SHILLONG: The lack of focus and attention on the needs and deficiencies of the tribal communities and marginalised section of the society is one of the reasons of constant disturbances and turmoil in the country resulting in the emergence of insurgent groups or terrorist outfits, observed Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary.
“For peace to prevail and inclusive development to take place in the country, the government needs to focus more on the cause of restlessness and deficiency faced by the minority groups and deal with this problem at the grassroot level”, Mooshahary said. Mooshahary was delivering an inaugural address at the national seminar on ‘Inclusive development-bridging the gap’ at St. Edmund’s College here on Friday.
Referring to the recent Naxal attack, Mooshahary said there are around 9 crore tribals in the country, who belonged to the minority group and these tribals are often deprived of their rights and are often restless. “Lack of attention on the problems faced by the tribals is one of the reasons of disturbances and turmoil in the country,” he added.
This is not only a law and order situation, but an uprising evolving out of frustration, the governor said while calling upon the government to look for solution by going back to the main cause of frustration and restlessness.
Terming the Indian society as a ‘society of contradictions’, Mooshahary said there are contradictions in every aspects of the society while highlighting the main contradiction in the 21st century, i.e. between technological science and superstitions. Admitting that much change has taken place in the country in these past few decades, Mooshahary however, maintained that the more thing changes, the more they remain the same while referring to the lack of monitoring as the main reason that rural areas remain under develop.
Member of the Planning Commission, Government of India, BK Chaturvedi in his address said that inclusive development is an important connotation in terms of equity and justice while informing that the 12th five year plan reflects on faster and more inclusive and sustainable growth.
Chaturvedi said that in the last two decades, there has been an increase in the per capita income of the country and as far as NE is concerned, there is an increase in GDP from 5.3 percent in the 8th plan to 9.5 in the 11th plan, similarly, in Meghalaya, the GDP has risen to 8.1 percent in the 11th plan from 3.8 in the 8th plan and in 2011-2012, the growth rate went up to 9.1 percent.