Current problem

Agricultural development

Reason for Selecting Problem

Agriculture provides livelihood to 70% of the regions population However, the region is lagging in agricultural development contrary to the national ethos . Green revolution has not yet reached to the north eastern states. Even though northeast has huge tourism potential yet Tourism in north east region does not figure among top 10 states off India in terms of tourism. The North Eastern states occupy 8% of Indias geographical area but contribute to only 2.3% of the countrys GDP. Industrialisation in northeast could be a platform to tap the vast market of ASEAN countries. The unemployment rate of the North-eastern region represents one of the highest rates of unemployment in the country, with an unemployment rate close to 12%, against the national average of 7.7%. The rail network in the North East form only 3.7% of the national rail network and poor road network. The rail connectivity even after 65 years of Independence is a dream for north eastern states. North East shares land border with five countries but its contribution to national exports is less than 0.004%. Out of Indias export volume of about $254.4 billion, the Northeasts share is only about $0.01 billion. At current trends it is predicted that in the decade of 2011-2021 there will be only 2.6 million jobs for 17 million job seekers in the North Eastern Region. The dream of developed north east can not be fulfilled on imported human resources it must need to include its local talent. The regions average literacy rate stands at 79.64% vs. the national average of 74.04% according to the 2011 census Yet there is need to take the literates to next higher level of competence higher drop out rates and lack of facilities available for higher education shows a dismal figure. The Institute of Conflict Management estimates that 5283 people have been killed due to insurgency related events in the North-East since 2005. A development without peace is neither desired nor possible. Economic as well as social loss is irreparable .

Lack of Tourism Investment/Industrialisation

Unemployment

Physical infrastructure Border Trade and export

Skill Development Education

Insurgency

Agriculture
1.Using IT and communication as a tool to enhance agricultural development. 2.Rejuvenating Agricultural universities. 3.Flower business with cooperative facility and introduction of e-commerce through PPP mode.

1. IT can ensure better adoption of advanced agricultural practices throughout northeast region . 2. More research can be conducted on local problems to provide solution. 4. With the help of cooperative the flower business can boom like Amul.

Tourism
1. Expedite peace process. 2. Integrated Marketing tour packages should be designed. 3. Initiate Tourism and training courses 4.Conduct film festivals and sports meet.

1. Development board with will give thrust to the tourism which will be a gateway to national integration . 2. A Peaceful environment combined with coordinated and planned itinerary will give fillip to hospitality sector and generate employment.

Industrialization/Investment
1. Establish handloom cooperative. 2. Government can attract investment if government guarantees to underwrite them. 3. Declare north eastern states as EPZ with special tax incentives. 4. Establish industry based on raw material available in plenty(Bamboo, Rubber, Petro-chemical etc).

1. Handloom cooperative with e commerce will work like a business entity. 2. Assurance of compensation in case of security failure will incentivize investment. 3. EPZ will boost export in the region and help to improve the condition of NE.

Physical Infrastructure
1. Development of rail quadrilateral. 2. Develop rail route to neighboring countries. 3. Develop revised regional perspective plan with more involvement of NHAI with international linkages. 4. Construction of more rubberized roads. 5.Implement air taxi transportation.

1. Rail Quadrilateral will enhance connectivity as well as boarder trade. 2. More involvement of NHAI to create national and international linkage will improve trade and other aspects. 3. Rubberized road will reduce maintenance cost. 4. Air taxi for rapid and emergency accessibility in hilly area.

Border Trade and Export

1. Inter ministerial task force to be set up to review North east border and inter country trade issues. 2. Single window tax policy for border trade. 3. Review of the items under trade agreements. 4. Strategic roads to border areas as well as Integrated check post and boarder trade point needs to be developed. 5. Trade in rupee should be encouraged.

1. An inter ministerial task force will negotiate trade issues. 2. Single window tax policy will result in rapid goods transition. 3. Review of items will curb smuggling. 4. A manufacturing industry will flourish on locally availably raw material also bring foreign currency .5. Proper route and more check points will insure safety and security of the region. 6. Trade in Rupee will boost Indian export industry.

