Look East Policy and North-East of India

The Northeast is geopolitically situated between mainland India and Southeast Asia. As a single geographical entity Northeast of India comprises of seven states – Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura plus Sikkim. The region comprises of highly undulating hilly terrains, covering 263,179 sq km which is about 8% of the total geographical area of the country.The region is one of the landlocked regions of South Asia. About 4500 km i.e. 98% of its border is with five different countries of South Asia–Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh. No other region of the Indian union share common border with so many different countries. The region is connected to the Indian mainland by a small corridor called ‘chicken neck’ through the tenuous 22 km Siliguri corridor.

 Although, the region is amply blessed with diverse natural resources, rich bio-diversity and oil and natural gas, enormous hydro-electricity potentials among others could not utilised mainly due to geopolitical conditions of the region among several other factors. The lack of connectivity and access to mainstream markets has perhaps been the main reason for under utilisation of resources and resource-industry linkages. This has resulted in the long standing underdevelopment of the region. Under development in turn breeds insurgency and insurgency retards development. This is what the hard truth behind the rampant under development of this region. This article addresses the core issues of underdevelopment in the northeast of India and further analyses how Look East Policy would help in having synergise effects on reducing poverty, generating employment and overcoming backwardness in the region.

Look East Policy – a foreign economic liberalisation policy of India towards South East Asia started in 1991 during the Prime Ministership of Shri. P.V.Narasimha Rao is believed to offer immense developmental benefits to India especially to its northeastern part.  It is a strategic policy on part of India to forge deeper and closer economic relations with its eastern neighbours. The essential philosophy behind the policy of look east can be visualised from the statement of Dr. Manmohan Singh when he says, ‘India’s Look East Policy is not merely an external economic policy; rather it is a significant sign post of strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and her place in the evolving global economic order.’The policy was pursued with the objectives of reaping untapped benefits of trade with East Asian countries and developing India’s North East as a hub of economic activities by linking it to the dynamic East and South East Asian countries.

Northeast of India is a landlocked region. The partition of India in 1947 caused great disservice to the region by geopolitically isolating the region from the mainland India. It resulted in most regulated Northeast region, sensitive borders and most exposed territory. Most importantly, the partition also caused severance of inland water; road and railway communication through erstwhile Bengal and access to the Chittagong port was lost. Further the Chinese takeover of Tibet and virtual closer of border with Burma added to the isolation of the region. The loss of connectivity and market access as a result of the partition sets its economy back by at least quarter a century. If compared the economic profile of northeast before with after partition, it is quite clear that the economy was very sound before partition.    

In addition, the region is also beset with disadvantages like insurgency, unemployment, non-optimization of economic capability, perceived distance from the country’s political and economic epicenters etc. It is here the Look East Policy provides a window of opportunities for this impoverished part of India. Fortunately, the region happens to be the natural bridge between East and South East Asia and India. Often described as the Gateway to South-East Asia, Northeast of India has been offered with immense economic opportunities as a result of its integration with the transnational neighbours. In fact Look East Policy envisages the Northeast region not as a periphery of India, but as the centre of a thriving and integrated economic space linking two dynamic regions with a network of highways, railways, pipelines, transmission lines crisscrossing the region. Currently, the North-East engages in border trade, mainly illegal, with its neighbouring countries. But the Look East Policy aims to break the existing barriers of border trade and facilitate a smooth, legal trade route option.

Several measures have been undertaken in the aegis of the “Look East” policy to uplift North East India. First amongst these measures has been a proposal to build the “Asian Highway” and “Asian Railway Link” and “Natural Gas” pipeline. The proposed geographical niche for the Asian Highway is the Imphal (India)-Tamu (Myanmar) road going on to Kalemyo railway onto Mandalay in Myanmar. Four lane Asian Highway is also sought between New Delhi-Singapore linked to Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Phen, Bangkok, Vientiane, Yangon, Mandalay, Kalemyo, Tamu, Dhaka, and Kolkata. Road construction has already started from Tamu to Kalemyo, Myanmar. There is also a plan to construct a 1,360km Trilateral Highway from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand) through Bagan (Myanmar).  Moreh in Manipur is seen as the strategic key to India’s “Look East” policy.  

