guwahati may 27 assam governor p b acharya today stressed the need for introduction of panchayati raj system in the sixth schedule areas which he believes will provide a boost to local economy and strengthen democratic edifice in such areas speaking at the twoday 65th plenary of north eastern council nec in shillong the governor called for optimum utilisation of mobilising women groups self help groups and other units for channelising their energy for social transformation at the grassroots level the regions natural resources bio diversities unique and diverse demographic profile and its proximity with south east asian nations call for a concerted effort towards its development and nec which has been mandated to bolster its development can play a lead role in this regard an official release here said quoting acharya speaking on the occasion chief minister sarbananda sonowal said assam being the largest state in the north east region and gateway to all ne states always remains at the forefront of all regional initiatives he said assam with 30 per cent land area and 68 per cent of total population of the region supports enhancement of the allocation for nec and a rational distribution of funds among the states of the region sonowal exhorted all states of the region to have a collective endeavour to secure additional funds for their development the release said stating that though remoteness of the ner was considered as a big hindrance for development sonowal said an extensive use of digital india prime minister narendra modis pet programme can go a long way in addressing the problem theanking the prime minister for asking his council of ministers to visit north east at least once every fortnight sonowal said the gesture by modi shows his commitment to the development of the region he said development of the country was intrinsically associated with the development of the north east and emphasised on application of worlds latest technologies and management techniques to expedite it more esb dkb kis