Insurgency
1. Through negotiations and a spirit of sacrifice. 2.Adoptation of Prevention rather than cure policy. 3. Create stake-holders not surrogates. 4. Attempt reconciliation not just buy time. 5. Split work but comprehensive settlement works better. 6.Humanise military operation improve intelligence. 7. Give up ethnicity as the policy basis in the north east.

1.This can reduce the blood shed and a amiable path resolving the core problem can be found 2.Going behind the root cause of insurgency and creation of conducive atmosphere to overcome it can create positivity 3. People with deep sense of responsibility and morality can always associate themselves with the situation and consequences of it, rather than treating the problem as third person

Skill Development
1.Corporate should allocate quarter of total amount of CSR to N-E Region. 2. Building capacities and competencies in critical sectors in the region.

1.CSR fund will boost development activities in the region. 2. This will increase employment and involvement of locals in industries set up. 3. Institutes with intension to impart excellence will catalyze the development of the area and locals.

Education
1.Mutual distrust between Industry & Academia needs to be replaced with a win-win partner ship. 2. Updating technologies and the syllabus at regular intervals. 3. Rejuvenating technical education in the region.

1.Locals with industry specific skills can be developed with ready absorption. 2.Exposure to recent technologies will increase excellence. 3. Level of education will come to par with country.

Agriculture

Boosting telecom infrastructure and then providing mobile phones and though UID card. The mobile numbers will be registered with block authorities who will provide useful information like rates of agricultural commodities in nearby markets, new agricultural methods, weather information in their local languages. Opening of agricultural universities should be done with partnership with corporate who will be given priority in procurement of agricultural goods based on their contribution to agricultural education. The local youth should be assured of placement in either local industries or government agencies to attract more students. The universities should be developed with particular mandate to provide solutions to regional problems. The horticulture business can be an integral part of universities curriculum keeping in mind huge potential of the region. The perfume and related horticulture industries will get boost by following zero taxation policy for an initial periods of 10 years. The farmers in turn should be assured of necessary help from the industries. Each block should have a vast agricultural area cultivated completely by experts which would act as a motivation for local farmers.

Tourism

We need to market unique biological diversities of north east like Jattinga hills. The integrated marketing package should be developed keeping in mind accessibility, infrastructural development as well as financial viability. The tour packages offering more number of states should be made eligible for government concession on tax. Airlines offering services to interior areas will be offered rebate in government taxes.3.A negotiations with insurgent groups with proclamation that tourist will not be harmed irrespective of the speed of peace process. Tourist will be provided particular dress to maintain their identity. 4.The tour packages must include visit to the country side in partnership with local communities to help them rear the fruits of tourism policy. 5.Exemption in income tax for people visiting north east. This loss in tax to the union government can be adjusted with lower allocation of funds (tourism funds) to the NE states.

Skill Development
Companies investing in north east will open mandatory ITI centres to impart working technical skills among north east students. The land acquisition will be done district council for such purposes. The initial focus must be on the states having high literacy rates like Mizoram. Visits to universities a mandatory part of curriculum for universities in the north east these countries will include Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam Laos.

Industrialization /Investment :
Developing rubber based polymer industries in Tripura to tap its vast raw material potential. Initial incentives in the form of government initiated land acquisition followed by lenient tax regime till plants attain breakeven point. Government may acquire equity share in the proposed company to instil confidence in the investors. Development of petrochemical and petroleum industry in Nagaland. The understanding with insurgent groups need to be converted into public proclamation of not harming and harassing industry to attract new investors. A legislation to reserve 50% of the seats for ethnic locals in non technical position will win the support of people. Pulp and paper industry would be developed in Mizoram based on bamboo industry. The industries would start in collaboration with PSUs like HPCL in partnership with private industries. The bamboo farmers would deal directly with companies through Gram Panchayat without any other intermediaries. The great uniqueness of North East handlooms will be promoted by forming cooperative. The cooperative will work on the lines of Amul where their they will be the owners not workers of the company. The cooperative can take birth by taking representation from district council as well as state government .The headquarter of the cooperative will be based in most regions to remove any doubts on.

