Meghalaya has five governments in the last four years. In Manipur, Radha Binod Koijam Govenrnment did not last long despite having the support of 59 MLAs in a House of 60.

Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir and former Union  minister Chouba Singh blamed the anti-defection law as the root cause of political instability in smaller states, where managing the required one-third MLAs to avoid disqualification is no big deal. Former Manipur chief minister R. K. Dorendra Singh held slightly different opinion. According to him, presence of smaller regional parties  with bases in some pockets makes the states prone to political instability. R. K. Dorendra Singh is of the opinion that only national -level political parties can provide stability in the region.

Blame either the anti-defection law or the emergence of smaller regional parties, the fact remains that that political instability is hampering developmental process and in the process increasing the hardships of the North-Eastern populace. Before joining the BJP, R. K. Dorendra Singh was the chief minister of Manipur twice. On both occasions, his governments were shortlived. On both the occasions, he had to leave unceremoniously. Like Dorendra Singh, all the veteran politicians of the faced the ignominy  of being thrown out of the office midway.

Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir may have set the record as the longest-serving Chief Minister of the State, but his regime never looked stable, especially in the first five years of his nine consecutive years in office till now.

Like S. C. Jamir, veteran Naga leader Rishang Keishing of Manipur even after establishing the record of sort — being the Chief Minister of the State for record number of years, was unceremoniously shown the door by his own partymen in mid-’90s. Though, throughout his long distinguished political career, Rishang Keishing remains in the Congress, on many occasions, his party came in his way and forced him to step down from chief ministership.

The cases of S. C. Jamir or Rishang Keishing should not be treated as exceptions as many other politicians of repute in the North-Eastern region met the same fate. On becoming the chief minister of Assam for the second time in 1991, the only desire of Hiteswar Saikia was to complete the five-year tenure as he was unceremoniously removed by the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, when the historic Assan Accord was signed.

Former Aruchal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang  who on many occasions publicly claimed that he wanted to better the record of West Bengal Chief Minister for holding the office of the chief minister for most number of years at a stretch, was toppled by his own partymen. Quite amazingly, after completing the full tenure in office, former Meghalaya            chief minister Salseng C Marak could only last for few days in his second term.

Thus not only the anti-defection law or the emergence of smaller regional parties should be blamed for political instability in the North-East region. Those, who are holding such opinions are clearly telling half truths. The reason for political instability in the North-East region is far more deep-rooted. Ethnic considerations, back-stabbing by colleagues, indecision on the part of party high command in case of national-level political parties are all contributed largely for such a typical situation in the North-East and made it prone to pilitical instability.

Former Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla once commented angrily that throughout his tenure as the chief minister of the State, he had to waste most of his energies to keep  his detractors away, who enjoyed the  blessings of some party leaders in Delhi. Lal Thanhawla  causticly remarked that those Delhi-based leaders never tried to know the ground realities of the State and the standings of such persons among the masses.

O. Joy Singh, president of the oldest regional party in the North-East region Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) couple of months back at a press conference in Delhi alleged  that national-level political parties  had always worked against the interest of the North-Eastern states and for their narrow political gains always injected instability overlooking national  interest.

Neither Lal Thanhawla nor O. Joy was exaggerating. If  states like Assam and Nagaland could not be benefitted despite having two very good administrators in Hiteswar Saikia and S. C. Jamir as their chief ministers, the Congress party high command should  own the responsibilities for the failure. Hiteswar Saikia, between 1991-96, was so busy in keeping his detractors at bay that he barely could manage time to oversee the State administration.

From the very first day of assuming office, Hiteswar Saikia had to employ all his political and administrative skills to save his chair. When on a single day, the ULFA kidnapped 18 persons from all over the State including some ONGC officials, the then petroleum minister B. Shankaranand reportedly over reacted and asked Tarun Gogoi to take over as the chief minister of the State. Thankfully, Mr. Gogoi turned down the offer and thus saved the State from drifting into political instability.

Again, even after Hiteswar Saikia managed to corner the militants to some extent, his detractors headed by Matang Singh, Swarup Upadhaya, Kirip Chaliha and others, were not satisfied. They demanded his head. But how unwise was their move can be ascertained from this fact that the so-called detractors could not name any one as Hiteswar Saikia’s alternative. The detractors all of whom were Congressmen put pressure on the party to bring the State under President’s rule, knowing fully well that it would only benefit their political opponents.

