A political policy : A State-led model of development

Dr L Krishnamangol Singh *

There are now a large number of development models, which favour a particular group or region in the process of Indian economic development. A number of strategies have also been tried in the past to promote economic development, and address the problems of poverty and unemployment. Some of the models could not be effectively implemented.

And some others have made significant strides in development. For instance, many of the schemes of poverty alleviation have brought down the proportion of people living below the poverty line in recent years. However, the problem of unemployment and the low standard of living still continue to exist. It is observed that there are still shortages of basic needs of life in different parts of the state. In fact, there are historically, geographically determined characteristic features of a developing economy and society, which call for immediate solution.

It is the purpose of this short article to set out the strategies of development, which will cater to the needs of the people in the state. The strategies suggested here will also promote class harmony, peace and social and economic order in the State.

1. To begin with, it can be emphasised that there are no two opinions on the need for huge public investment for economic development in backward states like Manipur. Indian planning strategies have experimented various schemes or programmes of development. Thus, in spite of some shortcomings, planning still plays a crucial role in transforming the economy of many backward states like Manipur from purely agricultural economy to a relatively diversified economy led by the services sector.

There is now the urgent need for launching various programmes for rapid industrialisation in order to accelerate economic development of the State. This requires strong political will and commitment of the State government. And the Centre should lend support to the efforts of the State Government.

2. Today, it is well known that economic development or development in short has been redefined in various ways to include not only increase in PCI, but also improvement in other qualities of life.

The available data have also revealed that there has been considerable improvement in terms of various indicators of development. Therefore, the role of planning needs to be strengthened in order to address various other problems of development in Manipur.

3. In spite of the importance/significance of planning and economic reforms in the Indian economy and also in Manipur, there are some limitations of planning in the State.

The State Planning System needs to be thoroughly reformed in order to address the various problems of development. First, there should be a full-fledged Planning Commission for Manipur. It is hightime that the modality of said Planning Commission needs to be properly formulated in order to keep healthy relationship with the Planning Commission of India. It is expected that the said Planning Commission of the State can play a crucial role in promoting socio-economic development of the people in the State. All forms of decentralisation of planning should come within the ambit or under the authority of the said Planning Commission, which should be headed by the Chief Minister as the Chairman.

And, the intellectuals from various disciplines should also be inducted in the said Commission for the purpose of planning for socio-economic development of the people in the State.

While I have repeatedly emphasised for decentralisation of planning at the district and block levels, there is now the extreme need for establishing a full fledged Planning Commission of Manipur for the management and promoting the socio-economic development of the State.

The attention of the Centre should be drawn to this new system of planning for economic development of the State. And the relevant rules should be framed and formulated for the purpose of establishing a full-fledged Planning Commi- ssion for Manipur.

It can be emphasised that all decentralised agencies should be under the said Planning Commission in order to promote the political economy of development of the State. Any decentralized body or agency should not be above or outside the said Planning Commission of the State.

4. I am aware that some critics have pointed out the limitations/limited role of planning in the age of economic reforms.

However, planning is still an instrument or machinery for transfer of resources from the Centre to the States for launching various programmes of development and also for running the various development departments of the State Government.

Planning is also an important organisation of the Centre for running and management of the political economy of States. Along with this, there are also other sources of resources from the Centre for the purpose of economic development of states.

But, the centralising system of planning cannot meet the aspirations of the people and it will also affect the dignity of the States. The states should have respect within the nation or country.

Therefore, in the Indian context, the economic development or the states should take place within the boundary of the States with the State Government taking/playing the leading roles in their own states. And the Centre should not be the substitute of any decentralised agency or body or the State as it will severely affect the general interest of the people in the State or the interest of the state.

Again in a democracy, the emergence of the multiplicity of ruling classes will create chaos and confusion among the people. And, it will also create conflict of interest or crash of interest, resulting in social disorder within the polity of the State. Therefore, the authority of the state or state government should not be challenged in the name of development. The best way is to strengthen the role of the states within their boundaries in order to build up a strong nation.

And the Centre should not pretend to appease a particular state at the cost of another state or other states purely on the criteria of development of a particular caste or group. The political policy of the Centre should not be partisan in the name of development. It is also well known that State formation takes place a long process and that the State formation also strengthens the nation i.e. the Indian Nation or the Union of India i.e. Indian Union. It needs no emphasis here that the people and the State are interlinked and can be treated as the same entity in the whole polity. And the two cannot be separated in the formulation of a new political policy.

Therefore, the administration of the people should be done by the state government and not by any other agency or body, which is outside the state or state government.

Therefore, it would be the beauty of Indian democracy if the states are given more power for economic development within their respective boundaries.

This requires amendments of the relevant provisions of the Indian Constitution, which is beyond the scope of this limited paper. For instance, the superfluous points under the Indian Constitutions should be abolished and more power should be given to the State Government. And the state should also have two chambers in the legislative assembly so that more intellectuals and experts may be inducted in the management of the State.

In fact, there should be proper management of power within the state and the institutions for socio-economic development should be established with the State Government taking the leading role as the highest authority.

In fact, too much of decentralisation of power will lead to the disappearance of the State authority or the authority of the State Government, which will be counter-political policy against the spirit of the Constitution of India.

Thus, the highly centralised system needs to be avoided for sustainable social and economic development of the States. Again, too much of decentralisation is also likely to create an undesirable result for the disappearance of the existence of the State. Thus, it is high time that India may now try for a system of united nation of states so that there may not be over-lapping in the power and functions in the working of the states.

Finally, it can be suggested that the formation of the state of Manipur as a democratic system within the polity of the Indian Union should not be unduly disturbed by any manipulated political policy of the Centre.