Physical Infrastructure

Formation of Rail quadrilateral with Dibrugarh , Lawngtlai, Agartala and William nagar .this quadrilateral would encompass all capital cities and take railways to the remotest and border towns of the states. The project would be combined with rail budget, general budget as well as defense budget underscoring Strategic importance of North East .The contribution of each stakeholders can be ironed out by proper mechanism. The rail project can also be financed by loan from ADB,IMF,WB. A trans Asian railway starting from different states and passing through Myanmar will connect India to Thailand, Vietnam , Laos. The stakeholders include IR led consortium of private cum public investors who would execute rail projects in Myanmar with active collaboration of Myanmar government. The rail route could be initially dedicated as freight corridors and upon confidence building could be opened for public transport also hub at Guwahati will be developed to fetch passenger to distant places through air taxis. Collaboration of central agencies along with local contractors to expedite Expansion of road building particularly NHs. Tender to be given to more than one agencies whose performance would enable them for further award of such tenders.

Border Trade

Mode of payment should be rupees to enable a large pool of traders from both sides to participate in legal trade. Also the stability of rupees against other currency gives hope to this plan. The vastly skewed trade against indo Myanmar border would encourage exports of Indian goods as they are much in demand. For this the government of India should engage Myanmar government to move on this idea. The border trade along Bangladesh border can get uplift by developing Tripura as a rubber hub industry along with development of paper and pulp industry in Mizoram. The farmers, government and corporate should work in tandem to ensure the success of the proposal. The multiple taxation at borders should be done away with introduction of single payment window saving time and money. The leading banks of both the nations can sign an MOU to facilitate the idea. Development of petrochemical industry in Nagaland by involving insurgent groups, state representatives guided by central authorities would open gateway for trade.

Education

Need to involve missionaries in states having higher Christian population to open up more schools, the curriculum in schools must include their traditional culture, their knowledge of ancient medicines and it must be imparted in English language as most of the tribes have their specific language. The stakeholders include district council, state government and center. The teachers from mainland areas need to be incentivised to take up teaching assignment. This will include priority in promotion, better perks and payments. A family who produces graduate needs to be awarded in form of nominal monetary gains like a fixed monthly stipend from age of 55 or so. Schemes for funding higher education from most backward regions of like Nagaland Manipur Arunachal will be borne by central, state and district council. Higher education will include post metric education for north east

Insurgency

Formation of district council with representation based on population. The stakeholders involves state government, central government and insurgent groups who will supervise the monitoring at ground level. The district councils need to work more with financial and legislative independence. However the overriding powers to the legislation will be vested in the governor to avoid secessionist attitude. A new state reorganisation team needs to be reconstituted to look into genuine demands of new state creation. The creation of new states must be based on expert recommendation rather than prolonged agitation by some groups. Flexibility in execution of AFSPA and special powers of armed forces must be made to show the defensive approach of the acts rather than an instrument of oppression. The committee for such recommendation should include GDOC, district council officers and state governments. Diplomatic and international support for the neighbouring countries must be made who act against insurgent leaders. However these leaders must be those who constantly profess their allegiance to violence to achieve success. The current policy of using intelligence to divide the insurgent groups needs to be taken to another level against who are acting against the interest of nation .

 Agriculture
1. The solution will increase per capita income , productivity, export , solve local north east problems, increase number of research scholars and increase awareness of farmers with respect to market price modern technology. 2. Solution is scalable to whole of the north east with the help of modern technology, research institution, metrological department, market consulting firms. 3. The solution implemented is self sustainable and of continued interest to farmers. 4. A target oriented monitoring can be implemented with the help of district authorities.

Tourism
1. 2. 3. 4.

Inflow of tourists will help us to measure the impact. The solution is scalable through out all the north eastern states. Solution is self sustainable as inflow of tourists will lead to its development by itself. Monitoring can be done by a centralized north eastern tourism council.

Industrialization / Investment

1. Impact of industrialization/investment can be measured by the increase in contribution to the GDP of India. 2. The solution is scalable and sustainable in whole north eastern state provided peace is maintained and government underwrites the security. 3. North eastern chamber of commerce and industry can monitor the industrial/investment.

Physical Infrastructure

1. Impact can be measured by amelioration in socioeconomic well being of people. 2. Control of insurgency will determine the sustainability and scalability of solution. 3. Ministry of rail, transport will monitor the impact in their respective areas.

