Disconnecting NE
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 28, 2013 -

Like every year, the annual ritual of Railway Budget, 2013-14 presentation in the Parliament yesterday (February 26) has only generated mixed reaction.

The ruling Congress party has hailed it as one of the best ever tabled in the Parliament. But the Opposition BJP has termed it 'eyewash' to cover up UPA Government's economic disorientation and financial mismanagement.

So, what is this annual Railway Budget all about? Does it have anything do with the common people on the street, more particularly those living in the Northeastern region?

Complimenting Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who presented his maiden Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stated, "The Minister for Railways has done a commendable job in meeting competing demands of improving and increasing services for commuters and controlling expenditure of his department. It is a reformist and forward-looking budget which presents a realistic picture of railway finances."

However, in the eyes of BJP President Rajnath Singh, the same 'reformist and forward-looking budget' is nothing but an eyewash, as he pointed out 'the Government had already hiked the passenger fares before going into the Budget session and now they have introduced dynamic fuel adjustment component on freight rates, which will result into a five percent increase in the rates. Any increase in freight rates is bound to push all round inflation in the country.'

In another word, in his maiden budget, Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has done a perfect job in camouflaging the hike with promises of passenger safety and better amenities with his eyes firmly set on the Parliamentary elections due next year.

Even as the criticism and counter-criticism over Railway Budget, 2013-14 goes on elsewhere, here, in the Northeast, most people appear to be least concerned about it. So, how important is Railway Budget to the people of the region?

Presentation of Railway Budget, as the name implies, is an annual ritual in Parliament which has been going on since the British colonial-era, wherein the Railway Minister presented the annual budget of his Ministry.

Despite being a part of the larger Union Budget or General Budget, which is normally announced on the last working day of February, presentation of Railway Budget before the General Budget, is, nonetheless, considered a significant event of outlining the economic planning of the Ministry that would have direct impact on the well-being of the people.

Yet, any serious discussion on Railway Budget is something non-existent in this part of the country for obvious reasons.

In fact, in the latest Railway Budget too, there is nothing to cheer about with exception to the promises of commissioning the 23-km long Hemuti-Naharlagun line this year to include Arunachal Pradesh in the railway map of India, fast tracking the gauge conversion works of Lumding-Silchar and Rangia-Murkongselek lines and the claim that the railway project to connect Manipur is in full-swing.

There is no mention about any survey for new lines or electrification of the existing routes, even though the Minister talks about WiFi train connectivity in other parts of the country.

All these 'missing connectivity' are happening despite the fact that people of the region depends heavily on railways for getting the supply of essential commodities and they would equally hit hard from the hike in freight charges.

So much for rail connectivity in the region!