The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit  Transport Facility aimed at establishing connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern side and Sittwe port in Myanmar through a riverine transport corridor and road in Mizoram is envisaged as providing an alternate trade route to the North East. For purposes of Burmese gas transfer through North East, India is planning to invest $100 million in improving the old colonial Burmese port of Sittwe on the west Burmese coast. It is hoped that with deeper ties between these countries, the largely illegal flow of goods through Moreh (Manipur) into other North Eastern states from South East Asia will become legalized.  In this context, it is arguably possible for the North Eastern states to develop individual economic relations with, for instance, Thailand or Vietnam. This sort of a two way model will enable to create a truly federal system of democracy in India.

The region could also benefit immensely from water sharing. The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and the Kunming Initiative have been undertaken by India and China respectively to reach out to ASEAN. The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation was launched by India on November 10, 2000 at Vientiane, Laos to boost cooperation in tourism, culture and education. The signatories were India, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. These countries also agreed to undertake joint transportation projects including the trans-Asian highway. This initiative is India’s most significant venture in the region. The best part about the Mekong initiative is that it does have the potential for direct flights between Guwahati- Ho Chi Minh City-Imphal-Hanoi. For China, the Kunming Initiative linking the Chinese province of Yunnan with Myanmar, India’s North Eastern states, and Thailand holds promise of greater economic interaction. It is also argued that the North East India must be allowed to revive its old historical, cultural and traditional ties with South East Asia, taking a clue from other significant trans-border linkages like that of  Basque, Catalonia, and Ireland, where the European Union allows “transnational politics of recognition”, which empowers them from a marginalized existence in their own states.  

Evolution of Agartala city

1838: Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya set up the 'Old Haveli' at the other side of the river Howrah. The area used to be identified up to Kunjaban tilla at the north Jagaharimura and Rashman tilla to the south,the British India at the west and the river Howrah at the east. Due to frequent invasion of the Kukis and also to keep easy communication with the British Bengal, the Maharaja started the process of shifting of the Capital from Old Haveli to New Haveli (present Agartala) in the year 1849 A.D. The next Maharaja Iswar Chandra Manikya on assuming throne on 1 February 1850 A.D constructed a Palace thereon.

1862: Bir Chandra Manikya started the urbanization of the New Haveli (Agartala)

1871: The Agartala Municipality was established within area of 3 sq. miles having population 875 only by a royal proclamation. Mr. A.W.S. Power, the 1st British Political Agent for Tipperch was appointed as the Chairman of the Agartala Municipality in the year.

1872 A.D. As suggested by the 2nd Political Agent Capt. W.L. Samwell, Maharaja becomes the President of the Municipal Committee. And on behalf of the Maharaja Bir Chandra manikya, Prince Radhakishore took an active role in supervising the Municipal works.

1874: Municipal regulations were introduced with provision of taxation. The main source of income was from water tax levied on tanks and water bodies, realised fine amount of judiciary and state grant. The main task was to look after the development and maintenance of roads /paths.,drainage, bridges and markets and sanitation. During the period, the Akhaura Khal was excavated for drainage.

1897: Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya re-organised the entire administration and the officer-in-charge of the Political Department was entrusted with the Municipal affairs. During the period,. The work of Census, birth and death registration, regular sweeping and cleaning of roads and drains used to be mades

1978: Agartala Municipality was divided into 10 wards for the purpose of election of commissioners for the municipality by enlarging the municipal area to 10.94 km2. The second general municipal election was held in June 1978, Shri Amal Dasgupta was elected chairman of the 10 members elected municipal board. The municipality was further extended to an area of 15.81 sq.k.m and was divided in to 13 wards. The 3rd general municipal election was held in July 1983.

1988 to 1996: The municipality was placed under government nominated administrator. 26 October 1994: The Tripura Municipal Act.1994 was passed as per 74th amendment of the Constitution of India, The 4th general Municipal election was held in December, 1995, and municipal council of 17 elected members and 3 nominated members was formed. After the 5th general municipal election held in the month of December 2000 another municipal council with 17 elected members and 3 nominated members came to power. The municipal area was 16.012 sq. k.m. with population of 1,89,998 as per 2001 census.

