Changing times and new challenges

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]s there a new world order in place? One where the ‘lesser’ nations will move into centre stage and occupy space after decades of being overshadowed by developed and super power nations? Nations that have been stumbling with growth development partly by its burgeoning population problems and internal political strife. The much hyped US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi certainly emits such a hope that the time indeed is here for India to take its place amongst the developed nations of the world. The very personal promise that PM Modi made to the NRI’s in Madison Square Garden, New York that he will ‘never do anything to let them down’ speaks volumes of the intent of Modi. He has gone to the US determined and confident that he will not come back empty handed. India is moving rapidly and with Modi at the helm of affairs, governance is being shaken to its core. He has secured the confidence of his immediate neighbours save Pakistan … he made a diplomatic coup with his first visit to Bhutan, Nepal, met with the Japanese Premier and the Chinese President within a span of 100 days and a little more in office and now some might want to add the visit to the United States, as his biggest gamble yet.While all seemingly appears to be going well for India, it is at these times that smaller states like Nagaland must see how they are poised to take advantage of the changing economic and political equations between nations? Are Nagas going to remain contend to feeding off the scraps or leftovers from the banquet table that is being prepared with business deals and co operative on strategic partnerships or are governments and political leaders of the state ready now to remove their blinkers from their eyes. PM Modi has just sought access for Indian companies to American markets. He said he has asked President Obama to open means of access for Indian companies in US markets at a joint press interaction after their summit-level talks in Washington DC on Tuesday. What share can states in the northeast expect in these trade- offs? Another major area of co- operation is in the hospitality sector .Starwood Hotels has now decided to move its global office to India in March 2015. According to a news report by IANS the US-based hospitality major Starwood Hotels and Resorts Tuesday said, it will relocate its global headquarters to India in March 2015 for expanding its operations across the country. This translated means the growth of the hospitality sector, an area that the government of Nagaland has for the past decade tried to put into effect but without much avail. The interest of US companies will mean that when they relocate to India, there will be renewed focus on the need of travel infrastructure with travel demand fueled by economic growth and rise in entrepreneurship and investment. The growth of business will give rise to travel and travel will give rise for infrastructure to be in place. Alarm bells should be ringing down the corridors of power in Nagaland for fear of being left behind. The change on the anvil does not sound loud like it will be gradual but surge forth. It is time to plant one’s feet on the ground firmly or get washed off in the flood of sweeping changes. Its time to wake up and get our act together! Get the roads and bridges and drains to functional levels and government offices and institutions to be venues of inspiration and motivation. Provide ‘power’ literally and metaphorically to the people for small and medium scale enterprises to function. When the highways come up and the aeroplanes land and take off across Indian skies … if we don’t get our act together we could well be left sweeping the streets and staring at the belly of the planes which fly overhead and the underbelly of the trucks on the highways and flyovers on the horizon in the near future. As a global hotel and leisure firm with 1,200 properties in 100 countries and 181,400 employees, Starwood runs about 40 hotels across India and is building another 36 hotels as part of its expansion plans in the sub-continent. “Demand for hotels in India is growing as its economy expands and international visitation increases. As our franchise agreements are generating growth, we plan to expand our footprint through new-build and conversions across luxury, upscale and mid-market segments in gateway cities and resort destinations,” said Starwood president Simon Turner. Where can Nagaland and the northeastern states of India pitch itself in the opening up of India as a tourist destination.Nagaland has one major event in it calendar the “Hornbill Festival” annually in December. The festival has come a long way as an event … but how has the Naga public contributed to making the event their own ... not just a display of a way of life that once was but an extension of values of honesty, discipline and valor held in high esteem. It is only a matter of time before the winds of change become a storm under the leadership of PM Modi. In the words of one of our own, who retired after 37 years of dedicated service occupying the highest government seat as Chief Secretary, Banuo Z Jamir today said , ‘hard work, can’t kill you’. It is an idiom which all of us need to be relearn all over again. Only this time, time will not wait for those unwilling to learn.