Delhi’s new initiatives for the NE : Are the States ready ?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 30, 2015 -

Making Union Ministers tour the North East States on rotational basis.

Setting eyes on the development of roads in the North East region.

Setting up hostels for students from the North East studying at Delhi. Moving from Look East to Act East.

The BJP led NDA Government seems to have come around to the idea that the North East region cannot be overlooked in any attempt to reach out to the South East Asian Nations.

Rare it is but the North East seems to have caught the attention of the policy framers at Delhi and this is something welcome.

Positive it is, no doubt about it, yet at the same time, it may not be out of place to question why the Centre has taken so long to wake up to the reality that is the North East.

Unfortunate it is, but it says something significant that India or the policy framers at the Centre seem be looking beyond the Brahmaputra when the country has just celebrated its 66th Republic Day.

Or in other words, the North East seems to have registered in the consciousness of the political leaders at Delhi after more than 65 years of the country attaining independence.

Why is this so is a question that should not be swept under the carpet.

In as much as Delhi seems to have woken up to the reality called the North East, it is also a damning testimony that the region has been left unattended for decades.

A crying shame it is for everyone. This

is Delhi and while Narendra Modi and his men are indeed sending out the message that they have taken cognizance of the region, it remains to be seen how primed are the different States of the region to maximise on the situation.

In other words, how sincere are the respective State Governments to take the people along with the fresh initiatives of the Centre.

Sincerity. This is the term that should be used to gauge the performance and intent of the respective State Governments.

In as much as the Centre may be concerned about the North East, it remains that a lot depends on how ready are the different States.

Undoubtedly Manipur figures high on the Look East or Act East policy of the Government of India.

This is primarily the reason why no efforts have been spared to upgrade the existing highway that connects Imphal and the rest of the country to the border town of Moreh.

Road connectivity between Moreh and Imphal and by extension with the rest of the country has tremendously improved in the last couple of years.

But this is not enough. Imphal cannot continue to show that it is indeed interested in letting the local people reap the benefits by only maintaining the road, though this is no doubt important.

More needs to be done and the important point is the State Government will need to shed its ‘window dressing’ mentality.

The people have seen enough of this, best exemplified whenever any leader from Delhi comes visiting.

The need is to get down to the basics of good governance and stop pulling wool over the eyes of the public.

Delhi seems to have made its intention clear.

The important question is whether Imphal and the North East States have any such intention.