The potential brand Manipur

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E-Pao! Governance Opinion :: The potential brand Manipur

Joy Shaikhom *

The business today is boundary less. We call a global village. Every state of the countries are trying to attract as many as FDI from foreign investor. But still NE-state gets less or zero attraction as far as FDI is talking about.

It’s not only about the FDI that we get less attraction. Despite NE state is known for its border with well know Asian countries. We get less opportunities to be part of import-export with the neighbouring countries.

The reason behind is not known to us or it might be due to restriction pertaining to regulation within the state or with the parent countries. Many of us might have seen and if not try out atleast most electronic items are imported from countries like China, Japan, and Korea. These are the countries that we can eaily get import- export at faster and a low tax.

North East has its traditional trading partners (Bhutan, Myanmar and Indo-China) before it merged to Indian Union. In 1947 Indian independence and partition made this a landlocked region, exacerbating the isolation that is being recognized lately, but not studied yet.

Soon it became a captive market for mainstream India. The Northeast has a strong genetic similarity with the peoples of East Asia. The northeastern states with just 25 out of a total of 543 seats in the Lok Sabha are politically insignificant in Delhi.

State Government has to focus on tourism as one of the areas for investment . The northeastern states are home to many ethnic groups that are engaged in self-preservation.

During the year 2000-2001, Ministry of Tourism sanctioned an amount of Rs. 24.52 crores for new projects relating to development and promotion of tourism, out of which Rs. 7.79 crores were released to North Eastern States and Sikkim.

In addition, an amount of Rs.4.96 crores was also released for ongoing projects. For the year 2001-2002, 121 projects relating to development and promotion of tourism amounting to Rs.32.57 crores were prioritized for the North Eastern States including Sikim, but the development within the state see no progress, as far as the tourism is concerned.

A crore of Rupees has been grant to NE-State for its development, but the progress of the state is missing somewhere. It’s high time that government and public must aware of the grant that has been endow to the state for its development.

There is also a wave level of development within the state. The development of the state cannot be term with one sidedness of leveling. It must have uniformity too.

The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, has amended from time-to-time to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (UTTAR POORVI KSHETRA VIKAS MANTRALAYA) for matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of developmental schemes and projects of North Eastern Region including those in the sectors of Power, Irrigation, Roads and Communications etc but no significant change can be seen.

The below table shows a special scheme of grant that we got from GOI for development of NE state. These are exclusive of other grant.

Reference: http://northeast.nic.in
Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, GOI

Manipuri’s economy has suffered greatly from militancy, due negligence of the government, corruption of the bureaucrates and violence over the past several years. The lack of economic growth, employment opportunities within the states also leads to unhealthy relation among the people.

Manipur has a well capable manpower, it is one of the highly intellectual state in NE, India. We must look what are our strength and how can we brand our strength to the world. For example Assam brands itself with its tea and oil production. Meghalaya with coal and uranium.

Like wise Manipur is known for its silk adaptability. Many countries are willing to invest in the state for silk farm. The paper production can be one of our strength.

The survey says the existing bamboo plant in the state will last for another 20 years from now if we produce paper out of it. So like any other states we can brand ourself “Manipur bamboo”, “Manipur silk” etc.we are always confused with the choice.

Choosing cricket or basket ball or baseball will not help us to be sports state. We must create brand with polo, football, hockey, boxing cycling etc which we have our core competence.

“There is no secret about success; it simply calls for hard work, devotion to your business at all times, day and night."

“The demands of modern life…called for such work as ours; and if we had not met the demand others would have done so. Even without us the steel industry of the country would have been just as great as it is, though men would have used other names when speaking of its leaders." - Henry Clay Frick

* Joy Shaikhom, an HR Professional, regularly contributes to e-pao.net. The writer can be contacted at j_shaikhom(at)rediffmail(dot)com . This article was webcasted on 24th October 2007.

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