A wakeup call for

The Sunrise States

Team Members: R V S Tejaswini, K V Dyuti, D Sandhya, N Druva Raj, J P Chakravarthy.

Insight into

“Sunrise States: Realizing the growth potential of North-East”

Salient Features

Total population of Northeast India is38,857,769 (4% of India) constituting nearly600 tribal and ethnic groups out of which76.6% are literates .

01000020000300004000050000600007000080000

( in Sq. Km)

10%

11%

9%

7%

12%23%

13%

15% 18%

8%

7%

11%

21%

19%

11%

5%

The total geographical area is 262,230 km2 (8% of India) with aninternational border of 4500 km. The only link between NES and Restof India is the 41km wide Siliguru corridor.

Variation of Growth in North Eastern States is very high throughout the region.

GDP Growth Rate Population Below poverty level

Forest cover and Vegetation

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

North-East India India (avg)

29%

29%

30%

30%

31%

31%

32%

32%

Poverty

Statistics compared to rest of India

Social Economical

NES has good literacy rate but badly needs to grow in terms of employment and economy. Reforms to improve the quality of education and to raise the economy of the region are to be made on a war footing to enhance its social and economic standards.

Centre’s Goodies

Look East Policy (Initiated in 1991)

Bolster its standing as a regional power and a counterweight to the strategic influence of the People's Republic of China.

Special Category States

Highest per-capita is assisted by central government to these states.

10% GBS

Allotment of atleast 10% of overall plan’s budget.

Mobilize financial resources

Infrastructure Development Fund

Non-Lapsable North East Railway Development Fund

North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP)

Youth Empowerment and Skill Development in the North Eastern Region

Extending Green Revolution to Eastern India (only Assam is included)

Special packages and externally aided projects

Tax concession in these states(including direct tax).

To cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with the nations of Southeast Asia(The Sittwe port).

Insurgency• Loss of their Distinct Identity. • Bifurcation of state and peace keeping issues.• Myth that they are treated as secondary citizens in India.

Hurdles for development

Political Factors• Implementing same policies for all 8 states ignoring individual state interests.• Security issues absorb maximum centre’s interest in the NER.

Economic Factors• Low industrial growth which leads to unemployment• Low trade interactions. • Improper utilization of natural resources.• Lack of proper Tourism.

Infrastructure Factors• Hilly area causing difficulty in railways and roadways.• Heavy rainfall troubling possibility of perfect airways.• Chicken neck, 40 km wide is the only path joining NER with rest of India.

Nepal

Counter-Insurgency‘Popular legitimacy and population support’ are the most critical factors for optimal counter-insurgency outcomes.

Best Practices

Primacy of Political Goals

Centre of Gravity: Population

Counter-Propaganda

Resolute leadership

Intelligence

Unity of Effort

Role of Politicians: Provide the end goal and the restrictive rules of engagement forall agencies. Provide the legitimacy for the operations given their local support. Shapepeople’s perceptions by contacting local community leaders, media, etc. and by havingpersonal engagements.

Role of bureaucrats: Provide the administrative support on the ground in terms ofplan execution, building infrastructure, development activities, health, education,regulating markets, etc.

Role of the army: Support the goal articulated by politicians by neutralizing theinsurgents. Shaping people’s allegiances, perceptions, attitudes, etc. Collect and analyzeintelligence.

Role of local leaders: Shape peoples attitudes, allegiances, perceptions, etc. Expressthe core grievances, and act as a bridge between the common people and politicians.

Role of police: Enforce the law, making it difficult for citizen groups to either engagein violence or support violence. Collect and analyze intelligence.

Role of NGOs and Media: Expose the insurgent extortion networks, supportmechanisms to establish peace. Support reconciliation, surrenders, and deter inter-factional killings. Act as a deterrent to state accesses as well.

Counter to Political ProblemsKey points

Same policies can’t be implemented effectively in all the 8 states , self state policies should

be framed considering various constraints.

Only a strong local government can be a good connection

between people and the centre.

The government will have to facilitate an ecosystem where business practices can occur

smoothly and without hassle. Given enough political autonomy over their areas,

most of these peoples would gladly join the modern,

globalized world. Encouraging unemployed to

join the armed forces.

Priority should be given to improve basic civic amenities in the region. A system of work permit should be issued so that the illegal Bangladeshi migrants do not

end up as Indian citizens.

Strengtheningthe Local

Government.

