The comment made by former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi regarding the Centres' attitude towards the northeastern region should act as an eye opener to those who never miss any opportunity to blame New Delhi for every thing that ails the northeast.

Speaking at a seminar on investment opportunities in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Mithi said that the Northeast in recent years has been receiving care and attention of the centre. In support of his claim the CM said that the creation of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI) and an exclusive ministry for development of the northeast proved the Centres' seriousness in ushering a new era development in the region.

Its' a pity while the need of the hour is introspection, some people are still continuing with their old habits of attacking the centre for the diseases the region is suffering from. They never realise that the State Govts. of the region have also a role to play in removing backwardness, containing insurgency, etc. The State Govts' role is not limited to paying salaries to its employees, diverting the funds meant for development.

When asked how we propose to change the economic scenario of Manipur if entrusted with the responsibility, former Union Minister T. Chaoba Singh replied that he would enforce a blanket ban on Govt. appointments. So that development process in the State does not suffer due to lack of funds. He rued the fact that huge salary bill of the State Govt. employees had virtually ruined any scope of development in the State.

Not only Manipur, every Northeastern State is suffering from the same disease. And the fact remains that all the appointments were not necessary. Political considerations played a bigger role than necessity in most of the appointments. As a result, funds meant for development, security purposes, were all diverted for meeting the commitment made to the Govt. employees. Its a good sign that of late the State Govts. of the region have identified the evil and initiated some steps to curtail Govt. expenditure on unproductive expenses. Assam Govt. has already announced cuts in M.L.As. salary. Few more hard steps to rein the expenditure affecting the Govt. employees are in the pipe line. Other States too are contemplating to take hard measures. The problems of the NE region cannot be solved by the Centre alone. The State Govts. also will have to play its part. Those who believe that pumping more money to the region will solve the problem are living in a fool's paradise. The solution lies in the effective management of funds, not in more funds. 

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