International Seminar on Challenges of Development in North East India at New Delhi
- 3rd and 4th November 2011 -
- University of Delhi -

Department of Sociology, University of Delhi, Delhi
International Seminar
on
Challenges of Development in North East India: Issues and Concerns

Economic development is considered as a symbol of progress and prosperity of any country or society. India since independence, has been consistently striving to attain uniform economic development through rapid industrialization, liberal economic policies and new legislations. A new beginning in the economic history of India was initiated with the introduction of Five Year Plans to facilitate balanced progress and development in the country.

However, the efforts of uniform development in the sub-continent suffered a major blow due to widespread regionalism and other institutional factors. As a result even today the states of North East India remain relatively less developed when compared to other parts of the country.

There is constant failure of the state machineries which are compounded with rising insurgency, inabilities of educational system to translate peaceful existence, rising corruption with other social problems such as youth unrest, drug addiction, kidnapping, gun-culture, extortion, crime and violence with huge socio-economic inequalities which are impediment to sustainable development.

These inadequacies have potential to produce adverse inter personal conflicts and today the region has become a haven of movements and crises which jeopardize the peaceful existence of multi-ethnic groups. In such a complex situation, the question of development and its implementations become a critical issue to address.

No doubt, the Government of India, as part of many developmental projects, has increased allocation of grants multifold and stationed many hydro-electric projects aiming to convert the region into a power house for the country. However, this has only added to the more crises in the region. Several critical questions reflecting on environmental grounds; feasibility of big/mega dams; issues of displacement of land, history and peoples' identity vis-à-vis indigenous culture especially of the tribals are being raised by civil societies and various organizations.

In this way, the region is grappling as there are many hindrances to economic development in the region. Today, the region suffers from effective implementation of law and order, policies and programmes and high social insecurity. Moreover, the fast changing world has created a huge gap leading people to alienation, frustration and distress among the youths. Such a scenario in the region deserves better understanding and re-looking of the region and entails more critical assessments and dialogues.

Therefore, the proposed two day seminar will deliberate on these critical questions of development, challenges and its problems in the India's north-east and discuss the alternatives or the prospects of development so that proper corrective measures can be re- initiated for just and balanced society in the country.

The seminar is being organized on the 3rd and 4th November 2011 by the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University and invites any interested researcher/activist/expert from all over the globe who has worked/written/surveyed or who are currently engaged on the region. The seminar will feature four components – paper presentations, screening of documentaries, books Exhibition (exclusively on North East India) and showcasing the rich cultural programmes. (Also open invitation to documentary makers, book publishers and for cultural programmes.)

Any interested person(s) should communicate to the Convenor of the Seminar by the 31st July 2011.

Paper Presentations would be based on ethnographic studies, empirical facts, datas and surveys. The sub-themes of the presentation are divided broadly under the following topics:

1. State, Ethnicity and Development
2. Dams, Movements and Violence
3. Education, Church and Civil Society
4. Insurgency, Counter-insurgency and Gun-culture
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5. Social problems such as Youth unrest, Drug Addiction, HIV/AIDS, Alcoholism etc. vis-à-vis development
6. Environment, Culture and Polity
7. Government policies/programs and problems of implementation