By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has said deficiency in governance precipitates an inefficient delivery system that is responsible for wastage of public money.
Addressing the valedictory function of the workshop on “North East Developmental Paradigms’ organized by the Centre for East and North Eastern Regional Studies, Kolkata, here at the NEC auditorium on Wednesday, Dr Sangma said, “The roads we build should not require repair for the next five years. That is the level of competence expected from technocrats. If the delivery system is defective, we will not get the desired results.”
He said with the implementation of the RTI Act, people were now capable of pinpointing deficiency in governance thereby bringing about a fair, transparent and accountable governance system.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that schemes for the North East should be in tune with the need of the people and potential of the states in order to derive the maximum benefit out of these.
He, however, admitted that even the best of the schemes would fail to deliver if there is deficiency in governance.
Describing the North East as a gateway to the economic tigers of South East Asia, Dr Sangma said the improvement in the volume of bilateral trade to the tune of 55 billion dollars with ASEAN countries should make policy planners realise that a friendly, peaceful and mutually beneficial ties with our neighbours would do a world good to the economy our country.
Dr Sangma reiterated that better ties with neighbouring countries would help the states of the landlocked region to utilise facilities like ports, river routes available in those countries to send commodities produced with the region to the international market in much shorter time and at a lower cost.
Referring to development as the antidote for insurgency, Dr Sangma said “The economic benefits due to improved bi-lateral trade with neighbours will not only bring prosperity to our farmers, producers, exporters and people across the border , but also would act as a deterrent against the vested elements seeking to create trouble across the border.”
The Chief Minister called upon the Centre for massive investment in the infrastructure sector in the region including Meghalaya, for instance in construction airports and railways in order to remove the huge infrastructural gap between the region and the rest of the country.