Border Trade
1. Impact can be measured by net of import and export. 2. Amicable relationship with neighbouring countries will determine the sustainability and scalability of the solution. 3. Ministerial task force can monitor the border trade and its impact.

Insurgency

1. Impact can be measured by less number of insurgents incidents. 2. Governments peace talk will determine the sustainability. 3. Fulfilment of promises will lead to a scalable solution. 4. Home ministry can monitor the impact of solution.

Skill Development

1. Amelioration in socioeconomic condition of the people of north eastern states besides measuring the number of skill development centres and people getting trained can be a criteria to measure the impact of the solution. 2. Scalability and sustainability will depend upon proper utilization of fund , restoration of peace and receptiveness of north-eastern people to skill development. 3. Institutions like NABARD , lead bank ,ministry of SMSE can monitor the skill development and ministry of HRD can monitor the impact of solution.

Education

1. Number of graduate, tech graduates, research scholars besides increase in number of quality universities. 2. Scalability and sustainability will depend upon proper implementation of solution, utilization of funds and peace measures. 3. HRD can be the monitoring body.

Agriculture:

Collaboration with software companies under CSR norms, provide mobile sets to the farmer with regular updates on cost and improved technique & installation of more towers on PPP mode, more incentives and promotional benefits for research scholars working in NER taking up local problem, better cold storage facilities in collaboration of FCI and international cold storage experts. Scarcity of trained IT professionals to train the locals, lack of network coverage in all the regions of North east, scarcity of faculties in universities, lack of transport and lack of confidence in entrepreneurs because of law and order issues decelerate agricultural development.

Tourism:
Opening of hotel management colleges on PPP modes, invitation to international & Indian chain of hotels to open their branch with promise of tax incentives, more and better roadways, railways and airways facilities, Exhaustive advertisement of NER across the world involving renowned figure like done by Amitabh Bachchan for Gujarat, law and order issues must be dealt with heavy hand to infuse confidence amongst tourist. updating the world regarding the resources those can be tapped existing in the region, so that companies come to invest, giving carbon credits to industries so that we dont over-exploit or pollute this region.

Investment/industrialisation
Lack of proper transportation, law and order, deforestation and over exploitation of resources are challenges for industrialisation.

Physical infrastructure
Best way to make robust physical infrastructure is by consulting international experts on this, if we can have roads across Alpes, what are we then waiting for in north east? Constant maintenance must be compulsory under the direct vision of NHAI, local civil engineers can be sent to foreign universities to collect and utilise knowledge. Hilly terrain, law and order issues, lack of local skilled professionals and lack of maintenance mechanism are the major hurdles.

Border Trade and export

Means of inter-country transportation must be improved, illegal trade from neighbouring countries must be handled with iron fist, improving our economy so that neighbouring countries accept our currency and forex will be saved. Lack of means of transportation, law and order, Illegal trade and urge for dollars in the neighbouring countries make border trade and export difficult.

Skill Development

International collaborations with foreign universities, opening of more CTTC format institutes, ready acceptance by local industries, scholarship to meritious students, encouragement to entrepreneurship with tax and technical support incentives. Lack of IT knowledge in locals, lack of too many training institutes of international standard, less industrial intake ushers non-confidence in skill development.

Education

Inclusion of mother tongue in curriculum, adequate appointment of teachers, proper infrastructure, international and national excursions to know that world exist outside NER, reducing dropouts by providing counselling, scholarships Higher number of school dropouts, scarce and distanced population and settlement & lack of proper transportation systems.

Reference
Global Research Methodology Journal, V0l-II, 7th issue, Nov-Dec-Jan, 2012-13. www.pwc.com/in

www.kkhsou.i n/mai n/management/nor th_east.html

Kpmg.co.in www.i n.boel l .or g/web/52- 259.html

http://www.ictinagriculture.org/sourcebook/module-1-introduction-ictagricultural-development
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7232114.stm http://www.nzsif.co.nz/Social-Infrastructure/What-is-Social-Infrastructure/ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-1031/guwahati/34836392_1_rsetis-rural-development-districts http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Assam/Solution-to-NEinsurgency-possible-through-negotiations/Article1-633904.aspx