Our Seven Sisters : A utopia

Pounamjuan Panmei *

Map of North East NE India :: Pix - TSE

It was in the time of British-India,our north eastern region was considered as a specially administered area of the colonial rule and kept aloof from the mainland India. As a result there was a controversy whether this portion of land should conglomerate to the Indian states in Independent India. As to the existing problem in the time when India got her independence,some ethnic tribal groups demanded self government as the region has a diverse identity section as much as biodiversity it endowed to the region only making complexity to bring integrity in the united India to the founding fathers like Jawaharlal Nehru. But despite all these hindrance,it was left fait accompli for the people to accept the united India making it part of the federal govt. of India.

Although the region came under the administrative control of the Independent India,the notion of the center towards the region remain unaltered but it continue to maintained a lack of interest in social,political and economical approach to the region which has a varying degrees of reason behind.It is presumably held that the people living in the region immigrate from many countries of Asian continent in centuries ago having different identity,culture,religion etc. and continually experience social conflicts and unrest. Nevertheless aggravating condition, the region is blessed with potential of economically self-reliable resources which left unexplored.

It has a very rich biodiversity which attract the attention of UNESCO and several regions have been established as a National Park,Wildlife Sanctuary and Biosphere reserve. The govt. should come up with a stretegic policy to mobilise the available resources and earn a revenue for making a self-adequacy states. According to the Geological Survey of India,almost every part of the region has oil reserve and many other resources ranging from ferrous to non-ferrous metal which could fetch a very high price in the International trade and it would possibly our seven sisters will turn out to be an India’s Iran,if not haven for mineral resources.

Installation of sound and sufficient infrastructure is the need of the hour,reformation of Land acquisition,rehabilitation and resettlement(LARR) with an adequate provision for the Indigenous group, so that they don’t lose their livelihood and able to enjoy the facility endowed by the nature for the govt. and local people as well. In simple languag,e we are sitting on top of the oil tank which is locked up by the govt. policy,financial and technology constraints.

The story of the economic growth doesnot end here,there is considerably large opportunity to promote tourism in the region relating to the lush green subtropical evergreen forest and beautiful landforms which the nature has render for us and unmatch profounding landscape of hilly areas in the country. It can, beyond doubt bring women empowerment and provide job for the marginalised section of the people who couldn’t afford to have a two square meal a day by engaging a productive work in one way or other.

We should at least be able to realised how much a little girl selling flower in her small racket to the tourists in Scotland earn in a day. One could boldly estimate that the profit from her business in two to three months,she could manage to buy an Ipad and enable her to browse internet chatting with her friends in the facebook with a smiling face. The astounding picturesque of our northeast is second to none,we can convert our land to a tourist resorts if we have reguisite infrastucture and financial assistance from the side of govt.It could abruptly increase the per capita income when every one is able to generate income and means to live.

Insurgency,coruption and bribery in every govt. work are even worse scenario of the region,these are all the cue of unemployment and when youth find no place in the society and jobless,they are left no option but to join the militant groups and in turn proves a havoc to the society and govt. This scenerio will continue for generations if govt. doesnot come up with a sound and concrete policy for the welfare of the society.

Another silver lining for the region is the stance of the central govt. to build a multilateral ties with the neighbouring countries of South East Asian nation and “Look East Policy” which the main objective is for the promotion and enhancing trade and commercial relations, building the roadmap for the economical develoment of the region. The centerstage goal of the federal govt. might be to improve the nation’s exchequer but in the way of procurring the activities,we will not left out from the benefit by this trade relations. Vietnam and Thailand are the two great emerging economy who are all eagerly waiting to promote the strategic partnership with India and invests in the country. The possibility is even fillip by the road connection where in no part of India has such facility except airways in the region. The all-weather road between Mizoram states and Myarmar has been succesfully constructed opening the gateway for commercial activities.

While having all these amenities to boost the economy of the region.the great concern which lies upon us is the region had from the time immemorial posed a serious danger for the depletion of the ozone layer which turn is the green house effect which is lethal enough to threatening the healthy life of the people and our environment. The sole reason for this threat is the practice of jhum cultivation pursuing in every part of the region. This should be done away with as early as possible.

Instead the area has a conducible climate for rubber(esp.para-rubber) and many other cash-crops plantation, it should bring into fore without delay accompanied by establishing cottage industries and self-employee should encourage to engage in income generation especially for the youth preventing them from indulging in insurgency. For all these development to be seen in reality,these are the measures we should take up in the front,development of human resource is inevitable,producing a good entrepreneur and imparting training to the skilled and unskilled workforce is mandatory to the local people for its satisfactory result.

Even in the existing agricultural sector, there is much to be done for its productivity. Introducing of high technology,High Yielding Variety(HYV) ,fertilizers,supply of pesticides,strengthening the irrigation system,land reforms etc. is very much necessary to avail to the farmers. Thess also becomes the main objectives laid down by the green revolution. It is easier said than done,the above discussed initiative can be seen when only political fraternity realised the necessity to provide a liveable environment for the common people.

As per the principles of the people representatives government,it is their bounden duty by those who gain power in the govt. to ensure just, economical friendly and safeguard the living condition of the society. To bring development,it is mandatory to set up a sound infrastructure,the national highways connecting the states capital and other important places like commercial hubs is an undeniable necessity.

Nevertheless,the central govt. sanctioned Special Accelerated Road Developments Programme for the North East region (SARDP-N.E.), most of the highways are in dilapidated condition, one is not able to travel regularly round the year for the lack of all-weathered roads and it creates more rampant by the south west monsoon torrential rain even more bleaking the ravaged scenario. In the centre flagshig scheme it envisages improvement of road connectivity to the states capital with district headquarters in the northeastern region. The proposed programme includes improvement of 10,141 km. of roads (5343) to be implemented under phase-A ,phase-B and Arunachal pradesh package for roads and highways.

It is the best possible means we can imagine to restore economically viable region connecting states capital and render a suitable environment for trade and commercial activity. The national highways connecting the states capital at many instances blocked up by frequent landslip in the summer resulting some part of the region inaccessible from to the outer world should be redeem by upgradation of the roads expanding into four-lane which are under the programme of National Highway Development Project (NHDP) phase 3 and 4.

According to the central provision for the development project,northeastern states had already become a UTOPIA, plying four buses simultaneously in the same road with a black metalled road in between the exotic green hill creating an attracting tourists destiny but it was never to be realised in the reality.

Now, it is a high time we, electorate in the time of electing our representatives pressing our concern and be cautious in chosing our representatives who are more public concern and likely to address our aggrieved.And we,as tax payers should have to be interested and concerned to ensure that the millions of people who are devastated by the poverty actually received the help they need from the govt. We should not wait even a second to strive for our states becoming a welfare states.