A warning signal for our political class
By Dr Lakhon Kma
Past weeks have been really big in Indian history. Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A which gives special status to Jammu & Kashmir; and its bifurcation was orchestrated as a mark of serious deviation from ‘status quo’ under the current dispensation in the Centre. The response from Pakistan was on expected lines. It has bled India for the last 73 years of our existence as an independent country through its proxy wars by infiltrating militants and encouraging militancy. The pretext of lack of development, rampant corruption and militancy for the abrogation of the Articles 370 and 35A by the Govt. of India were convincing enough, though not in its entirety. Obviously, the move was a befitting reply to anti-India forces within and outside the country. It is refreshing to see leaders and parties who do not believe in status quo for good. Hopefully, Kashmiris will get their share of development as promised and will eventually accept it as a fait accompli.
There is no denying the fact that disturbances created by elements originating from across the border have caused alienation of Kashmiris from the rest of India. However, the problem was compounded and fanned by the Kashmiri leadership’s apathy towards its public. In spite of huge funds that have gone to the coffers of subsequent governments in Jammu & Kashmir, there are serious concerns of under-developments owing to widespread corruption over the decades. Hence a perfect alibi for intervention from the centre.
It is to be noted that under the federal structure of our country as enshrined in our Constitution, States are created to bring all-round development of its people in a targeted manner. But the million dollar question is whether our political class has done justice to their people after Statehood? This can also be exemplified from any small state in the Northeast. Let me dwell on the State of Meghalaya.Article 371 gives special status to mainly the North-Eastern States including Meghalaya. After almost 50 years of Statehood, time has come to engage in serious introspection about the state of affairs in Meghalaya vis-à-vis development in relation to the money spent from the State coffers, including funds that have come from the Centre over the years. We are far behind in all development indices compared to several other States. Going by the latest available report, we are #26 in Human Development Index, a composite index of life expectancy, education and per capita income indicators. In spite of tall claims by our leaders, we know where we stand as far as development of the State is concerned. Yet, successive governments have found it difficult to bring in systematic development through judicious use of the limited resources.
Funds will always be a constraint for a small state like Meghalaya. However, the constraint can be minimized by fiscal discipline. Unfortunately, the lack of it has always been a problem in our State. Take the example of wastage of public money in political appointments. It has become a hallmark of Meghalaya defeating the purpose of the 91st Constitutional Amendment that regulates the size of the Ministry in the Lok Sabha and State Legislature in order to minimize wastage of public money. Political appointees with the rank of Cabinet Ministers or Minister of State nullifies the purpose of the amendment. In spite of public outcry from time to time and court rulings against it in other States, political appointments continue to happen, thereby draining our resources. Successive governments here tend to show immunity to this constitutional amendment which was well-intended to prevent wastage of public money.
After statehood, have the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), which have been empowered under the Sixth Schedule to protect the interest of local people, culture & tradition and natural resources, been faithful enough in carrying out its duties as mandated in the Constitution? Have the ADCs been able to conserve our natural resources or has the Sixth Schedule been used as an immunity in allowing its destruction in the guise of birthrights. If we look around our land, water bodies and hills, it certainly raises a lot of questions on the role played by ADCs over the years.
Many a times, I am dumbfounded by the mere claim of ADCs or the State Govt in protecting the rights of people or taking care of them effectively. Statehood was never meant to benefit a handful of people only. Rather, it was meant to fulfil the aspirations of everyone, particularly those marginalized sections of the society who are in real need of the government’s help to uplift their lives in our villages, small towns and the city. To start with, I think the State government should release a white paper on the number of landless people in the State starting with the locals. Without land holdings, alienation of locals will be natural and disturbing as we can see in the current times. Does Govt. have any record of how many houses have been provided to poor and marginalized sections who cannot afford to purchase or build a house? Equally important is the provision of basic amenities in our villages and small towns where landlessness may not be the main issue. Similarly, the issue of non-availability of jobs to educated youths whose number is swelling by the day, environmental degradation, lack of medical, engineering or and para-medical institutes, underdeveloped infrastructural facilities across the State, etc. speak volumes of the sorry state of affairs. Have the ADCs/State government lived up to the expectations of the people or those who dreamt of a developed and prosperous State?
Enough fodder of discontentment among the masses, particularly the educated youths, are piling up as we approach 50 years of Statehood, largely stemming from unfulfilled promises, lack of sustainable economic opportunities and failure of delivery systems. The political class has to cut across party-lines and work for all-round development in every nook and corner of the State as a mark of respect to those leaders who believed that we could develop better as a separate state than being part of Assam. Our leaders have to realize that mere lip service will not be enough to sustain as a State as we have seen over the years. ‘Status quo’ will not remain for eternity. They should shun their apathy towards the public and get their act together before someone intervenes in the name of lack of development and rampant corruption which will be hard to resist or disagree with. In the current scenario, anything is possible. I would love to believe that nothing untoward should happen; however it won’t be surprising if a frustrated public, particularly the youths, as a result of complete lack of confidence in their leaders owing to lack of employment opportunities and development, show no resistance to any corrective or remedial interventional move from the Centre. Red flags have been raised; our politicians had better get their act together.
(The author teaches in NEHU)