Northeast India is the easternmost part of the country comprising eight states- Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The region shares long international porous borders with several countries. North East states are unique in diverse flora and fauna and manifest distinctive social and ethno cultural identities. At the same time, North East states exhibit common problems ranging from ethnic conflicts, insurgencies, secessionist movements, illegal taxation and extortions, drug trafficking, poor transportation and communication and illegal immigration issues.
The region experiences prolonged ethno-political turmoil, which imprints on the migration and brain drain from this region. The exodus of North East people to mainland Indian states and other countries implies lack of employment opportunities and lack of security to their lives. Not only is the laborers' migration but students’ migration is also conspicuous, which exhibits the weakness of the educational system. The decades-long ethno-political unrest and the continuous enforcement of Armed Forces Special Power Act of 1958, infamously known as AFSPA for so many years caused predicaments of economic developments, employment opportunities, and challenges to the fundamental human rights and social well-being, resulting in people being forced to move out to other parts of India especially to metro cities.
The main push factor leading to migration of Northeast people is due to lack of educational infrastructures with limited choices of education, followed by lack of employment opportunities in the region which are badly affected by socio-political unrest and communal conflict among the heterogeneous communities of the region. One of the worst affected states in the region is the State of Manipur. Even today the State is embroiled in ethnic conflict for the last more than 17 months.
More than 60,000 people have been rendered homeless in addition to the loss of more than three hundred precious lives so far. This ethnic conflict has adversely affected the labour class and small time traders. Their livelihood is at stake with almost the entire economic system of the State coming to a standstill. As a result a large number of both educated and uneducated ones move out of the State in huge numbers looking out for jobs and security, besides educational opportunities. This is one of the classic examples of a dysfunctional State. If such problems prevalent in the region are not promptly addressed to by the Government, the situation can go from bad to worse and has the potential to go beyond control with international ramifications.
Revival of North East Economy: A Panacea to National Integration
It is very interesting and important to note that at the time of India’s independence the per capita economy of North East Region (NER) (then, Assam, Manipur and Tripura) was above the national average (North East Region Vision 2020). In fact, North East scholars noted that per capita income in undivided Assam was 4% above the national average in 1947. Per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) of North East Region declined from national average of 89.29% to 79% around 2008-9 (Singh and Yumnam 2020). Growth rate in the region gradually went below national and stagnated in the last 70 years. This means that the management of the economic system in the region has got some serious lapses. So, what could be the probable reasons behind this? Have the people of the region been deprived of their rights to freedom of economic equality with the rest of the country? Is the respective State Governments responsible for this sorry state of affairs or the Central Government is to be blamed or both? Are there any other reasons besides the above two questions? These are some of the perplexing questions that have been lingering in the minds of the researchers and to common men alike in the North East. Some of the popular or stereotypical reasons for the underdevelopment of the North East region are discussed below.
How did this happen?
People attribute North East Region’s underdevelopment to war in the border, the closure of international border for trade and commerce, armed insurgency including drug menace. But these are not the sufficient causes. Like the North East Region, many states in Northern India, for instance, Punjab also faced the same problems of border wars, realignment/closure of international border and armed conflict. Notwithstanding all these challenges, Punjab today is one of the richest states in India feeding the country with its grains and driving the nations’ economy with its industries.
Whereas, in the case of the North East Region, since independence the economy and growth rate of the Region has gradually stagnated. Among others, top-down incoherent planning and policy making processes for the North East Region turned the prosperous region into a backward region. Today the region is heavily dependent on New Delhi for regular states’ expenditures and other developmental works. These state governments seek to get developmental packages from the Centre through a provision known as the Special Category States devised by the Planning Commission in the 6th Five-Year Plan (1980-85). Making matters worse for the region, brain drain of young people freshly out of schools and colleges go for further studies and career pursuit outside the region in terms of hundreds of thousands every year. This brain drain deeply hurts the region’s economy further. For all these small states where the majority of the people are dependent on the primary sectors this is a huge socio-economic burden.
Following are some of the reasons for the stagnation of economy in Northeast:
- Initial negligence of the region as if this particular part of the country was a kind of buffer zone has led to widespread believe that the people of the region have been deprived of their rights especially economics privileges;
- Disruption of borders, population influx from across the borders, unharnessed resources, enclave economy, monopoly of traders, elitist approach of governance, infrastructure deficiencies;
- Prolonged insurgency problems;
- Indifferent Government i.e. both Centre and the State Governments (North East Region Vision 2020, Atul Sharma cited in Yumnam and Singh 2020).
How to Revive the North East Region?