Same was the case with S. C. Jamir. His detractors, led by Ching wang Koniyak, Imchalemba and others, even submitted a memorandum to the then Union home minister S. B. Chavan against Mr. Jamir alleging anti-national activities. Fortunately, both P. V. Narasimha Rao and S. B. Chavan supported Mr. Jamir at that time and prevented the State from drifting into political instability. However, more than the support of the party high command, it was the departure of Imchalemba from the detractors’ rank, citing ethnic reasons, saved the day for Mr. Jamir.

But Rishang Keishing was not as lucky as S. C. Jamir.  He was removed unceremoniously from the post of chief minister by his own partymen, who gave the call that Manipur should be ruled by  Meiteis, the majority community in the State, and not by Nagas, who are in minority in Manipur.

Strangely, the same demand was raised by various valley-based and Meitei-dominated insurgent outfits. Though it is yet to be proved whether the insurgents forced the Meitei politicians to  raise the demand or not, the fact is that the demand completely destroyed the social fabric of the State. And today, as a direct fall-out of such a partial demand, Manipur, which set many examples about how to maintain communal harmony including having a Muslim as its chief minister in the ’60s. got totally divided on ethnic lines. The Meitei politicians  who spearheaded ‘Oust Rishang’ campaign chose to ignore the fact that the Naga leader also voted in favour of preserving territorial integrity of Manipur and always remained consistent in his opposition to the demand of the creation of Greater Nagaland.

North Eastern Council records notable achievements
A brief study of its functioning

Due to imposition of fresh cuts every year during the last four  years, it was difficult to make a meaningful blueprint on planning, project management and implementation of schemes. In spite of this, the NEC recorded considerable achievements in various sectors, a brief study of which is as follows

Power sector:
Doyang (HEP) (3x25=75 mw) in Nagaland was completed and commissioned. Commercial operation has also started. Rokhia gas based thermal project (2x8=16 mw) in Tripura has also been completed and commissioned. Ranganadi HEP (3x135=405 mw) in Arunachal Pradesh is expected to be commissioned by end of March 2002. Synchronisation of the engine was successfully completed on 28/1/2002. Baramura gas-based thermal project 21 mw scheduled to be completed in September 2002. Ranganadi Transmission lines executed through the Power Grid Corporation of India has been completed.

Transport and Communication sector:
Depending upon the relative importance of the road, the specifications have been changed. Fresh target date of completion were fixed and the liability for completion was revised and updated. Based on these figures, the road-wise fund requirement and prioritisation was finalised.

Out of 32 ongoing road projects of 5th five year Plan to the 7th five year Plan. In addition five road projects are being completed except for few bridges.

As a result of the streamlining of the road projects and implementation strategy, the spill-over liabilities of the ongoing road projects have been reduced.

Out of 19 road projects approved for the 9th Plan, EFC approval was obtained for 12 road projects. Work was started in all these 12 roads, out of which Lowerpoa-Vanghmun road has been completed. Two other roads viz. Kohima-Bokajan road and Zamuang-Hriphaw road (Mizoram portion of Assam - Mizoram inter-state road are being completed within May 2002.

Phase-1 of Guwahati International Airport, Jorhat, Tezpur, Silchar and Imphal airports have been completed. Lilabari Airport is expected to be completed by March 2002. In addition, arrival terminal building at Agartala airport has been completed and commissioned.

Science and Technology sector:
(i) North East Space Applications Centre (NE-SAC) has been established in collaboration with Department of Space and ISRO where 12 DRS for Satelite Communication covering eight North-Eastern states headquarters have been installed in addition to various other facilities for application of Remote Sensing Technology.

(ii) Computer Education in schools has been extended to cover 405 schools including current year’s target. It is expected that 1500 students will benefit from this programme.

(iii) Computer training centre for school teachers has been established at St. Anthony’s College, Shillong.

Industries, Banking & Tourism:
(i) Under Entrepreneurship Development Programme, about 500 unemployed youths have been trained, out of whom about 150 entrepreneurship have set up small enterprises of their own.

(ii) Under the Handloom and Handicraft sector, 30 clusters of 50 artisans each were taken up for training in improved designing in the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and National Institute for Fashion Technology.

(iii) The North East Fabric motifs were brought to the National consciousness through the fashion show in Delhi in January 2000.

(iv) The latex centrifusing factory and Crepe Mills at Takmachera, Tripura, the second Centrifusing has already been installed.

(v) A centre for processing and product development is in the process of being established.

(vi) The integrated project for Muga Development in Assam and Meghalaya is expected to be completed by March 2003.

(vii) For Techno-Economic Development, NEC has provided Rs. 20 crore to NEDFi as corpus fund.

(viii) To attract investment into the NER, NEC has assisted NEDFi  to set up data bank.

