Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 04 2009:
Even though Look East Policy was launched with the objective of materialising economic upliftment of the North Eastern States, it appears that the Government of India is not sincere enough to reap any substantial benefit from the policy, observed guest faculty member of the Institute of Chinese Studies Prof VM Rappai.
Speaking to reporters at Manipur University guest house today, Prof Rappai asserted that politicians need to work sincerely so that the policy fulfil its objectives in a substantial manner.
Saying that China is intent upon expanding its market in the North Eastern States, Prof Rappai said that local people should have due expertise and right knowledge before implementing the policy.
Talking about his meeting with the Education Minister, he conveyed the Minister's desire to open Chinese, Korean, Laos and Cambodian study centres at Manipur University.
On his part, the Professor suggested that study centres that would be opened at MU be those which would help development at the local level.
Power crisis being faced by the State can be overcome within five years if micro hydel power projects are taken up at village level rather than building large dams which take long periods before being commissioned, Prof Rappai said.
China is also more keen on small and micro projects, he added.
For development of the State, it requires connectivity to all the villages, he said.
Observing that Chinese are very careful about their health, Prof Rappai noted that both traditional medicines and modern medicines are used together in China.
He also highlighted the necessity to preserve traditional medical practices of Manipur too.
In China, traditional medical practitioners can tell symptoms of a disease by just checking the pulse rate of a patient, he added.