THEME

Sunrise states:

Realizing the growth

potential of

north-east

TEAM IIITAB2K12

• Pratyush Vashishat

• Sagar Sahni

• Shubham Sharma

• Pankaj Wadhwani

• Agam Gupta

SAVE NORTH EAST: THEY ARE ALSO INDIANS

The North East India comprises of eight contiguous states of highly undulating hilly terrains,

covering 263,179 sq km which is about 8% of the total geographical area of the country. The

region is one of the landlocked regions of South Asia. About 4500 km i.e. 98% of its border is

with five different countries of South Asia–Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. No

other region of the Indian union share common border with so many different countries

connecting with the heartland through the tenuous 22 km Siliguri corridor. Most of the North

Eastern states have more than 60% of their area under forest cover, a minimum suggested

coverage for the hill states in the country.

The region is richly endowed with bio-diversity, hydro-potential, minerals like oil and natural gas,

coal, limestone, dolomite, graphite, quartzite, sillimonite etc. and forest wealth. Over 10 per

cent of forest products requirement in the country are met from this region only. The economy

of the region primarily depends on agriculture sector contributing over 40 per cent of the

income and employ about 70 per cent of the total working population. North East India is a part

of Indo-Burma 'hotspot'. The hotspot is the world's second largest, next only to the

Mediterranean basin with an area 2,20,60,000 km2 among the 25 identified.

The region is the home of extraordinarily diverse mosaic of ethnic groups having distinctive

social, cultural and economic identity, more akin to their South Asia neighbors than main land

India. The total population of the region is about 38 million, 3.8 per cent of the ou try s total

population, of which Assam contributes 68 per cent of the total population. Assam recorded the

highest density of population with 340 per sq. km., which is also higher than the national

average of 313 per sq. km., followed by Tripura with 305 per sq. km. Otherwise, the region is

sparsely populated with an overall density of population of 149 per sq. km.

The goals of human development,

however can be achieved only

through inclusive development and

bridging the various divides that

afflict our country. However, the

ou try s orth east has ee experiencing a comparatively slower

pace of industrialization and socio-

economic growth. Though the region

is blessed with abundant natural

resources for industrial development

and social development, they have

not been utilized to their full

potential.

The region is cited as a conflict-stricken remote

corner of India, witnessing a series of

insurgencies and illustrating the alienation of the

locals from the mainstream. Although the causes

of insurgency in the region have been primarily

political, the ambiguity related to the economic

potential has added fuel to the turmoil.

The Naga insurgence, which started

in the 1950s, known as the mother

of the Northeast insurgencies, is

one of the oldest unresolved armed

conflicts in the world. In total,

Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and

Tripura have witnessed scales of

conflict that could, at least between

1990 and 2000, be characterized as

low intensity conflicts.

Bundles of Problems

The various problems and conflict

constellations in the Northeast

represent durable challenges to the

integrative and accommodative capacity of

I dia de o ra y . : Clemens Spiess

Bundles of Causes

The data and information on the region is not

sufficiently analyzed and communicated

between the region and the Centre,

contributing to further misinformation,

mismanagement and alienation.

The Reasons to Blame

Efforts by the Govt.

Computerization of

the Public

Distribution System

Operation of Food

& Civil supplies &

Consumer affairs

Environment

related Schemes

under 12th Plan of

NEC.

Sixth North

East Business

Summit.

Non Lapsable

Central Pool of

Resources (NLCPR)

Scheme.

North East

Climate Change

Adaptation Program

(NECCAP).

Unknown Assets The region has a very high potential to

generate hydropower i.e. about 80 per cent of

the total hydropower potential in the country.

Arunachal Pradesh alone is expected to

generate 2,67,474 MW i.e. 30 per cent of the

total available in the country.

Inland water transport can be a viable, cost-effective alternative in the plain areas of NER

given the high cost of expanding other mode of transportation. It will also create

employment opportunities, promote tourism and open up inter-country routes for trade

and commerce. However, the following needs to be done:

-There is a need to improve facilities for night navigation and mechanical handling.

-Cargo vessels and terminals should be increased to meet the rising demands.

-Emphasis should be on PPPs for the development of fairways and infrastructure in IWT.

Since it adjoins with Bay of Bengal and

shares boundary

with China and other small South East

Asian countries

.It has major scope of trading with all the

eastern countries and hence contributing

To the major trading share of India and

thereby helping in stabilizing

The economic growth of country as well as

of seven sisters.

TEAM VIEWS In North-east, one of the critical problems is that of governance. Basic needs are not met, basic

services are not delivered, so naturally people get alienated. Now the political problems are

not necessarily related to the problems of governance but the problems of governance

accentuate the problems of political alienation and conflict.

To sum up the large document in a few words is difficult, but I think the final document was a

bit too ambitious as it said that North-east needs to grow at 8-12% over the next few years to

at h up to the rest of I dia. I do t thi k that s goi g to happe e ause it s just ot possi le i a state, i regio s that are threate ed y a ds e ery fe days a d y pro le s of la k of delivery.

So we have to essentially raise the bar high for performance of local governance and that is

riti al. There is o poi t la i g Delhi for hat s ro g. Go er a e i this ou try is a state issue a d states eed to deli er. They ha e the fu ds yet they are ot deli eri g a d there is t any excuse for that.

But this is not going to happen immediately.

Innovation, Initiative, Ideas, and Implementation - the four I s also eed to go together i the North-east if things have to change. You can make a big picture, you can try and do big things

ut i the fi al a alysis, it s hat you do at the lo al le el a d ho ell you do it, that s goi g to make a difference.

References

http://www.mdoner.gov.in

http://www.in.boell.org/web/52-259.html

http://southasia.oneworld.net/archive/weekend/seeking-solutions-in-

indias-north-east#.UijtLdK1GuI

http://www.srtt.org/institutional_grants/rural_livelihoods_communities/

north_east_intiative.htm

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/EconomicPotentialofNortheastIndiaA

nAssetorThreat_shivanandah_120511

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-

26/guwahati/34100574_1_nagaland-research-paper-arunachal-pradesh

http://www.mdoner.gov.in/sites/default/files/33-38.pdf

http://databank.nedfi.com/

http://www.coolage.in/2013/08/28/rural-entrepreneurship-for-north-

east-india/

http://southasia.oneworld.net/archive/weekend/seeking-solutions-in-

indias-north-east#.UijtLdK1GuI