48 hours in Manipur and bingo ! Of internet, banking and roads
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 12, 2012 -

Jairam Ramesh with MLA Vungzagin Valte (left) and Ministers I Hemochandra, Francis Ngajokpa on June 09 2012
Pix - TSE

Delhi never ceases to surprise and astound. Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh seems to have zeroed in on what rural Manipur needs to streamline and sytemise economic activities of the rural folk in a matter of 48 hours.

Not bad going at all. Extending banking and broadband internet facilities to the headquarters of 60 rural blocks is one of the magic formulae spelt out by the Union Minister during his two day visit to the State on June 9 and 10.

On top of this, the Minister also talked about sanctioning a sum of Rs 670 crore to connect 300 villages, besides the 245 villages which already enjoy connectivity by all weather roads.

The interest shown by Delhi in the development of the State has been awesome in the recent past and while such focus is certainly needed, it still does not answer the question of whether the Centre is sincerely keen on resolving some of the most contentious issues which have been dogging the people and the land for decades or not.

Development projects are welcome, no doubt about that, but are these the answer to some of the most pressing issues of the day ?

A slew of promises, identifying the core areas on which the rural people can ride their way on the road to development, a good progress report card for the State Government, all in the span of 48 hours and suddenly the problems and heartburns faced by the people of Manipur do not look that intimidating or challenging at all.

Or is it a case of Mr Ramesh doing a thorough home work before coming here or are the promises and inspection spree just another example of the Centre intentionally satisfying itself by merely looking at the symptoms rather than going into the heart of the matter ?

Why are so many places in Manipur yet to have internet facilities ? Why do villages still remain cut off from the rest of the State and the country ?

There are reasons why the State political leaders make a beeline whenever Delhi deputes one of its men/women to Manipur to take a look at the developmental projects being taken up here.

Apparently the apron string hangover refuses to go away. An attempt to understand why this culture is all pervasive in a country which has crossed the sixty years mark as an independent entity would offer some interesting insights on the political dynamics at work here.

Delhi is yet to feel secure when it comes to the States and the people in the North East region.

On the one hand, the existence of the North East is seen only through the prism of an extended frontier on the eastern front, for security reasons and on the other hand the changing political dynamics in South and South East Asia means that Delhi can overlook the strategic geo-location of the region only at its peril.

Add the compulsion of economic policies and activities and the picture becomes all that more clear.

Such a psychological mindset impacts on the very idea of India as a Nation, a country which has not been successful in establishing the idea of a Nation even after 60 years of existence as a free and independent entity.

Short sightedness, the immaturity of Indian democracy, the failure to come to grip with the harsh reality of the day, the lack of sincerity all taken together have dictated Delhi's view towards the North East region and this cannot be healthy for anyone, most of all to those who swear by the idea of India as one big Nation and home to myriad communities and peoples.

Connectivity of all rural areas in the next three years suddenly does not look as rosy as it appears to be at first sight.