2004: The Agartala Municipal Council has further been extended from 16.012 km2 to 62.02 km2 in 2004 with a population of 368493 persons. The total GAPA area covers 92 km2.

2014: Agartala Municipal council turns in Municipal Corporation.

AMC turns Corporation, 10 new municipal councils start functioning :-

The Agartala Municipal Council, northeast India's oldest municipal body, on the day of 42nd Tripura statehood day on January 21, 2014 turned into a corporation.

On the 42nd statehood day the up-gradation of Agartala Municipal Council into a municipal corporation took effect while 10 Nagar Panchayats including Dharmanagar, Kailasahar, Ambassa, Khowai, Teliamura, Mohanpur, Bishalgarh, Melaghar, Udaipur and Belonia in the sub-divisional towns were promoted as municipal councils.

Official sources said that on the occasion of the statehood day on Tuesday, these urban local bodies have been upgraded, including newer areas to give better services to the people of the state.

On the 42nd statehood day, two new Nagar Panchayats Panisagar and Jirania have also started functioning.

With the up gradation of municipal councils, nagar panchayats, now Tripura have 10 municipal councils, nine nagar panchayats and one municipal corporation.

It may be recalled here that the under the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states on Jan 21, 1972.

With a population of around five lakh, the Agartala Municipal Corporation would look after the urban areas of 76 sq km.

Agartala is the second largest city in northeast India after Guwahati in Assam.

The Agartala Municipality was constituted in 1871 during the reign of erstwhile king, Maharaja Chandra Manikya (1862-96).

The first British Political Agent, A.W.B. Power was appointed for princely ruled Tripura in 1871 and become the chairman of the Agartala Municipality.

Tripura merged with the Indian Union Oct 15, 1949.

The state’s Urban Development department sources added that Dr Prafullajit Sinha and Samar Chakraborty, the incumbent chairman and vice-chairman of the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC), would be the first Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, respectively.

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDONER)

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region  (MDONER) is a Government of India ministry, established in September 2001, which functions as the nodal Department of the Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-economic development of the eight States of Northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It acts as a facilitator between the Central Ministries/ Departments and the State Governments of the North Eastern Region including Sikkim in the economic development including removal of infrastructural bottlenecks, provision of basic minimum services, creating an environment for private investment and to remove impediments to lasting peace and security in the North Eastern Region including, Sikkim.

The current, Minister of Development of North Eastern Region is Vijay Kumar Singh (Minister of state, Independent Charge) since May 2014.

Functions and Responsibilities

The Department of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was created in 2001 and was accorded the status of a full fledged ministry on May 2004. The ministry is mainly concerned with the creation of infrastructure for economic development of North-Eastern region.

Main activities/functions of the DoNER.

·                    Non Lapsible Central Pool of Resources(NLCPR)

·                    North Eastern Council (NEC)

·                    Coordination with the Central Ministries and the State Govts. of the NE states.

·                    Capacity Building

·                    Advocacy and Publicity

·                    International Cooperation

·                    Enterprises of the Department

Organisations

The ministry has following organisations functioning under it:

·                    North Eastern Council (NEC)

·                    North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd.(NEDFi)

·                    North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)

·                    The Sikkim Mining Corporation Limited. (SMC)

·                    North Eastern Handlooms and Handicrafts Development Corporation (NEHHDC)

North Eastern Council

In 1971, the Indian Central government set up the North Eastern Council by an act of parliament. The seven States of the North East India viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, are the members of the council, with their chief ministers and governors representing them. The headquarters of the council is situated in Shillong, and functions under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (Government of India).

The Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which the north-eastern states have a common interest and advise the Central Government as to the action to be taken on any such matter. This was done so as to take care of economic and social planning of these states (since they were lagging from other states) and to take care of inter-state disputes.

The council has to its credit a lot of achievements mostly in electricity and education sector. The council has funded projects producing around 250 MW of electricity to reduce the region's dependency on West Bengal and Odisha. The council has also taken up major highway and bridge building projects and fund many engineering and medical colleges.

The funding of council mainly lies with the central government with small portions contributed by the state governments as well. The NEC act has been amended in 2002 to add Sikkim and restructure it as the regional planning body for the North Eastern Region.

