By Prof. Lakhon Kma
‘‘The question therefore is when will we-the general public of Meghalaya wake up from our slumber. If we have political leadership that is capable and honest and put in strong mechanisms to protect the interest of local people, and stand by its people in every nook and corner of the State, there is nothing to be afraid about and no one can stop Meghalayans from economic growth. It is obvious that cheaper transportation brings down the price of all commodities making it affordable to the people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid.’’
In the election season, while freebies and mighty promises are running high, perhaps it will not be out of tune to analyze our psyche as voters in electing successive governments which were unable to put Meghalaya on the track of overall growth and development compared to several States in the country. In spite all tall claims, fanfares, billboards and posters of the politicians of the ruling parties, it is not surprising to look at Reserve Bank of India data revealing that Meghalaya has the slowest economic growth in the whole country with a record Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of just 2% in the financial year 2021 with the State’s GDP of Rs 23,750 crores in FY 2021. Compare it to Assam, one of the top ten fastest-growing states in India with a CAGR of 5.3% and GSDP of Rs 2.28 lakh crore in FY21. Among the North-Eastern states, it is Mizoram that has the fastest growth rate of 7.9% in the same period. Per capita income in Meghalaya was estimated at Rs 60,606 in 2021-22 much lesser than the pre-pandemic period. Meghalaya’s economy grew less than 0.1% in 2021-22 to Rs 25,696.82 crore, compared to the previous financial year. Yet, the NPP-led government paints a picture that all is well in the State. Understandably, the ruling dispensation would love to hide the anti-incumbency factors. But does this really matter to voters; perhaps not and hence political parties and their leaders take us for a ride. Apparently, blankets, utensils, tin sheets, sponsored picnics and concerts take the centre stage during the election season. Poor Gandhi must be feeling ashamed staring at people in those grey and pink currency notes as it gets exchanged for votes.
One of the most glaring examples of our under-development is our air connectivity. The Umroi airport, at an altitude of 2,910 ft, which was constructed in the 1960s, is still not fully operational. Thanks to the UDAN scheme of the Govt. of India, some services got started. In contrast, the foundation stone of Pakyong Airport in Sikkim was laid in February 2009 and was fully operational by October 2018, that too, at an altitude of 4,646 ft. Just a small comparison of leadership quality between Sikkim and Meghalaya and of course, the public apathy at large here. Now we are talking about a new Greenfield airport, let’s see where do we reach. Talks on train services get red-flagged from different corners. Goa, got Statehood in May 1987, started its train services in June 1990. 33 years down the line, they still speak Konkani, go to churches and temples, eat their sea foods and enjoy their wine and feni. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Goa for 2022-23 (at current prices) is projected to be Rs 91,417 crore. The GDP per capita of Goa (2019-20) was $ 6,227 way ahead of Sikkim, Delhi and Chandigarh in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place, respectively. With all the goodness of Goa, you still cannot buy property in your name unless you have stayed there for 15 years. We already have Land Transfer Act that debars outsiders from buying properties here except in European wards.
The question therefore is when will we-the general public of Meghalaya wake up from our slumber. If we have political leadership that is capable and honest and put in strong mechanisms to protect the interest of local people, and stand by its people in every nook and corner of the State, there is nothing to be afraid about and no one can stop Meghalayans from economic growth. It is obvious that cheaper transportation brings down the price of all commodities making it affordable to the people at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid. In any remote part of Assam, no vegetables are more than Rs. 30/kg. Here, in Shillong, it’s not less than Rs. 120/kg depending upon which market you are buying, Iewduh (Bara Bazar) being the cheapest. But, does this matter to voters? I don’t think so. Bad roads in our city, towns and villages and state highways, poor drainage system, poor street lighting across the State, poor infrastructure management, etc. becomes invisible in front of freebies and few hard currencies during elections.
While the world is talking of going to Mars or space tourism in the next 5 to 10 years, we in Meghalaya are still struggling for basic amenities such as employment, potable water, food, elementary education, roads, footpaths and electricity. It is amazing that there is no hue and cry and mass scale protest on the streets across Meghalaya, except occasional episodes by some pressure groups on these issues that are in the interest of the general public. I am not sure how many of us will ask our MDCs/MLAs/candidates to show their progress report when they come asking for our votes.
Parties welcoming tainted Ex-MLAs and candidates in their folds, who have demeaned the public office/position they held and led to huge losses of public money, only speak of their seriousness in dealing with corruption and corrupt practices. Equally baffling is the public acceptance of such so-called leaders. We are now permanently immune to corrupt leaders, corrupt practices and underdevelopment or perhaps, we are paying more attention to trivial issues. Attack on places of worship in any part of our country, is highly condemnable and is a blot on India’s image as a mature democracy globally and a threat to the basic structure of our Constitution. However, the irony is-while we seems to be very reactive to such incidents happening outside our State, no one from other states ever bothered on our poor growth rate and overall development. Obviously, we have to fend for ourselves so why bother with these issues beyond our control; rather we should focus on our problems.
We are least reactive to our own poor economic growth rate and lack of overall development. Sometimes I am made to believe that perhaps, apart from other things ailing our State, it was not wise to accept Statehood without proper boundary demarcation with Assam in some areas which resulted in loss of precious lives even today. Similarly, there are several burning issues that remained unresolved in our State till date. One important aspect of development is that the District Councils are made more responsible and accountable to public so that they can contribute in the overall growth of the State rather than just being a spring board to launch one’s political career.
While change is the hot topic even in this election, who will bring the change is the big question. Parties claiming to be a putative agent of change, no matter how resourceful they are, have to be mindful of a few important things. Firstly, they have to address the needs and aspirations of the people who are deeply frustrated now with the political class. Secondly, with more than 86% of Meghalaya’s population being tribal, no parties can succeed if they are carelessly disconnected from the interest of the locals and their sentiments. Thirdly, with Christians comprising of about 75% of the total population of our State; no party can succeed here by carrying a notion of being against them. History is proof that political parties have always exploited this weak aspect of human behaviour and existence election after election. Even liberals like us find it hard to deny that religion is a big factor in elections. A weak and divided political class with a medieval mindset that focuses on petty issues can never drive the engine of growth nor will a divided, ignorant and short-sighted general public be able to demand their share of economic growth and overall development.
Let’s ask ourselves once again-Did the political class betray our trusts election after election or did we keep voting without proper application of mind? More so, did we keep selling our precious votes for the ‘once-in-5-years scheme’ of a few hundred/thousand rupees for the last 51 years of our Statehood?
(The author teaches in NEHU, Shillong).