Abstract:

'The pen is mightier than.the sword' - nowhere is it more apt than in the case of the states of the North East region (NE region) of India. A land of breathtaking scenic beauty, the region is known for its rich cultural heritage, handicrafts and martial arts. It is, however, plagued by various problems that include insurgency and militancy, joblessness and drug trafficking, extortion and violence. Providing for quality and relevant education in the context of the NE region is thus animperative for the holistic development of the region and to bring it into the mainstream of national development. A baseline study of the NE region was conducted in order to analyse the role of distance education in general and IGNOU in particular in terms of pattern and growth of enrolment and expansion of institutional outreach through establishment of study centres in the region. The demographics of the learners of this region had also been analyzed in order to find out who were enrolling in the ODL system'and in what programmes. Policy implications have been s~~ggested to augment distance education in the region.