By: Dr. Dakter Esse (Deputy Editor-North East cum Bureau Chief-ICN Arunachal Pradesh)
Time was opportune for the Union Government to realise and advance opportunities to North East Region (NER) instead of simply identifying the potentials, to avoid possible decadence.
Untapped resources and a direction-less trajectories, in many states, has had resulted to a situation of uncertainty and inability to take advantage of the existing resources.
Albeit belatedly, the Centre, however has focused on the region by constituting the ‘NITI Forum for North East’ this year in a bid to ensure sustainable economic growth of the region. The forum in its first meeting on Tuesday outlined five sectors to be developed in mission mode basis in NER – horticulture, tourism, food processing, bamboo-based handicrafts and medium scale industries with focus on ‘Make in North-East’.
Frontier state like Arunachal Pradesh, designated a Special Category Status (SCS) by the National Development Council (NDC), calls for all the provisions to improve the state that’s identified as ‘disadvantaged’ in comparison to others.
With special support from the Centre, the state government, which has often vaunted its commitment to boost tourism sector, should now roll up its sleeves in making the State a biological and cultural crossroads of Asia. The concept of ‘Make in India’ being cloned as ‘Make in North-East’ for the region with special emphasis on bamboo-based handicrafts and medium scale industries hopefully will come handy for the state.
While such campaigns are laudable, it is important to also create a platform to digitally empower the rural masses in creating their own markets. For such initiatives to thrive, the state government should look into creating markets, if not, relocate markets around the fringes of the state. This will not only cater to the growing demands of employment but also boost the economy of the state.
In this, we should look at the concept of “HIRA,” spelt out by the Prime Minister as – Highways, Internet way (I-way), Railways and Airways. All the ways will encounter a dead-end if these four distinctive ways are not mended.
Minister of State (Independent Charge), for DoNER, Jitendra Singh loud out in the open that focus on development in NER since independence was out of the mainstream. This problematising statement draws the attention of all the eight states of the North East.
In that, it is to read if the states are prepared enough to get off the dependency theory. For now, it seems it is not, as the new Central Sector Scheme of “North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme” (NESIDS) will be funding 100% centrally in special sectors to develop the region. The region has to struggle more to be able to create its own model for revenue generation. A state that can generate revenue will have more leeway and democratic role to play in any decision making to build resilient economies.
There could be possible clash of requirements among the north eastern states, but there is fare share of acceptance for HIRA, agri-horti, tourism, and skill development. The respective state governments should consider taking up measures to contribute to the growth and development of these sectors. To relinquish control over resources to outsiders would only add to the struggles, time to reverse the outflow of resources and rear it for state’s progress.
It is as such important for a state to march from development to sustainable development. A paradigm shift in the way we perceive development is important. Development is a state of being self reliant; the sooner the states realise this, the better it is for the states. But, for now, the states should model up a plan for proper use of central funds in sectors that can later aid in generating revenues.