Background

1.1 The North Eastern Region (NER) comprises eight States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. The development concerns of these States are pursued through their respective Five Year and Annual Plans as well as those of the Union Ministries and Central Agencies. In addition, projects of inter-State nature in the Region are funded through by the North-Eastern Council (NEC), which has a separate additional budget for the purpose.

1.2 The North East has essentially depended on Central funding for development works. All the States in the NER are Special Category States whose Development Plans are centrally financed on the basis of 90% Grant and 10% Loan. Further, the Special Category States are allowed to use up to 20% of the Central Assistance for Non-plan expenditure.

1.3 Despite the fact that the per-capita plan outlays of the NE States have, over a period of time, been considerably higher than the national average, the States still rank significantly below the national average in so far as the development of infrastructure is concerned. In terms of per-capita State Domestic Product or other development indices, such as Power, Length of Roads or Hospital Beds, the North-East ranks well below the national average. Though the literacy levels are higher than the national average, vocational training and entrepreneurial skills remain weak areas.

1.4 As the benefits of economic development have yet to steadily accrue to the Region, efforts have been initiated in this direction in the recent past through various supportive measures. In October 1996, the then Prime Minister announced "New Initiatives for North Eastern Region" and stipulated that at least 10% of the Budget(s) of the Central Ministries/Department will be earmarked for the development of North Eastern States. A preliminary exercise undertaken by the Planning Commission in consultation with the various Ministries/Department revealed that the expenditure on the North East by some Union Ministries during 1997-98 fell short of the stipulated 10% of the GBS for that year. Planning Commission thereafter explored the possibility of creating a Central Pool of Resources for the North East out of the unspent amount of stipulated 10% of GBS to support infrastructure development projects in the North East.

1.5 A proposal was mooted by the Planning Commission to the Cabinet for constitution of such a Central Pool of Resources. The Cabinet approved the approach, in principle, on 15 December 1997, observing that the creation of the Central Resources Pool would require Parliamentary approval and would have to await constitution of the Twelfth Lok Sabha. The Central Pool therefore, could not be constituted in 1997-98.

1.6 Following the Lok Sabha elections earlier in the year 1998, the matter relating to creation of the Central Pool of Resources was pursued in consultation with the Ministry of Finance. The Prime Minister convened a Meeting of the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States on 8 May 1998 when, inter alia, it was indicated that a Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources for the funding of specific projects in these States would be created. The relevant paragraph from the Prime Minister's speech reads as under:

"We are examining the feasibility of creating a Central Pool of Resources (CPR) which, in turn, will give critical additional support for an accelerated implementation of projects in the entire region. This pool, created from the unspent balance of the allocated expenditure of 10% of the budgets of the concerned Central Ministries, could well amount to around Rs.1500 crore annually."

1.7 This commitment of the Government was also reflected in the Speech of the Finance Minister while presenting the Union Budget for the year, 1998-99. The relevant paragraphs from the Budget Speech are reproduced below:

"Furthermore, it has been decided that a non-lapsable Central Resources Pool will be created for deposit of funds from all Ministries where the plan expenditure on the North Eastern Region is less than 10 per cent of the total plan allocation of the Ministry. The difference between 10 per cent of the allocation and the actual expenditure incurred on the North Eastern Region will be transferred to the Central Pool, which will be used for funding specific programmes for economic and social upliftment of the North Eastern States."

1.8 Further, as part of the budget proposals 1998-99, it was announced that: "It has been decided that all Central Ministries/Departments should earmark at least 10% of their budget for specific programme of development in the North Eastern Region. To the extent of shortfall in the utilization of this provision by any Ministry/Department (except some exempted ones) according to this norm, the amount would be transferred to a new Reserve Fund in the Public Account titled 'Central Resource Pool for development of North Eastern Region'. Presently, a token provision of Rs.1 crore is being made for transfer to the fund. In Budget 1997-98, such short provision was assessed to be about Rs.1,600 crore. A similar exercise for analyzing the provisions in Central Plan specific to the North Eastern Region in Budget 1998-99 would be carried out and the Resources Pool would be enhanced at Revised Estimates stage to the extent of shortfall from the 10% norm."

