EMN
DIMAPUR, APRIL 28
The central government’s talk of bridging the gap between the northeast states with the rest of the country –in terms of infrastructure and human resource – should be accompanied by proportionate financial funding, and not just mere slogans.
This reasoning was delivered by Neiphiu Rio, the Lok Sabha member from Nagaland, during the discussion hour of the Parliament session on Wednesday last. Rio told the House that “the fund allocation should not be stagnant and it should not be declining.”
He explained why, in the first place, the DoNER ministry was created by the central government. “We have to see why DoNER Ministry was established. It was set up under an Act of Parliament in 1971 and it was established as a statutory body to endeavor rapid economic development of the region.
“However, over the years the NEC budget is virtually declining and the DoNER budget is also stagnant at Rs 2400 crore for the eight states including Sikkim. So, it is a matter of concern that while we talk about the infrastructure development and of bringing these states at par with national level, I think the fund allocation should not be stagnant and it should not be declining.”
Rio pointed out that the NEC budgets over a period of ten 5-year plans, as regards approval and shortfall, the shortfall percentage is 28.24 per cent. “Now in the 11th Five Year Plan also, the shortfall percentage is 56.07 per cent and in 12th Five Year Plan, the shortfall remains 53.80 per cent. I think it is a serious concern and therefore, I want to appeal that the Ministry of DoNER and NEC are taken good care,” said Rio.
He cited two avenues in which the central government can actually invest at in the region. First, coal mining. “If you look at the Ministry of Coal, the budget provision was kept at Rs 30 crore but the utilization was zero. In the year 2016-17, the budget provision has been brought down to Rs 16 Crore. Now this is a mineral rich area but small amount of money has not been utilized and the budget has been reduced also. It is a matter of concern.”
The next avenue, he suggested, was in the banking sector. “I also want to mention that national average of CD (credit deposit) ratio is 70 percent but for northeast (region), it is below 40 per cent. Let me cite one example. The Bharatiya Mahila Bank is a women bank. It was implemented through an Act of Parliament all over the country except Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
“Only four states were left out. I would request the honourable Minister and also the Minister of
State for Finance, that it should cover the whole country. Why have you left out the four states in the northeast? The Bharatiya Mahila Bank should be opened in these four states also which have been left out. The CD money was Rs 1000 Crore. Since women are more sincere and committed, they have made a profit of Rs.30 Crores in two years. Therefore, I feel that we should encourage it and initially we should put in more money. Mere slogans will not do,” Rio reminded.
He also told the House that Nagaland, by boycotting two assembly elections, in 1952 and 1957, had ended up missing out on two plan periods. “Therefore, while the northeast (region) remains as very backward and less developed, Nagaland remains more backward.
“There is no medical college, no engineering college and no national or regional institute worth the name and that is why all further educations are pursued outside the State. Like the northeastern states, only 2 per cent of the land area is connected to the mainland and 98 per cent lies along the international borders. This is a very peculiar feature.”