IndividualState

Policies.

StrengtheningLocal

Government

IndividualStatePolicy

Political

Solutions

Individual

State

Policy

Strengthening

Local

Government

Reconstructing the bases of planning for

peace.Autonomous

District Councils

should be empowered.

Energizing the ecosystem

Proper monitoring of

schemes &

Utilization of resources

Transportation

Modern techniques like Slope Engineeringmust be taken into consideration.

In case of less densely thick populationropeways must be installed instead of goingfor road construction.

Maintaining mutual relationships withneighboring countries for developing roadways, rail ways and air ways.

Education

Improving the quality of education byestablishment of research centers andconducting workshops for the promotion ofnew technologies.

Create tighter links between faculty andindustry — e.g., offer faculty trainingopportunities inside the company.

Housing

Modern techniques like ‘waffled’ foundations must be implemented.

Green buildings developed by making use of traditional house building techniques must be considered.

Many notions like ‘The Chang Concept’ implemented in the China, which are very cost friendly will make a lot of difference.

Health

Providing proper sanitation facilities. Providing incentives to those who are

volunteering to conduct medical camps. Promoting biomedical research centers in

the priority areas to train and build uptechnical manpower in the field of health.

Infrastructure

Economic Growth

Forest products

Mineral resources

Agricultural produce

Rubber, Bamboo, gum, many medicinal valued

herbs, honey.

Cardamom, Cinnamon, Assam Tazpatta,

Lakadong Turmeric, Tea, Orange, Beetle-vine,

Vegetable, Floriculture, Pear, Kiwi, Oil palm.

Petroleum, Quartzite, Granite, Uranium, Copper,

Phosphates, Kaolin and China Clay, Dolomite,

Silimanite, Carborandum.

Exposure of product value improves the

exports of NES

Setting up small scale industries and allowing privatization in sales and foreign direct investments in

marketing of this produce.

Drift Irrigation must be encouraged

Privatization and foreign direct investments in marketing

improves exports and imports.

Minerals with high value available in the

region must essentially be brought into the

market.

Industrialization should be encouraged, which tend to make

use of raw materials in an efficient way and provide employment.

Resources Channelizing the products Improving the market value

Tourism Tourism plays an important and efficient role

in economy of any state. Tourism can be improved by providing special

packages to government employees(through LTC) and students.

Exposure of scenic and cultural beauty by media improves tourism.

Additional Benefits The above mentioned solutions help in not only

raising economy of NER but also decreasingunemployment, rising civic amenities.

Media's active role in promoting and exposing NER’sculture can add a fillip to the exchange of culturesbesides economy.

Organizing cultural fests.

Creating a brand valueat national level.

Some more contributing factors

Adoption of corporate working style.

Making a city of NER region a perfect “MODEL METRO”.

Will boost tourism and improve unity amongst the

people.

All these factors will enable these states to get representation in a global level and can contribute to the growth of GDP to a maximum possible extent.

Initiatives should be taken by NGOs & the Media along with the Government to get these plans implemented in the best possible way.

Exposure to rest of the country.

Creates interest among local people for development.Adopting new time zones will

create more employment and increase in standard of living.

Development is like a chain reaction.Initiation is the key to exploit its advantages.

References

The Confederation of Indian Industry CII-2011 census. India Human Development Report 2011. Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Becker, U.S. Marine Corps, ‘Operational Art in

Counterinsurgency Campaign Planning’, Naval War College declassified report, Newport.

David Galula’s Counter-Insurgency Warfare Theory and Practice, Frederick A. Praeger, New York.

“Conflict in Northeast India: Issues, Causes and Concern” By Philipp Heimerdinger & Tshering Chonzom.

“The Changing Face Of North East India”, February 2012 edition of FellowConnect. “The impact of Insurgency activities in Northeast India on Socio-Economic

Development and its solution” by Shri Radha Binod Koijam, former Chief Minister, Manipur

Department of forest ecology diversity and environmental sciences. Slope Engineering for Mountain Roads (Geological Society Engineering Geology Special

Publication) by GJ hearn. “The Chang Concept-Granaries on Raised Platform.” By Rural Volunteers Centre. “Potential Of Drip Irrigation In North East India” By Abhay Kumar Mandal. “The fabulous potention mineral wealth of North East India.” By Dr. S.L. Marbaniang. “Asia’s Strategic Corridors to India.” By Gateway House.