1.9 The Union Budget 1998-99 was voted and passed by Parliament. With that, the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources was constituted with approval of Parliament.

Objectives: 1.10 In the conference of Governors and Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States and Sikkim held in January 2000 at Shillong the Prime Minister stated the objectives of the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources. The relevant paragraph from Prime Minister's Speech is: "My Government has also created a pool of non-lapsable funds for the North-East and Sikkim. This pool, meant for funding development projects in these States, will fill the resource gap in creation of new infrastructure, which is a top priority concern of the Union Government.…" 1.11 The broad objective of the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources scheme is to ensure speedy development of infrastructure in the North Eastern Region by increasing the flow of budgetary financing for new infrastructure projects/schemes in the Region. Both physical and social infrastructure sectors such as Irrigation and Flood Control, Power, Roads and Bridges, Education, Health, Water Supply and Sanitation - are considered for providing support under the Central Pool, with projects in physical infrastructure sector receiving priority. 1.12 Funds from the Central Pool can be released for State sector as well as Central sector projects/schemes. However the funds available under the Central Pool are not meant to supplement the normal Plan programmes either of the State Governments or Union Ministries/ Departments/ Agencies. Institutional arrangement to Administer the NLCPR Funds. 1.13 During the year, the institutional arrangements for administering the Non-lapsable Central Pool has been streamlined. The guidelines to administer the Pool have been revised. The Committee to administer the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources has been reconstituted. The reconstituted Committee is headed by Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and has representation from Ministries of Finance, Home Affairs and Planning Commission. Financial Advisor to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has been included as a member. Representatives of Union Ministry/Departments, whose proposals are to be considered in a particular sitting for funding under NLCPR, are also invited. 1.14 For identification of projects under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources, States are asked to submit, before the beginning of the financial year, a prioritized list of projects with a short write up on each project. The earlier practice of receiving projects throughout the year directly from the various state departments concerned has been stopped. Now the Planning and Development Department of the state concerned is the nodal department for NLCPR and that department is DoNER's interface with all other departments of the state. The priority accorded by the state to the projects in the 'priority list' is only a suggestive and the Committee scrutinizes the projects in the lists in order to identify and finally retain the suitable projects for detailed examination. In examining the priority, the committee is, inter-alia, guided by considerations such as: (a) Projects of economic infrastructure is given priority; (b) In the social sector, priority to drinking water supply and other health and sanitation projects; (c) Projects in Autonomous district Council (VIth Schedule of the Constitution) is given priority; (d) Past performance of a state in implementing projects in the particular sectors to which the projects belong is also considered; (e) The overall utilisation and absorption of funds by a particular state in the past years also guide the overall quantum of projects to be undertaken for that state in a year. 1.15 Detailed Project Report(s) for such retained projects are then prepared by the state concerned. These project proposals are thereafter examined in consultation with the concerned Central Ministry/Department. The recommendations/views, thus received are place before the Committee to administer the Non-Lapsable Central Pool, which considers the proposal and accords approval. 1.16 After approval of the Committee, funds are sanctioned and released by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region on submission of an implementation schedule. Subsequent releases are made only after receipt of Utilisation Certificate of earlier releases.

Chamling set to become longest serving CM

The only politician of India to celebrate silver jubilee as the chief minister breaking the record of late Communist leader Jyoti Basu who is considered longest serving chief minister by holding the post in West Bengal for more than 23 years from June 21,1977 to Nov 5,2000.

The party got majority 55 per cent vote share in multi- corned contest in the state.

State Chief Minister Pawan Chamling won from both Rangang- yangang and Namchi- singhithang Assembly constituencies with huge margin.

The Assembly elections, which were held alongside the Lok Sabha polls, seem to matter more to the people in Sikkim than others.

The SDF also won the lone Lok Sabha seat when its candidate P D Rai defeated main rival Tek Nath Dhakal with approximately 42000 votes. Since the state sends only one member to the lower house due to its low population, so people were more excited about Assembly polls . He Chamling was born on September 22,1950 at Yangang South Sikkim. He joined politics in 1973 and In 1982 he was elected as the President of Yangyang Gram Panchayat at the age of 32 years and three years later he was elected to Sikkim Legislative assembly for the first time in 1985.