Good Governance is the need of the hour. The last more than 70 years have been marked by mis-governance, nepotism, corruption and dynastic politics. Because of all these reasons, the country, particularly North East Region, has seen a substantial decline in the per capita income throughout these years. The North Eastern Region has become a begging region instead of being the producing states. To reverse this trend, North East India needs a Government which actually governs in the true sense of the term. The following urgent measures are proposed to reverse the trend:
- Make North East Region shine and prosper again by reversing the underdevelopment policies and processes of the last 70 years by taking up pro-development initiatives;
- Make North East Region a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for industry, education, science & technology, trade and commerce and social justice;
- Make North East Region an effective pivotal link to Act East Policy by setting up Institute of International Conflict Studies, ASEAN Museum, South East Asian University, Rani Gaidinliu International Institute of Highland Culture & Traditional Studies, Annual International Trade Fair in North East, etc.
- Help India emerge as a Great Power to secure the neighbourhood and the world with international peace and security.
- Develop Pristine Forest Zones for Eco-Tourism, Central Biotech Lab for Traditional Herbs, Medicines, etc.
Building Infrastructures, Roads and Communications in North East: A Way Forward to Fast Tract Development.
One of the ways to expedite the process of development in the North East is the building of infrastructures, roads and communications. Lack of infrastructures and transport bottle neck are found to be the main obstacles inter alia for the region to remain backward and isolated from the rest of the country for all these years. This problem has a deep implication and has direct and indirect bearing to the fragile North East society. Many scholars and policy makers have pointed out that economic poverty and insecurity of the people have accentuated the problem of insurgencies and ethnic conflicts in North East India. Economic poverty and unemployment may not be the only reasons for the malaise in the region but certainly is one of the main reasons for all the frequent upheavals the region has witnessed since independence.
It is observed that the last decade has witnessed a big push in infrastructures development especially in roads and communications. The NHIDCL has invested substantial funds for National Highways development in the region. The total length of National Highways constructed in North Eastern Region during the last ten years is 9,984 km with an expenditure to the tune of Rs.1,07,504 crore while 265 number of National Highway projects are under implementation at a cost of Rs.1,18,894 crore with a total length of 5,055 km. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways pays special attention to the development of National Highways in the Region and 10% of the total budget is earmarked for the North East Region (PIB, New Delhi, 25 July, 2024). The Central Government has also sanctioned huge amounts of money under PMGSY but many of these funds have not been utilized judiciously by the respective state governments. However, it has been observed that such initiatives by the Central Government and its agencies are not sufficient to develop this particular part of the country. Therefore, it is imperative on the part of the researchers and policy makers to find out the real reasons why the region should remain backward till now even after more than 70 years of independence and propose the measures to be taken up on priority basis to ensure that the Region does not lag behind other parts of the country to make Viksit Bharat by 2047 which the Government of India has set the goal for itself.
The Language factor for National Integration
Learning Hindi is essential for all Indian citizens as it is the primary means of communication in the country used in government, education, cinema, media, business and other places of works in many parts of India. Knowledge of Hindi allows for a deeper understanding and integration into Indian culture and society. Language is one of the main bonds of relationship amongst people and it connects people of different backgrounds and societies.
Undoubtedly, Hindi is the main Lingua Franca for the country except for the Southern states and North East India. Therefore, it is strongly felt that sufficient efforts should be taken to make Hindi more popular in the North East and the language should be taught from the primary level to the college level by offering incentives such as scholarship and other facilities. However, the policy makers must not be seen to be imposing the language on the people but formulate a policy in such a manner that people themselves would love to learn Hindi as they love to learn English language even though it is not their mother tongue.
In the last few years many North East people have been flocking the metro cities of India especially Delhi & NCR. Many of them have come to Delhi and other metropolitan cities for safety and in search of jobs for their livelihood. Therefore, there is a strong need to impart Hindi language for these people on the ground by setting up Hindi Coaching Institutes and Centres for North East people to teach basic Hindi and advanced Hindi for serious learners so that these people can have the opportunities to learn the language and find themselves more equipped to be in the job markets and culturally integrated through language which in turn will go a long way in inculcating the spirit of national integration.
Racial discrimination against North East people: An awkward battle to be overcome for greater national interest.
