Growth Engine Must Chug

By Geoffery *

North East Region (NER) of India comprising of eight states constitutes 9% land mass of the country. It abounds in rich forests, verdant valleys with salubrious climate, scenic spots and unharnessed tourist potential despite inherent natural advantages.

The campaign Incredible India has done lot of good to market India's tourist potential. This region with natural advantages for tourism can contribute towards the larger aim and also help the region achieve socio economic objectives.

It has been seen that travel & tourism sector creates more jobs per million rupees of investment than any other sector of the economy and is capable of providing employment to a wide spectrum of job seekers from the unskilled to the especially skilled people even in the remote parts of the country.

It is a growth engine which needs a constant chug to bring constant progress, constant prosperity and constant development in the region. But for this engine to chug a visitor needs to be given value for his money both in physical and psychological plane.

In last few years it is seen that out of the total tourists coming to India only 4% came to NER despite its potential to attract more. Tourism industry is contributing approx 6% to India's GDP, generating approx 51 million jobs but earns less than 1% share of World's Foreign Exchange earnings. For every one foreign tourist, there are 80 domestic tourists in India.

To cash in on this potential and ensure value for money of a tourist; inputs are being factored in NER i.e. laying of new rail lines, conversion of M.G to BG rail lines, four laning of roads (NH-53, NH-39 etc), cheaper air traffic more air lines in the fray, creation of first adventure park in Manipur out of MPLAD fund and addition of other infrastructural facilities required for tourism.

But at what speed is the implementation of this much needed infrastructural development? Thankfully nine rail projects (1450 KMs of rail lines approx) linking six states (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram) have been declared as national projects and constant flow of funds is ensured under non lapsable fund to accelerate the same.

Recently during the fourth business summit of North East Council at Gauhati the CMs of Nagaland and Manipur made a strong case for removal of permit system (PAP & RAP) that restricts foreign travel to their states. Inner Line Permit (ILP) also needs to be removed for ensuring more domestic visitors.

These permits are a legacy of colonial legislation (Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1863) that made it compulsory for any outsider to obtain the permit. These permits were implemented by Britishers to sow the seeds of separatism and prevent interaction between locals and outsiders and nurse their own interests.

What place do these permits have in globalized world where people share thoughts, views and interact through web without seeing the other person? Besides this people of this region are making a difference both nationally and internationally and fusion of original and new values is the order of the day.

The band ABIOGENESIS of Nagaland is making waves in Mumbai both for Indian and Foreign music lovers. Numbers of locals are displaying various levels of reckonable enterprise. This is the time to have more of inclusive societies than exclusive societies to gain advantage of all-round progress.

Out of eight states; Mehalaya, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are almost violence free and other four states Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura has large areas that are violence free. Still tourist flow is not at desired level.

Would a tourist whose mind is preoccupied with the news of bomb blasts and staccato of rifle shots like to come and have a safer and relaxed holiday? Can any state think of reaping the rich dividends of this growth oriented sector in insecure environment? Can any one think that vested interests with self claimed aims are likely to head any where ignoring socio economic growth?

Answer to this is a CERTAIN NO! The trend is visible in declining tourist traffic in this part of the country. We all know the negative effect on tourism of 9/11attack on WTC in 2001 and Bali/Red Sea resort in Egypt. Similarly violence against non locals in Assam had led to issue of warnings by USA, UK and Australia to their country men visiting India (especially North East India). Present violence at Udalguri between Bodos and Muslims may also have a similar effect.

Guwahati is the gateway to the region, more so when major tourist traffic is of domestic origin that travels more by surface transport. Inadequacy of infrastructure for stay can be enhanced where every North Easterner will contribute towards this sector. Bed and Breakfast scheme can contribute to individual, village, town, district and state economy.

The facilities can be absolute ethnic with contemporary touch but eco friendly. Tourist should be given every thing ethnic from stay to travel to include various modes of transport. Standards for ethnic stay facilities can be laid down that are controlled and monitored by the village council. The village council should keep records of visitors that are liable to scrutiny if need be.

Pronounced grass root level democracy is forte of this part of the country, more than other places. Previously tourism was only considered to be responsibility of private enterprise. It is a good sign that now this may be included in concurrent list and granted constitutional status. Besides other products of this industry Health tourism and Geo tourism (e.g.1032 caves in Meghalaya) in the region can also contribute a lot.

As part of Look East Policy and proposed (by Honorable PM) PAFTA (Pan ASEAN Free Trade Area) the neighboring country tourist inflow to this region is likely to increase.

Wish the spirit of resorting to political dialogue by ULFBV (United Liberation Front of Barak Valley) prevails across all the militant groups in NER. The outfit has bid farewell to arms.

In surrender ceremony its General Secretary Chorkhy said," We have realized that we can't achieve anything by armed struggle. As far as development of our community and other tribal groups is concerned we are still there where we were seven years back (outfit was founded in 2001)." The same is true for all the groups claiming to fight for their communities. Let the atmosphere of peace prevail in NER.

Let others change their opinion that how much the region has to offer them. Present generation needs to live not only for present times but leave a developed and progressive societal heritage for our future generations too.

Therefore, the growth engine must chug and cause excellence and richness in society.