CM bemoans loss of special category status
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 22 2015 :
After the removal of special category status, Manipur has been facing financial crunch which has jeopardised various development plans and projects in the State, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi at the inaugural function of a two day international conference on 'India's Look East Policy- Act East and South- East Asia: Beyond Border', held at the Manipur University Centenary Hall.
Manipur lost the special category status during the period of the 14th Finance Commission after the BJP led NDA Government came to power at New Delhi.
The conference is organized by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID), Chandigarh in collaboration with Manipur University and it is being sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt, of India.
Even though the North Eastern States have tremendous potential in various fields of development, most development works have been hindered as most of the additional grants given to these States have now been curbed, added Ibobi.
Pointing out that Manipur is located in a strategic geographical location which neighbours Myanmar, CM Ibobi stated that the State Government has initiated various plans and projects to foster international trade relations with various South East Asian countries.
He further emphasized on the avenues where the State has immense potential such as tourism, health tourism, education, information technology, energy production etc.
for socio-economic development which could ultimately lead to substantial growth in the State's gross domestic product.
Later, he urged the intellectuals present at the international conference to focus on the issues of ground reality which the NE States have been facing like less resources and low financial allocation from the Central Government which directly hinder development.
Meanwhile Professor of South Asia, CRRID Sucha Singh Gill said the conference is the extension of the previous conference held at North East Hill University last year to discuss the socioeconomic statuses of the entire North East region.
He added that Manipur is now lowest in GDP compared with other neighbouring States even though the Central Government has poured in huge amount of money for developmental works for North East region as a whole.
Geographical isolation and transport bottlenecks are some of the reasons for such a low GDP.
But with the implementation of India's Look East Policy- Act East Policy, the scenario can be changed to such an extent that the entire region can be the most developed region of the country.
Though the State has immense potential in agro and other allied fields, there is a need for intervention by private investors, he added.
Prof Brahma Chellaney of Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi stated that Asia is now the economy locomotive of the whole world and the role of India in this scenario must be well analysed.
He added that India can or should play a pivotal role in collaboration and integration of the sub-continent through India's Look East Policy- Act East Policy.
Functional president, Murli Manohar Joshi also
addressed the inaugural function.
He said that with the implementation of the India's Look East Policy- Act East Policy there would be a boom in the economy of the region as the State occupies the interface of a strategic location.
VC of Manipur University Prof HNK Sarma also expressed his views on India's Look East Policy- Act East Policy.
Foreign delegates from neighbouring countries and from different parts of the country are taking part in the two day international conference.
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