According to the Oxford Dictionary discrimination means the unfair treatment of one or more groups of people compared to others. Discrimination can be based on many factors, including race, sex, religion, disability or nationality. It is the inability or refusal to recognize the rights, needs, dignity, or value of particular races or geographical origins. Even though Article 15 clauses (1) and (2) of the Indian Constitution clearly prohibit discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, the people from North East strongly feel that in many ways they have been discriminated against. This assertion may be disputed legally on the face value but there is also a dictum which says, “Peoples’ voice may sometimes go wrong but underline with truth”. Perhaps, that was the reason why the Government of India set up the Bezbaruah Committee in 2014. The Bezbaruah Committee was basically set up;
1. To examine the various kinds of concerns regarding the security of the people hailing from North Eastern States.
2. To examine the causes behind the attacks or violence against the people from North Eastern States.
3. To suggest measures to be taken by the government to address these concerns.
4. To suggest legal remedies to address concerns including legal aspects of these issues.
Some of the major recommendations include;
1. Creating awareness about the North East People.
2. Quick, strong and fair actions by law enforcing agencies.
3. Institutional guidance, help, information, counselling and orientation.
4. Legal or legislative measures to support the efforts.
Out of the many recommendations of Bezbaruah Committee, immediate actions on some the following measures mentioned below will go a long way in addressing the grievances of North East people:
1. A new stringent and quick enforceable law should be promulgated to take care of incidents which are racial in nature or the relevant Section 153 of the erstwhile IPC, now renamed as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) should be amended.
2. Strengthen the Law Enforcing Agencies by equipping them with relevant power and skill to deal with such communally sensitive cases.
3. Take concrete short and long term measures to create awareness about the North East people. For long time measure, educating future generations on the history and culture of North East people by inserting suitable chapters in NCERT Syllabus and Universities curriculum would go a long way in sensitizing the ethos, culture, contributions of freedom fighters from North East in the national struggle for India’s freedom and the ethnic composition of the North East people and their strategic geopolitical mapping or location in India’s sensitive eastern borders.
4. For short time measure, the Government can encourage cultural exchange programs in different parts of the country wherein North East cultural heritages are highlighted prominently. Media houses, film makers and social media can also play a big role in creating awareness about the North East people. Concerted and compulsory efforts may be made by the concerned Ministries to encourage the wide publicity of the North East people about their culture, ethos and their unique place in the nation.
Political Representatives in Indian Parliament vis-à-vis North East India
Over and above all the measures mentioned in the aforesaid paragraphs for the comprehensive development of North East, it is felt that substantial increase of political representatives in both Houses of Parliament will empower the North East people and bring them on board in framing the policies and national building processes which in turn will create a sense of participation in the democratic exercise of the country and inculcate the spirit of nationalism and national integration.
According to Article 81 of the Indian Constitution, Lok Sabha has 552 Members (530 from states, 20 from Union Territories & 2 members from the Anglo Indian Community to be nominated by the President). Unfortunately, North East India has only 25 MPs to represent in the House of the people (Lok Sabha). This is due to the sheer small size of the population which accounts for hardly around 45 million or 3.37% of the total population of the country. Therefore, these 25 MPs in Lok Sabha and that too belonging to different political parties could hardly make any meaningful impact in a 552 strong Member House and that is where the fault lies.
In this regard, it is pertinent to note that out of the total number of 790 (approximately) districts in the country; North East Region has around 130 districts. It is proposed that there should be at least 100 Members of Parliament from North East in the Lok Sabha even if every district is not strictly represented by an MP in the House of the people since the proposed expanded Parliament is expected to have nearly 800 seats in the Lok Sabha after freezing of the seats is relaxed by 2026.
Even if 100 MPs are earmarked for Northeast as a whole, it would hardly be almost the same number of MPs from Uttar Pradesh which has 80 seats now. In the proposed expanded Parliament, Uttar Pradesh alone is likely to have more than 100 MPs. In the Upper House i.e. Rajya Sabha too, each of the states whether big or small should have equal representatives like in the United States of America where they have two representatives each in the Senate irrespective of the size of the states and their respective populations. That way, there will be check and balance in the federal system where sheer brute majoritarianism will not rescind the true spirit of democracy and federalism in India can be safeguarded.
Thus, one of the main measures to bring about long term justice and comprehensive development for Northeast people would be by having more representatives in Parliament and being in a position to wield power in the decision making processes of the nation. By then, New Delhi and the rest of India will be compelled to take the Northeast more seriously in every aspect of governance and development, as peace and security in the region directly impact the entire nation considering the long porous international border of 5182 km.
With more representatives in Parliament, it is hoped that the era of begging grants and favour from the Central Government will come to an end and real democracy will flourish throughout the country including Northeast India where every head is held high irrespective of their caste, creed, race, etc. and can live in peace with equal dignity and freedom. This will certainly instil in them the sense of belongingness to the nation. Perhaps, this is one the best ways to bring Northeast people from isolation and alienation to national integration.
(The views expressed are personal)
