Re-visioning the Vision for Northeast India: NER Vision 2020
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman
Mirza Zulfiqur Rahman, MPhil Student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled the "Peace Progress and Prosperity in the North Eastern Region: Vision 2020" document on 2 July 2008 in New Delhi. The Prime Minister portrayed the northeastern region as the 'land of the rising sun' and emphasized that the initiative was a "unique event in our nation building process". This comes as a logical follow up of his speech way back in 2004 at the inauguration of the India-ASEAN Car Rally when he described the northeastern states of India as the springboard for economic integration with Southeast Asia, Southwest China and beyond. Despite 98 per cent of its boundaries being international boundaries and its tremendous economic potential, the region has largely remained isolated and hence underdeveloped.
The report, divided into two volumes, contains the vision statement, some general strategies for the region and certain specific sectoral strategies. The vision statement delineates three purposes of the document. One, to structure a grassroots-led development process; two, enhance the role of the northeastern region in the national economy; and three, recognize the strategic importance of the region in India's foreign policy in general and the Look East Policy (LEP) in particular.
The report acknowledges the fact that lack of communication is a major hindrance in the development of the region, thereby laying special focus on connectivity issues and related infrastructure. The construction of roads and railway lines, with a view to connect the state capitals of all northeastern states, has been given utmost priority in the report. The report recommends the creation of centres of excellence in the northeastern states towards developing its human resource which would help integrate the region better within the current globalized processes and contexts. It highlights issues pertaining to capacity-building, people's participation in governance, creation of economic opportunities, and use of resources for the benefit of the local population.
In Volume II, the report provides a sector-specific and industry-wise strategy to be followed. The report outlines a vision for a green revolution in the region with crop-diversification, promotion of agro-based products, promotion of horticulture and floriculture, rural credit and banking, land reforms etc., given the fact that agriculture remains the primary occupation of the northeastern states' population. The important role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) industries in reducing poverty and unemployment has also been acknowledged with a special focus on the role of Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) in the region. The recurrent theme in the strategy is promoting "industries with value addition". The potential in the services sector, especially in tourism and hospitality sector has remained untapped and undeveloped. Additionally, the virtual non-existence of the banking sector is also a matter of concern, as it directly affects the development process. There have been concerns about lack of banking reforms in the northeastern states affecting the development process, which the report seeks to address by bolstering the financial sector in the Northeast and provides a plan for the same.
The report identifies as its focus areas, three broad categories of infrastructure, namely, transport and communication, industry-related infrastructure, and infrastructure related to the provision of public amenities, all initiating and sustaining the growth process. Some important recommendations have been made, one of them being improved connectivity between the capital cities of the northeastern states.
The report gives special attention to region-specific needs in the educational sector. It aims to bridge the gap between different geographical areas, in terms of health-related facilities. The report recognizes the fact that around 80 per cent of job creation is still in the agricultural and allied sectors. It plans to promote and build entrepreneurial capabilities and provide vocational education to diversify the employment opportunities.
The role of local government institutions in the planning process and service-delivery has been underlined in the report, envisaging a role for government agencies as enablers of developmental and productive activities, and forging a closer partnership between local bodies and government agencies.
Significant investments in social and physical infrastructure are needed to achieve the goal of 'peace and prosperity' in the region. Each central government department earmarks 10 per cent of its planned budget for the northeastern region, which needs concrete policies and projects to back up and account for. In order to ensure increased private investment in the region, a secure environment, coupled with improved physical infrastructure and skilled manpower will be needed.
The report devotes a full chapter to India's LEP in the NER perspective. It highlights the fact that the 'Look East Policy must begin with the NER'. The cultural connection between the northeastern states and the neighbouring countries provides a substantial basis for people-to-people contacts, which would lead to economic development of the region through the strengthening of commercial links with its proximate international neighbourhood.
The full impact of the report needs to be assessed in terms of the political will to initiate its recommendations by the concerned Central government ministries and the state governments. Critical to its success would be concrete policies to back up the funds allocated, accompanied by much needed coordination and unity among the northeastern states governments.
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