Health sector:
(i) The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal 150 bedded ward block, radiotherapy block with 30 beds, 50 bedded psychiatric block, casualty block with 30 beds, Gymkhana-cum-Recreation centre during 2001-2002, civil works for construction of hospital kitchen, incinerator, lift for 150 bedded ward block have been completed. This institute is connected with high speed dedicated VSAT system for internet connectivity to NIC network. The institute has 19 clinical departments with 58 seats in PG courses and 100 seats for MBBS course with a bed capacity of 881. At present there are 44 PG degree seats in 15 different disciplines, 6 PG diploma seats in two disciplines in addition to 100 seats in MBBS course.

(ii) The Regional Institute of Paramedical & Nursing (RIPAN) in Aizawl: Phase-II of RIPAN project was approved. Recognition for D.Pharm from Pharmacy Council of India was received. The institute imparts the following courses: a) B.Sc Nursing, b) Diploma courses in X-Ray technology, ECG technology, Opthalmic assistant technology, MIT and D. Pharm with total intake capacity of 180 students drawing from the seven North-Eastern states. Administrative building, academic building and boys’ hostel have been completed. D. Pharmacy building is expected to be completed soon.

(iii) The LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur was taken over by the NEC in pursuance of  the Supreme Court order for conversion into a 500 bedded capacity mental hospital on the model of Nimhans. A Bangalore master plan has been prepared along with revised staffing pattern.

(iv) Regional Dental College, Guwahati: Rs. 400 lakh have been provided for creating infrastructure like building for academic activities and hostels. The college has intake capacity of 35 seats in BDS courses and two seats in two disciplines in MDS courses.

(v) Regional College of Nursing, Guwahati: Rs. 419 lakh are provided for creating infrastructure for starting of M.Sc (Nursing) course. The college has an intake of 30 students in basic B. Sc (Nursing) and 20 in condensed B.Sc (Nursing) course.

(vi) Dr. J. K. Saikia Homeopathic Medical College, Jorhat: Rs. 310 lakh are provided for creating infrastructure for a 35 bedded hospital building, girls hostel and dissection hall along with support for revenue component. The college has an intake of 40 students.

(vii) Government Ayurvedic College, Guwahati has an intake of 60 students in BAMS course. The college is supported for creating infrastructure like new hospital, a rassala and laboratory and a 60 seated girls hostel.

(viii) Establishment of regional institute of TB and respiratory diseases centre at A. M. C. Dibrugarh. Rs. 325 lakh are provided for creating infrastructure for the main institute building and staff quarters.

Support to Guwahati Medical College, Guwahati: Rs. 300 lakh are provided for creation of an orthopaedic and trauma centre, neonatalogy wing, oncology wing and modern laboratory services.

Manpower development sector:
(i) Construction of 100 bedded girls hostel in the Delhi University is completed.

(ii) Construction of 140 seats capacity boys hostel in the Delhi University is expected to be completed by July 2002.

(iii) Under fellowship/academic training substantial number of in-service personnel were given orientation training for up-gradation of skills. More than 700 persons have been trained under miscellaneous training programme.

(iv) Over 1874 students have been given financial support to pursue higher professional courses in various technical lines.

(v) About 252 sports organisations/associations have been given support for promotion of sports and youth affairs. The   North-East hockey team was given training in Australia, England, etc., for professional skill development under the guidance of Indian Hockey Federation. Irrigation, Flood Control and Watershed Management sector:

(vi) Implementation of anti-erosion project NH 44 at Lowerpoa against erosion of river Longai, Karimganj districts. Assam and anti-erosion at Chunpura Bazar area against Lohit, Tinsukia district - Assam, control of Gainadi river to protect rail land road communication in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have been completed.

(vii) Survey and investigations of 5 HEP at Tuivawl and Tuirini rivers in Mizoram are in progress. They are expected to be completed by June 2002.

Survey and investigation for control of Jadol river in Assam, Irang HEP in Manipur, diversion of Chakpi river of Loktak Lake and Kundil irrigation project in Arunachal Pradesh are expected to be completed by March 2002.

The regional Jiri Irrigation project in Manipur and Assam have been completed. Model study of Brahmaputra and Jadol river are making good progress.

Agri and Allied sector:
(i) Documentation of various medicinal plants and other study reports indicating the rich bio-diversity and the potential for exploitation of medicinal and aromatic plants have been successfully carried out through the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).

(ii) Under the community bio-diversity conservation project, a model pilot project in 32 villages in the North-Eastern states was taken up to seek community participation in the planning and implementation of conservation of bio-diversity of the region.

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