Inclusion of Chandel in aspirational district project
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 28, 2022 -
IT'S obvious that for all first-time visitors, the scenic landscape in the outlying districts would be a sight to behold while achievements in the field of art and culture, and sports would make them believe that the state has tremendous potential to become socio-economically prosperous.
Though it's a different tale at the ground, as many of the award-winning artistes and sportspersons continue to struggle to make both ends meet in-spite of bringing laurels to the state and the nation, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal too seems impressed with the state during his visit to Chandel district on Tuesday to review the programmes and projects being taken up under the NITI Aayog, Aspirational District Programme.
Having enjoyed the charming aerial view of Manipur en-route to Imphal Airport from Guwahati to the expansive agricultural fields on both sides of the highway while passing through Thoubal and Kakching districts, the Union minister must have perceived it apt to remark during the Chandel event that the state is gifted with abundant natural resources and has everything at its disposal to become self-sustainable.
No doubt, the state has a unique biodiversity, purposeful tapping of which would definitely help the state fast-track its developmental goal.
However, the reality is that Manipur still lags behind other states when it comes to socio-economic prosperity, which successive governments had been attributing to the law and order instability, and often shifting the blame on the people for lacking enthusiasm to support the government's initiatives towards ushering in development.
Nevertheless, minister Sonowal's advice to the district administration and all stakeholders to make extra efforts and special initiatives so as to expedite development of Chandel and serve the purpose of its selection as an aspirational district ought to be complied with all seriousness as the Union government would be keen to see materialisation of the district-specific developmental programmes.
Sonowal's stress that the project implementation agencies or institutions should be motivated to shoulder the responsibility of taking the district to the path of development cannot be ignored for any hint of negligence on the part of the district administration might compel the centre to think twice before extending similar projects to the remaining backward districts of the state.
Moreover, it is likely that the ministry concerned would be keeping a close tab on actual implementation of the components of the aspiration district project as judicious usage of development funds will be the deciding factor on whether or not the project achieves the goal.
For a state like Manipur which has been entirely dependent on generous fund allocation from New Delhi as is evident from present case of midday meal workers demanding release of their minuscule wages pending for nearly 10 months and media houses boycotting government-related news in denunciation of non-clearance of advertisement bills, to name a handful of cases, there is no room for callousness or procedural lapses and delay on the part of the district administration to complete the sanctioned projects.
It needs no reminding that inclusion of Chandel among 100-plus districts from across the country is a golden opportunity to accelerate development of the border district and prove administrative competency of the district administration.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.