Make in Manipur ?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 26, 2014 -

A day after the historic success of India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Make in India" campaign with an aim to turn the country into a global manufacturing hub.

The campaign will target top companies across sectors in identified countries. It will also identify select domestic companies having leadership in innovation and new technology for turning them into global champions.

The government has identified 25 key sectors in which India has the potential of becoming a world leader.

The campaign is aimed to transform the economy from the services-driven growth model to labour-intensive manufacturing-driven growth.

This will help in creating jobs for over 10 million people, who join the workforce every year. It aims to attract foreign companies to set up factories in India and invest in the country's infrastructure.

The new government has liberalised defense manufacturing and insurance sectors to attract FDI.

The initiative has its origin in the PM Modi's Independence Day speech where he gave a clarion call to "Make in India" and "Zero Defect; Zero Effect" policy.

The campaign is indeed a boon for the country, but an important question arises if such policy would ever help the least industrialized states like Manipur.

PM Narendra Modi's remark "Look East, Link West" during the inaugural ceremony of "Make in India" is also very significant.

Manipur, being the Gateway to Southeast Asia, has to be a key player in the "Look East Policy" of the Indian Government.

The Central and State Government should better chalk out strategies to revamp industrialization in this "troubled" state. The State's economy cannot be boosted simply through some meager central funds.

The right time has come for Manipur to put all its efforts to be part of "Make in India" campaign. The State has to come up and face the global challenges.

The State Government should wholeheartedly work to improve the law and order situation first in order to attract more investors to the State.

Above all, the entrepreneurs of the State should be sincere in running their enterprises. The insincerity of some entrepreneurs has proved the Japanese-funded sericulture project a failure.

Manipur cannot remain like this forever. There has to be a change. Geographically, Manipur cannot be like Gujarat or Maharashtra.

However, the State has to utilize whatever available resources to the optimum level. Manipur should definitely be part of "Make in India" campaign and promote "Make in Manipur".

The State's economy would see a sea-change if "Make in Manipur" is adopted. It is a matter of great pride that the State has some promising entrepreneurs working relentlessly in hospitality, healthcare and tourism.

The State has also seen the first ever medical oxygen plant at Ningthoukhong, which is capable of producing surplus amount of medical oxygen for export to other states besides fulfilling the State's requirement.

Several handloom and handicraft industries of the State can also be grouped together to form larger enterprises and contribute significantly to the State's economy.

The concept of "Make in Manipur" should be translated into action and help transform Manipur as a leading manufacturing state in line with Narendra Modi's vision of "Make in India".