He was elected to the Fourth Legislative Assembly from Damthang Constituency securing 96 per cent of votes and was inducted as Minister for Industries, Information and Public Relations from 1989 to 1992.

He formed the Sikkim Democratic Front party on March 4, 1993 with the core principle to uphold democracy, justice, liberty and development aspirations of the people which swept the polls in the 1994 Assembly elections and subsequently led his party to massive victory in the assembly elections held in the year 1999, 2004 , 2009 and 2014.

The party has won Assembly polls five times in a row, and on every occasion the party has won clear and decisive mandate by getting absolute majority in the assembly.

The Chief Minister has set the target making the state poverty- free by 2017 and at present it has the lowest percentage of people below the poverty line ( BPL).

An avid writer and poet, he writes under the pen name Pawan Chamling Kiran.

He has immensely contributed to literary and cultural activities in the Himalyan state and established Nirman Prakashan in the year 1977.

Chamling has received several prestigious awards and honours in various fields, including Chintan Purashkar ( 1987) by Sikkim Sahitya Parishad for the best poem, Thekong Ambassador of Peace ( 2010) by the Pang Lhabsol Committee; Bhanu Puraskar ( 2010) by Sikkim Sahitya Parishad; Leadership and Good Governance Award ( 2009) by the Universal Peace Federation; Doctor of Philosophy( Honoris Cousa 2003) by Sikkim Manipal University.

Man of the Year ( 1998) by Biographical Institute, US; Greenest Chief Minister of India ( 1998) by Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi; Bharat Siromani ( 1996) by Shiromani Foundation, New Delhi ( Presented by the Vice- President of India) for National integration and preservation of democracy in the State are some of the other awards received by Chamling.

Naga People's Front leader TR Zeliang to replace Neiphiu Rio as new Nagaland CM

Senior Naga People's Front (NPF) leader and Minister T.R. Zeliang will be the next Nagaland chief minister replacing Neiphiu Rio, a party leader said Wednesday      the 14^th May, 2014.

They (NPF legislators) have chosen Zeliang as chief minister after Noke Wangnao (public health engineering minister) withdrew himself from the race (for the post of chief minister).

Wangnao's decision will pave way for a smooth transition and will ensure unity of the party to provide a stable government to work towards economic development and achieving permanent peace.

The swearing-in of Zeliang is likely to take place after the formation of the new government at the Centre.

Zeliang, 62, a confidant of Rio, is currently the planning and co-ordination minister in the Rio-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland coalition, comprising the Nationalist Congress Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the JD-(U) and independent legislators.

In the 60-member Nagaland assembly, the NPF has 38 members, the NCP four, the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) have two members each, while there are eight independent legislators. The opposition Congress has eight legislators.

"I am ready to accept to take the responsibility as chief minister to ensure coherence and unity in the NPF in the interest of the state," Zeliang said.

Exuding confidence that Zeliang will provide good governance to all sections of people, Rio promised the NPF and all legislators of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland of his fullest cooperation.

Wangnao said he opted out from the race in the greater interest of the party, the stability of the government and also in the larger interest of the people of the state.

ASSAM

Assam is a state of India in the north-eastern region. Its capital is Dispur, located within the municipal area of Guwahati city. Located south of the eastern Himalayas. Assam comprises the Brahmaputra and the Barak river valleys along with the Karbi Anglong and the North Cachar Hills with an area of 78,438 km². Assam is surrounded by six of the other Seven Sister States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya. Geographically Assam and these states are connected to the rest of India via a narrow strip of land in West Bengal called the Siliguri Corridor or "Chicken's Neck".

Assam shares international borders with Bhutan and Bangladesh. Assam became a part of the British India after the British occupied the region following the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824–1826.

Assam is rich in culture, ethnic groups, languages/dialacts spoken and literature. It is known for Assam tea, large and old petroleum resources (the first oil reserves of India were discovered in Assam in the late 19th century), Assam silk and for its rich biodiversity. Assam has successfully conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction, along with the Pygmy hog, tiger and numerous species of birds, and it provides one of the last wild habitats for the Asian elephant. It is becoming an increasingly popular destination for wildlife tourism, and Kaziranga and Manas are both World Heritage Sites. Assam was also known for its Sal tree forests and forest products, much depleted now. A land of high rainfall, Assam is endowed with lush greenery and the mighty river Brahmaputra, whose tributaries and oxbow lakes provide the region with a unique hydro-geomorphic and aesthetic environment.

