Vice President's wake-up call
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: October 07, 2021 -

IT is indeed interesting to hear the Vice President of the nation M Venkaiah Naidu advising the government of Manipur to put into practice financial discipline.

While such a remark from one of the country's constitutional heads is interpretable differently, the advice assumes significance as there had been consistent assurances by the Union government that fund allocation will not be an issue if there is clarity in the developmental objectives and commitment to achieve the same by the states and union territories.

With numerous departments in the state chronically facing embarrassing situation for failing to submit utilisation certificate for funds received to execute developmental projects or welfare schemes, it is obvious that the Vice President too is not impressed with the progress report of Manipur regardless of the state's leaders claiming significant strides made towards a progressive society.

As inordinate delay in submitting utilisation certificates for centrally-funded projects naturally underscores administrative inefficiency and lack of sincerity, the Vice President has expectedly viewed his perception that the state needs marked improvement in utilisation of fund.

Emphasising on financial discipline for Manipur to join the race of development during his speech at the national seminar held on Tuesday at IBSD Takyelpat complex, he also advised the government of Manipur to focus on important areas like health, education, agriculture, communication and connectivity, thereby hinting that the state has a lot to do in these sectors, which are considered essential components to drive any region towards the path of overall development.

Notably, with exception of tele-communication which is fairly compatible with the national standard, Manipur's track record in the remaining sectors remains abysmal.

Having arrived here after covering Assam, Meghalaya, etc, the Vice President proposing thrust on development of road and proper connectivity in the north eastern region and categorically stating that development activities in this part of the country will reap fruit if funds allocated by the Centre for various projects are utilised with transparency and accountability, also rings out the message that the regional governments will have to abandon the concept that the Centre's benevolence will be an eternal obligation.

"Development of the country is incomplete without the development of North East" has been the catchphrase for all central leaders whenever he/she visits or attends events related to the development-starved region but such a narrative needs to be construed as a repetitive reminders that the regional governments will have to chart out their own developmental path and fate.

Nevertheless, it needs no reminding that without transparency and corruption-free governance, no amount of funds and generosity from the Centre would be enough to extricate the north-eastern states, Manipur in particular, from its present pathetic state.

Manipur, like almost all the north-eastern states, too has been heavily dependent on the financial support from the Centre and its developmental goal could be considered as attained when national leaders cease viewing the state as profuse seeker of central assistance.

Though it's seemingly a little late, New Delhi has realised that its long neglect of the north-eastern states had proved costly both for nation-building and India's strategic interests.

Thus, the renewed proactive approach to the region in the last decade or so should be complimented with the regional governments ensuring good governance in the real sense and taking the Vice President's views as a wake-call.