The Hon’ble Governor of Telangana, Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, officially launched the North-East Connect Association (NECA) during the closing ceremony of the Telangana North East Connect 2025 Festival at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad.
The Techno-Cultural Festival, initiated by the Governor and supported by the Government of Telangana, received an overwhelming response. It became the first-of-its-kind platform in India to enable multiple MoUs between entrepreneurs and institutions from the North East and Telangana.
A Unified Civil Society Platform for the North-East Community in Telangana
The North-East Connect Association (NECA) is a new civil society platform designed to bring together diverse Northeast communities living across Telangana.
Its mission is to:
- Promote constructive engagement
- Address shared issues
- Build a formal channel between the North East community, the Telangana Government, and civil society
The Association aims to act as a bridge that fosters inclusion, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
Governor’s Message on Unity and Inclusion
Speaking at the launch, Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma said that NECA marks a major step toward strengthening support systems for North East communities in Telangana.
NECA Leadership Speaks
President Paparao Biyyala and Vice President Gautam Sawang said that NECA will help expand relationships between Telangana and the North East. They emphasised that the platform will strengthen trust, cultural exchange, and collaboration.
Founding Members of NECA
The founding committee includes distinguished leaders from public administration, healthcare, law, academia, sports, and entrepreneurship—all with deep connections to the North East:
Paparao Biyyala
Former IAS Officer; Policy Advisor to the Telangana Government; former Home Secretary, Assam.
D. Gautam Sawang
Former IPS Officer; Retired DGP of Andhra Pradesh. Born in Assam with strong roots across Arunachal Pradesh and multiple Northeast states.
Dr. S. Sahariah
Padma Shri Awardee; Renowned transplant surgeon; Founder Director at KIMS. A long-time advocate for healthcare access for the Northeast community.
Prof. Ajailiu Niumai
Professor of Sociology, University of Hyderabad; Leading authority on Northeast India; champion of academic visibility and research on Northeast communities.
Stephen Sen
Senior lawyer based in Hyderabad; Deep legal and social understanding of issues faced by Northeast families.
Dr. K. Rajeswara Rao
Distinguished IAS Officer, Tripura Cadre (1988 batch); Vast experience working with marginalized communities in the Northeast.
Sridhar Muppidi
Entrepreneur and technology leader; Strong professional and personal ties with the Northeast; long-time supporter of youth development in the region.