In 1947, Assam including the present Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya became a state of the Union of India (princely states, Manipur and Tripura became Group - C provinces) and a district of Assam, Sylhet, chose to join Pakistan.

Geography :-

Assam, dissected hills of the South Indian Plateau system and the Himalayas all around its north, north-east and east.

As the Bramhaputra flows in Assam the climate here is cold and there is rainfall most of the month. Geomorphic studies conclude that the Brahmaputra, the life-line of Assam is an antecedent river, older than the Himalayas. The river with steep gorges and rapids in Arunachal Pradesh entering Assam, becomes a braided river (at times 10 mi/16 km wide) and with tributaries, creates a flood plain. The hills of Karbi Anglong, North Cachar and those in and close to Guwahati (also Khasi-Garo Hills) now eroded and dissected are originally parts of the South Indian Plateau system. In the south, the Barak originating in the Barail Range (Assam-Nagaland border) flows through the Cachar district with a 25–30 miles (40–50 km) wide valley and enters Bangladesh with the name Surma.

Assam has petroleum, natural gas, coal, limestone and other minor minerals such asmagnetic quartzite, kaolin, sillimanites, clay and feldspar. A small quantity of iron ore is available in western districts. Discovered in 1889, all the major petroleum-gas reserves are in Upper parts.

With the "Tropical Monsoon Rainforest Climate", Assam is temperate (summer max. at 95–100 °F or 35–38 °C and winter min. at 43–46 °F or 6–8 °C) and experiences heavy rainfall and high humidity. The climate is characterized by heavy monsoon down pours reducing summer temperatures and affecting foggy nights and mornings in winters, frequent during the afternoons. Spring (Mar–Apr) and Autumn (Sept–Oct) are usually pleasant with moderate rainfall and temperature.

Flora and fauna :-

Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world and consists of tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, riverine grasslands, bamboo orchards and numerous wetland ecosystems; Many are now protected as national parks and reserved forests. The Kaziranga, home of the rare Indian Rhinoceros, and Manas are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Assam. The state is the last refuge for numerous other endangered and threatened species including the White-winged Wood Duck or Deohanh, Bengal Florican, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Red-headed vulture, White-rumped vulture, Greater Adjutant, Jerdon's Babbler, Rufous-necked hornbill, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, Pygmy hog, Gaur, Wild water buffalo, Indian hog deer, Hoolock gibbon, Golden Langur, Capped langur, Barasingha, Ganges river dolphin, Barca snakehead, Ganges shark, Burmese python, Brahminy river turtle, Black pond turtle, Asian forest tortoise, and Assam roofed turtle. Threatened species that are extinct in Assam include the Gharial, a critically endangered fish-eating crocodilian, and the Pink-headed duck (which may be extinct worldwide). For the State Bird, the White-winged Wood Duck, Assam is a globally important area. Assam is also known for orchids. The state has the largest population of the Wild Water Buffalo in the world. The state also has the highest diversity of birds in India with around 820 species. With subspecies the number is as high as 946. The mammal diversity in Assam is also high with around 190 species.

Tea history :-

After discovery of Camellia sinensis (1834) in Assam followed by its tests in 1836–37 in London, the British allowed companies to rent land since 1839. Thereafter tea plantations mushroomed in Eastern Assam, where the soil and the climate were most suitable. Problems with the imported laborers from China and hostilities of native Assamese resulted into migration of forced laborers from central-eastern parts of India. After initial trial and error with planting the Chinese and the Assamese-Chinese hybrid varieties, the planters later accepted the local Camellia assamica as the most suitable one for Assam. By 1850s, the industry started seeing some profits. Industry saw initial growth, when in 1861, investors were allowed to own land in Assam and it saw substantial progress with invention of new technologies and machinery for preparing processed tea during the 1870s. The cost of Assam tea was lowered down many folds and became more competitive than its Chinese variant.

