners under one platform.

The flag-off ceremony was attended by North East Council, Shillong secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla, Vice Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal Dr Anupam Mishra, Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao, and several other dignitaries.

Bhalla praised the organisers for their vision and hard work. He said initiatives like NEIR play a key role in connecting the Northeast and spreading awareness at the grassroots level. He assured that the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) would always encourage such meaningful efforts. Bhalla also lauded the six-member NEIR 2026 team from Kolkata and specially appreciated the HAM Radio team of Tripura for their effective and disciplined communication support.

MP Tapir Gao interacted with Biswadeep Gupta and the rally team during the programme. He suggested that future editions of NEIR should cover border areas of Arunachal Pradesh to highlight ground realities and national integration. Gupta assured that the team would make sincere efforts to include these regions in the next edition.

Dr. Anupam Mishra encouraged the NEIR team and shared insights into similar outreach activities conducted during NEIR programmes in Gangtok. He highlighted how such campaigns help bridge gaps between institutions, communities, and young minds.

All the speakers appreciated the sustained efforts of the KRC Foundation, led by its managing trustee and CEO Biswadeep Gupta. During the interaction, Gupta briefed the dignitaries about the objectives of the NEIR campaign, the role of Amateur and HAM Radio in disaster response and connectivity, and the concept of the “5 E’s for success,” which form the backbone of the initiative.

With its formal flag-off, NEIR 2026 has set the tone for a journey focused on awareness, connectivity, and youth engagement across the Northeast.

Promotional | North East Integration Rally