By RV Warjri
I don’t want to bore the readers. My conclusion will inform readers what triggered me to write this piece. I am focusing on the subject straight away. Why? To quote Pope Francis – ‘Because we are living in an era of change.’ In my plain lexicon, I say covitized. Some covitized physiologically. Quite a few dying of Covid. Most of us though still living, are covitized psychologically, to some degree or the other. And the lesser mortals that we are, I will restrict myself only to the material aspects of the era of change .
I am tempted to use the hackneyed cliché, ‘convert a crisis into an opportunity.’ Opportunity to bring in radical changes and reforms – a departure from the universal propensity for populism only with the aim of winning elections and overriding the needs of the next generation! The Nobel Laureate in Economics, Joseph Stiglitz stressed on the need for ongoing reforms. He talks about pragmatism and “crossing the rivers by feeling the stones.” In short, keep on modifying as per the ongoing experience. In fact the economic history of India since 1991 has been a story of successive governments trying to be more reformist than its predecessor. My humble submissions are as follows:
Macro Strategy i) To come out with a development paradigm based on a SWOT analysis that applies to Meghalaya, especially with factors that can be leveraged like the bounty of nature itself, be it climatic , natural resource , soil condition etc. Taking into account the Atmanirbhar or Self Reliant concept ; the much needed value addition concept ; the Stimulus package announced by the Centre ; the liquidity allocation for MSMEs ; the need for Start Ups ; across the board job creation; and most important the incentives for capital investment and ensuring investment security . The idea is to ensure maximum clarity to stakeholders and private investors. Prime Minister Modi’s address at the recent India Global Week in London is an example. He announced the laying of red carpet for global investors .
- ii)Need for aland cadastral survey in Meghalaya. The absence of land records is a major hindrance to economic development. Land records mean proper legal documents for landowners which can be used as collateral. Banks can then quickly issue loans for expanding the business, especially in agriculture.
iii) Community driven initiative: The battle against Covid 19 has involved authorities and social entities at all levels. State, Districts , Cities , Towns , and the grass root local bodies in villages and localities. The critical role they play in the door to door operations – be it tracing of the pandemic contacts and enforcing quarantine or supply of essential commodities is path-breaking. The next step is to cash in on the momentum for bigger challenges like using them as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for all community related economic and social activities. It is, however, not possible to entrust the local bodies with higher responsibilities in their present form because there is no system of a defined authority as well as accountability. The archaic practice of dependence on voluntarism alone in the name of tradition is unsustainable . A structural change would entitle them to the systematic funding from the central government which other local bodies in India have been enjoying. This is where the concept of institutional innovations as expounded by Joseph Stiglitz also applies.
- iv)Change of mindset:This applies both to the government as well as to the public. Government should be candid about what it can do and what it cannot do particularly when the State relies for 80% of its financial resource from the centre . Deserving BPL welfarism should go together with tapping income and wealth tax capacity. The era of blanket exemption in the name of being tribal alone becomes untenable. Sensible and well to do tribals themselves like late Honsen Lyngdoh should volunteer to do so .
Micro-Strategy 1) Data mapping: I compliment the Government of Meghalaya for the initiative to collect data for its Economic Survey 2020. The ad however mentioned about registering by businessmen, entrepreneurs and self employed individuals. Why not do the same for skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled returnees to the State because of Covid 19 and the other professions which have been requested not to register, which include farmers? The State Government website should be the source of a wide range of data and statistics. In the Northeast the states which have more information on their websites are Tripura , Mizoram and Sikkim.
- ii)Organic Agriculture:PM Modi, while addressing the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata last month had said that “Northeast can become the organic hub of India and have a global identity.”A study could be conducted on the potential of organic cultivation and marketing from Meghalaya. Start by learning from Sikkim or Mizoram. Prof Umdor of Economics Deptt, NEHU had also written on the big ideas of renowned Agricultural Economist John W Mellor which focuses on the Small Commercial Farmers (SCF).
iii) The APJ Abdul Kalam Centre, IIM Shillong has been conducting webinars on Tourism, Logistics, BPO, Handloom, Handicrafts , Horticulture etc., – inputs that Meghalaya Government can utilize . BPOs can also take advantage of the Rs 75,000 crore announced by Google CEO Sundar Pichai for digitization in India.
- iv) Also growing cottage like enterprises in floriculture, viniculture (fruit wine) , food processing can revolve around the community driven activities. My first hand knowledge from the International Potato Research Institute in Lima is that the high moisture potato crop in Meghalaya is ideal for making Vodka.
(v ) The Meghalaya budget 2020 listed four pillars: Human Development; Primary sector ; Infra ; Entrepreneurship . All these can be dovetailed under new development paradigm.
(vi) The geography of Meghalaya determines that growth and prosperity in the long run is tied to the entire Northeast and further into Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand. The economic integration could be best expressed under the umbrella of BIMSTEC ( Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi – Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) under the aegis of the Act East Policy .
A few days ago, I was invited by Doordarshan, Shillong for a panel discussion on the (METF). We were just two panellists myself and another academician from NEHU and the moderator. There was none from the Government of Meghalaya despite having confirmed to participate. I found nothing about METF on the Meghalaya Government website. I had to Google media reports and came across impressive semantics like synergistic road map, right policies for investment, high value tourism and formation of an apex committee, an executive committee and a working group.
My stated narrative at the discussion was largely guided by my experience, insights and perspective in promoting trade, commerce, investment, technology, etc., into India and from India. That included the mixed economy, the erstwhile Soviet Bloc socialist economy, United States capitalist economy, developing and developed countries.
On this note, I wish the METF works for the benefit of the people of Meghalaya with the ongoing Covid 19 or post Covid 19!
(Amb. RV Warjri retired is retired diplomat. He can be reached at [email protected])