RPF tears apart economic policy of Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 28 2014: Asserting that the only way for Manipur to walk the path of progress and development is to break free from the yoke of India, the proscribed RPF today dwelt on the economic policy that has been enforced on the people and the land.

In a statement, the publicity secretary of the outfit, recalled the views and opinion of an eminent economist of the land, who said that though the record of economic growth in Manipur is racing past the rest of India, with the growth rate pegged at 9.83 pc in the previous years and a projected growth rate of 12.84 pc in 2013-14, none of the benefits have percolated to the poorer sections of people.

It is only those who have managed to make their way into the inner circles of the powerful who have benefited from the growth, the economist noted and added that there is the need to overhaul the direction of the growth.

Taking the observation of the economist into consideration, certain posers are in line, said the outfit and added that if the economy of the land has improved so much, then who are the people getting the benefits ? Who are the people who have made inroads into the circle of the powerful ? Is the growth in any way connected with the productivity of the place and have their wealth anything done anything for the betterment of the people ? .

If the economy of the place has indeed improved then surely the condition of the poor and the have nots ought to have improved, noted the outfit.

If the growth rate of 9.83 and projected growth rate of 12.84 are not going to help the poor and the needy then who stand to benefit, asked the outfit and further questioned whether the growth rate is connected or not connected with the welfare of the people.

It is also time to ask who have benefited or are going to get the benefits of such a growth.

It should be kept in mind that the development of the already rich and those who are close to them does not mean that the people as a whole are basking in wealth.

On the other hand the conditions of the public at large are getting worse and worse, said the outfit.

There is a big difference between the ground reality and the projected growth.

Just as there is a growth in the economy the difference between the poor and the rich has become more accentuated, said the outfit and added that nothing has been shown to show which sector has grown and neither has it been spelt out who the targeted growth is going to benefit.

The problem of unemployment is high in both India and Manipur, said RPF and added that this is due to the fact that the two entities have adopted similar strategy and character.

Even though growth rate may be high, this has not been able to provide employment and or enhance the income of the people.

Even though Manipur is a poor land, this does not mean that all are poor.

There are some elements who have mastered the art of sycophancy and following the rich people of India.

Though majority of the people and households are poor, some are in line to be admitted to the club of the rich and moneyed people, said the outfit and added that in past few years a new group of moneyed people has emerged from the plain and hills of Manipur.

Such people are those who have never given a thought to the land and its people and are solely driven by the desire to line their own pockets.

Such a culture has given rise to a group of people who are interested only in their own selfish needs and ends and such elements have started looking at everything through the prism of money.

This has left the poor and needy in a more desperate situation noted the outfit.

The outfit further asserted that the economic policy pursued by India and Manipur is helped to a great extent by a new class of people.

This more than shows that the growth strategy adopted here are divorced from the reality faced by the people.

In the recent past, Manipur has seen a number of changes in the increased communication with the outsiders, trade and commerce, airport, hotel, highway, new rail line, urbanisation, health care, education, institutes such as TV, video, film, private channel, and programmes funded by Delhi.

The benefits of all the changes have fallen into the hands of only a few, said RPF and added that none of the so called progress has contributed anything to the economic growth of the people and the land.

No interest is shown in any sector that can help boost the economy of the people.

As such the dependency culture is growing day by day, said RPF and added that this is amply demonstrated by the growing concerns shown whenever there is a blockade, bandh.

The people have to depend on Delhi for everything starting from fuel and salt.

Stating that the economic policy followed by both Delhi and Manipur are similar, the outfit asserted that the policies have only benefited certain class of people.

The growth projection is divested from the people and as such the growth has not been able to help the people.

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