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Ad nauseam we have heard about New Delhi not attaching proper importance to the North - Eastern region. As a matter of fact, hardly a day passes when the political leaders as well as the underground forces active in the region don’t accuse the Indian Government of its step - motherly treatment towards the North - East .

On the other hand, the Centre never misses any opportunity to describe these charges as ‘baseless’. According to the Centre, the question of neglecting the North-East does not arise, as it attaches top most importance to bringing this region at par with other mainland states. If despite best of efforts, the fruits of development are not reaching the people, it claims, that the political leaders and the militants should be blamed, instead the Government.

The Centre-baiters say that due to neglect, the people of North-Eastern region are now disillusioned with the New Delhi. They argue that since Independence New Delhi has been casual while dealing with this remote, geographically isolated, but strategically important region, and that is why secessionism is on the rise in the North-East.

They further argue that infrastructure in terms of power, rail and road facilities, telecommunication, banking, etc. is one of the poorest in the country. According to them, except for petroleum and tea, industrialisation of the region has virtually vanished by default while surpluses generated from oil and tea industries are largely invested outside the region.

Pointing to the failure of the Centre in taming the mighty Brahmaputra even after 50 yeras of Independence, they say that the lacklustre approach has successfully curtailed the potential for capital formation within the region. They fell that New Delhi could win many hearts in the North-East by controlling the flood menace as the economy of this region continues to be predominantly agricultural and crops in most parts of the region are ravaged by floods with unfailing regularity.

The problem the region is facing today has been further compounded with the introduction of new economic policy, the people who oppose the ‘claims of New Delhi’ feel. According to them the basic problem of the new economic policy is that it has placed the backward states of North-Eastern region at par with a so-called backward district in industrialised Maharashtra or Gujarat. As a result all new industries would tend to graviate towards the more developed states with better infrastucture and purchasing power. Moreover, in determining the health and viability of an industrial unit in remote and backward Nagaland, the criterion of negative net worth is applied with the same severity as to a unit in Bombay and Bangalore. Thus identical rehabilitation packages for units in Nagaland and Bombay will be offered. Obviously, the Nagaland unit cannot be revived and has to be closed down.

Another allegation which used to be levelled against New Delhi is that the Centre never keeps its promises. After 14 years, the ‘Assam Accord’ has not yet been implemented in its true letter and spirit. The fate of much hyped ‘Bodo Accord’, is not different. Till date, the Government has not been able to demarcate the boundary of the proposed Bodoland Autonomus Council (BAC). In Nagaland, over the years, the Centre has entered into many agreements, but the solution of the ‘Naga problem’ is not in sight. The people of Tripura and Mizoram are equally sore like the Nagas or Bodos over the non-implementation of the ‘Tripura Accord’, and ‘Mizo Accord’.

Besides, they feel that New Delhi has not done enoungh to prevent illegal migration. The Centre had never taken any bold initiatives to check infiltration across the border, rather it often play with the sentiments of the local populace, who are virtually swamped by the outsiders, which has deprived them with their livelihood and land.

But New Delhi feels that to always blame the Centre for lack of economic growth and development in the North - East is an attempt to divert the attention of the local populace from the failures of the political and the underground leaders of this region. While the political leaders of the region have always preferred power overlooking the needs of the people of this region, the activities of the underground forces have always proved a major deterrent for the region’s development.

According to a study conducted by the Centre few years ago absence of basic infrastructure in the North-East is not as big an impediment to growth as is generally made out to be. The team in its report further commented that a careful look at various pointers like power, transport system, communication, literacy rate, human resources, etc. to judge the infrastructural facilities available in the region presents a quite different picture.

In support of their claim the team which prepared the report pointed out that the North-Eastern region ( including Sikkim ) which has 7.98% area and 3.78% of the total population of the country, is far above than most of the other states of the country in terms of per unit of population and per unit of the geographical area served by national highways, airways, inland water-ways and communication.

For example, the North - Eastern region has 13.1% of the total national highways i.e. 4411 kms. out of 33666 kms. for the country. The region has 10 airports. The telecommunication network has been made automatic during 1992 - 93. Modern electronic equipments are operating for 87% of the network. The per capita consumption of power is gradually increasing.

Literacy rates of this region are a match to the national level literacy rates. Mizoram has nearly achieved 100% literacy. There are 31 institutions of higher learning ( excluding the degree colleges of general education ) in the region. Besides almost all the villages of the North - East region excepting the small and distant ones in difficult areas, have been supplied with drinking water and electricity. Moreover, most villages having more than 500 people have at least one school.

The study team felt that despite having all these basic infrastructural facilities the region is still considered backward due to the season that most of these facilities are under - utilised. This is why economic growth or development could not follow a sustainable growth path in this region notwithstanding the abundance of natural resources.

Another allegation which Government of India uses to vehemently deny often is that it does not provide sufficient funds for the development of the region. It feels that before levelling the allegation the states of the region should speak about the funds, these receive every year from the Centre. The annual plan outlay of Assam for the year 1996 - 97 was nearly Rs. 1300 crore, in which the Centre’s share was more than Rs. 1100 crore. Similarly, all other North-Eastren states have also got more than 90% of funds as Central assistance for their plan outlay for the year 1996 -97.

Besides, New Delhi also meets the non - plan expenditure of these states. During 1995 - 96 financial year , Assam got nearly Rs. 437 crore as non - plan allocation , while Nagaland receives around Rs.250 crore . It may be noted here that the Tenth Finance Commission has granted more than Rs. 3036 crore for the region in this subhead. The mandarins at New Delhi will politely remind you that apart fom receiving so much financial assistance from the Centre , the North - Eastern states have been given an economic package of more that Rs. 7000 crore by former prime minister H.D. Devegowda in October 1996 . New Delhi alleges that the financial health of this region clearly proves that the funds allocated by the Centre for years have been misused by the ruling elites of the states . There is every possibility that a major chunk of these funds has made its way to the underground forces. With these words, we are leaving the stage for our readers.