By Naba Bhattacharjee
Our state is passing through troubled times. In this prevailing impasse, growth and development both at the individual level – except for salaried class; extending up to community and general public sphere is affected. Raghuram Rajan committee report which places our state at the lowest rung of the development index is a major cause of concern and endorsed by the Chief Minister himself as being correct. Government has taken up the challenge to reverse the situation. When under normal circumstances most government spending both under Plan allocation and other centrally sponsored schemes are usually flawed, there is scope for further slackness with diverted attention of different stakeholders. Till now most projects in the state were formulated without adequate attention to details and feasibility. These projects normally lack comprehensive investigation, field study, statistical data, relevant technical enumeration and R&D support. As a result, such apathetic planning failed to achieve concrete results, with projects normally relegated to obscurity, once earmarked funds are utilized. This is experienced more in schemes envisaged for the rural areas- whether in infrastructure development, social sector, poverty alleviation or employment generation ventures.
Most developmental activities are allocated “fund utilization” driven interventions and not “need based” initiatives. A majority of the projects are conceived without vision and emphasis on sustainability and inclusiveness. However, a viable change in approach of the present government has been observed during last one year with sincere efforts aimed at sustained and broad based growth of few important projects. The huge back log of growth is a burden inherited that can be tackled only through support from all stakeholders. It is imperative to involve people besides social institutions and civil society, for whose welfare the projects are meant, to have a say in their formulation and subsequent monitoring.
Unfortunately, most developmental interventions in Meghalaya have been “lateral” in nature instead of originating from the basics. Consequently, majority of such program even fail to achieve the primary objective. Moreover, funding a project, but not building the skills to use those funds appropriately, is another recurrent blunder associated with planning. The stakeholders will have to stress on commencement of the transformation process of a rural community through focus on the basic needs like food, health care, education, roads, water supply, power etc. It is not very important, which of these get priority. The choice will be of the concerned community according to the needs. The priority of different communities may vary depending on the needs. What is crucial is harnessing the sincerity and application of the community action, when one success story in any sector, heralds a process for a string of success in other sectors.
The Government is bound by the constitution and oath to provide for all the basic amenities in equal measure to the rural community and in doing so, narrowing the urban- rural disparity. NGOs and Civil Society groups must come forward to play an effective role and keep the government machinery on its toes in a constructive manner. The energy of rural community rarely activate by itself. Communities need help from officials, who articulate the policies and programs of the Government and is responsible for their implementation. Communities also need help from experts who can build capacity by training, introduce new ideas, and help monitor change. Communities also need the involvement of NGOs and Civil Society organizations in the role of “third party” monitoring and watch dog. A synergy between all the “growth promoters” is an absolute necessity for success.
The dynamics of a society is the outcome of a united approach, since no community can develop in an atmosphere of isolation or internal contradictions and conflict. In absence of viable livelihood guarantee and common development parameters percolating down to the grassroots, we may witness a gradual exodus of indigenous communities to neighboring states in search of greener pastures. Recent reports of our people residing along bordering villages in disputed areas opting to register their land with Assam, lured by better opportunities, are a cause of alarm. Such exodus shall be equally disastrous like influx. Collective decision-making and approach can eventually redefine the future of a community. A micro level monitoring system is critical, with all participants, gathering data, and revising targets to maintain the collective focus on attaining sustainable development. Thus, development agenda has to be accorded equal if not more emphasis together with other critical issues like influx which confront the state to-day. It shall not auger well if one is sacrificed or lost sight of for the other. Slogan for development and pressurizing the government to go all out in this aspect with diligence and transparency, free of corruption and nepotism, must also be the mantra emanating from all quarters.