By A H Scott Lyngdoh
The region comprising eight states, unevenly connected one with the other and containing a diverse mosaic of cultures is a fairly large land mass, inhabited by 39 million people, not small by Asian standards. It is a land of self invention, fascinating and at some levels unknowable. Rich in natural resources and a storehouse of floral and faunal bio- diversity, the region was a gateway to East and South East Asia before Independence. Its expanding global trade was conducted through the sea route via Chittagong, aided by a network of inland waterways and land transportation by road and rail In fact, the railway network between Dibrugarh and Chittagong was one of the earliest projects in India during British rule Per Capita Income in undivided Assam is said to have been higher than the national average by 4 percent.
Then tragedy struck, with partition slicing off the main arteries of trade and commerce, not only taking the region backwards by several decades, but also placing hurdles on future economic progress. Initially, the Central Authorities were slow to pick up the pieces, characterized by ad hoc attempts to get the economy moving. In due course, the Central Government announced some new economic measures, as an additionality to the Five Year Plans, starting with the Shukla Recommendations of 1996, containing a Rs. 6100.00 crores package, aimed at improving basic services such as water supply, health care, primary education, improving road connectivity and air services. Two other prime Ministers, Shri. IK. Gujral in 1997 and Shri. A.B. Vajpayee in 2000 announced a new set of initiatives, followed by a resource model in he form of Non Lapsable Central Pool. As a consequence, DONER was upgraded to a ministry in 2004. While some of the projects as envisaged in the series of initiatives have been implemented in somewhat piecemeal fashion, a pragmatic road map to a much brighter future remains a distant dream. It is at this juncture, Vision 2020 occupies centre stage, designed to usher in peace, progress and prosperity in the North Eastern Region A few comments on the Vision are given below.
Chapter 6 of the Visionary document on infrastructure and connectivity is of special significance, as being crucial to economic growth. Road, Rail, Air, Inland Water Transport and Telecommunication requirements are discussed in some detail. Chapter 8 on Public Finances for development rightly emphasises, that the North East States cannot be expected to become financially self reliant in the medium. term, yet good fiscal health is imperative to sustainable development and growth in the region. The question is whether the States exhibit the will to take some hard measures. The problem is partly’ the dependency syndrome of constantly looking at the centre for financial support, the problem ns leakage in tax collection and minimal receipts from non- tax sources. State Level Public Sector Undertakings add to the deficit. Governance and Security in Chapter 10 must deal with the issues of militancy and law and order in greater depth. A renowned writer sums up the problem. The North East Region is an extraordinary ethno- cultural mosaic, and is riddled with complex problems of transition and alienation caused by rapid modernization. There have been tensions and violence, aggravated by cross- border in migration, and episodic insurgency.’ A disturbing factor is the frequent deployment of the Army for counter insurgency operations contrary to its primary role of preparedness to defend the country against an external aggressor – and the involvement at times has inevitably given it a bad name in the eyes of civil society. Law and order is a state subject, mandating the State Police taking on full responsibility for internal security, with the aid of the paramilitary forces For this policy shift to be effective especially in states where the Army is still deployed, a combination of Central and state funding must focus on raising additional armed battalions higher allocations for Police Housing, police stations, modern weaponry, transport and communications and quality training Another priority is regional coordination between the police forces of the seven states Mizoram Police snowed the way in the early eighties, through the recruitment of young police officers under capable senior commanders, taking on the adversary in successful guerilla operations, enabling the Army to stand down, and in the aftermath came the restoration of normalcy, conducive to a political settlement.
Another dimension to be addressed by most of the States, is that the criminal justice system is too fragile, causing the criminal to escape from the hands of justice The evolving Look East Policy of the Government of India, has not caught the attention of the wider civil society of the North East Region, though curiosity erupts now and then through the media The policy has wider implications for the country as a whole, and the North East in particular, in terms of trade, tourism, migration, cultural exchange, national and regional security, and above all, the rights of the indigenous people over resources and the environment Opening up the North Eastern Region, it is argued, will lead to higher economic growth through increased economic exchange in the form of trade and market expansion. It is common knowledge however that many border stations lack even the basic facilities At Moreh, the condition of the roads, the land custom station, banking and telecom facilities on both sides of the border are very poor. Security is a big problem as militants impose hefty fines on vehicles passing through this route, thus increasing trade costs. And therefore opening up in haste, without adequate preparation may prove to be counter- productive
There is practically no private sector involvement. The entrepreneur does not need tax breaks and incentives from the State. What he looks for are raw material sources, the potential market and logistics. Tourism could transform the North East. Ethnologically and linguistically, the North East has historic links with South West China, and the Mon- Khmer peoples in Myanmar and Thailand. The structure for tourism is poor, but infrastructure is equally poor in South West China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan, which are also land locked. Yet these countries and regions attract manifold number of tourists; Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet and Myanmar surpass by far the tourist numbers to the North East
Not that other chapters of the Vision Document are less important. Human development, capacity building and augmenting resources are essential components. The majority inhabitants of the region are farmers living in the vast rural hinterland. The BJP riding on an India Shining slogan was voted out in 2004, as the farmers didn’t see much shining in their lives. Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh had called for ‘Another Green Revolution’ in his August 15th Independence Day speech When the Congress took over in 2004, the Prime Minister initiated fresh efforts to improve the lot of the farmer. Between 2003- 04 and 2008-09, the Central Government’s budget for agriculture quadrupled Government schemes for rural roads, to help farmers to get their produce to the market, longstanding farmer’s debts were waived, and the minimum purchase price for some essential crops were raised. In 2005, the Bharat Nirman Programme was launched providing electricity, housing and irrigation systems. A year later, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme came into being, promising at least a hundred days of work for poor farming households. The North Eastern farmer at least in the hilly regions, missed the Green Revolution because of the then prevailing conditions. They need to catch up, with better training, technology and marketing opportunities.
There are immediate, medium term, and long term objectives as envisaged in the Vision which need to be identified and prioritized. Civil Society engagement is hardly visible, neither viable inputs from leaders of the region. This has to change. Without the Central Government which commands the resources, and is the enabling Power, the Vision has little meaning. Lastly, some shedding of the ethnic identity in favour of a North East Identity is crucial for success.
(The author is former Home and Finance Minister of Meghalaya)