Despite the commercial success, tea laborers continued to be exploited, working and living under poor conditions. Fearful of greater government interference, the tea growers formed the Indian Tea Association in 1888 to lobby to retain the status quo. The organization was very successful in this, and even after India’s independence, conditions of the laborers have improved very little.

Industry :-

Industrial scenario has undergone a vast change in Assam. Apart from tea, petroleum and petrochemicals, other industries in various sectors like paper, fertilizer, cement, coke, lime, sugar, engineering, plastic, steel, printing,  cosmetics,  poultry & dairy products along with handloom and handicraft have thrived in the state. Moreover, with its rich flora and fauna, breathtaking natural beauty, age-old temples and monuments, Assam offers a unique potential for tourism industries for both domestic and foreign market. Assam's proximity to SAARC countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan gives it the investment potential considering the advantage of border trade with theses countries. Border Trade Centre at Sutarkandi in Karimganj district and Mankachar in Dhubri district have been developed to facilitate border trade with Bangladesh. It has been proposed in the 11th five-year plan to set up two more Border Trade Center, one at Ledo connecting China and other at Darrang connecting Bhutan. There are several Land Custom Stations (LCS) in the state bordering Bangladesh and Bhutan to facilitate border trade. The Govt. of India has identified some thrust areas for industrial development of Assam, which are :-

Petroleum and natural gas based industries

Industries based on locally available minerals

Processing of plantation crops

Food processing industries

Agri-Horticulture products

Agri-Horticulture products

Herbal products

Biotech products

Pharmaceuticals

Chemical and Plastic based industries

Export oriented industries

Electronic and IT base industries including services sector

Textiles and sericulture

Engineering industries

Cane and bamboo based industries

Other handicrafts industry

Although, the region in the Eastern pehiphery of India is geographically land locked and is linked to the mainland by a narrow corridor, known as the Siliguri Corridor or the Chicken's Neck; improved transport infrastructure in all the three modes, viz., rail, road and air and also developing urban infrastructure in the cities and towns of Assam are giving a boost to the entire industrial scenario of the state. The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport at Guwahati, although is yet to be fully functional with international flights, was the 12th busiest airport of India in 2012. The cities of Guwahati in the West and Dibrugarh in the East with good rail, road and air connectivity are the two important nerve centres of Assam, to be selected by Asian Development Bank for providing $200 million for improvement of urban infrastructure. There is also a popular demand for introduction of international flights from Dibrugarh airport to South-East Asian destinations. Dibrugarh and Tinsukia are the major industrial districts of Assam. Most of the big industries are situated in and around Dibrugarh district. Dibrugarh is presently one of the 10 richest revenue districts of India. The Brahmaputra suitable for navigation does not possess sufficient infrastructure for international trade and success of such a navigable trade route will be dependent on proper channel maintenance and diplomatic and trade relationships with Bangladesh.

Tourism :-

Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. For the purposes of tourism there are wildlife preserves like the Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (Dibrugarh- Tinsukia), among others. Jokai Botanical Garden (Dibrugarh) the only Natural Botanical Garden in entire North- East India. Cultural and historical destinations also provide opportunities for tourists. Apart from wildlife preserves there are many historical places in the state like Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar of Sivasagar, Kareng Ghar of Garhgaon, Agnigarh of Tezpur, Madan Kamdev archeological site of Kamrup etc. While visiting Madan Kamdev Tourist can also visit in Famous ancient temple Gopeswar Mandir situated in Village Deuduar. Cultural places are mainly great temple of Kamakhya, pilgrimage place Hajo, the great Vaishnava Sattras of Majuli and Barpeta and many more.

Scheduled Tribes :-

There are 23 notified Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Assam with the Bodos (40.9 per cent) making half of the total ST population (around 13 per cent) of the state. The other STs (both plains and hills) include Miri, Karbi, Rabha, Kachari, Lalung, Barman in Cachar, Borokachar, Deori, Hajai, Mech, Dimasa, Hajong, Singhphho, Khampti and Garo, Biate, Khasi, Jaintia, Synteng, Pnar, War, Bhoi, Lyngngam, and Kuki,Chakma, Hmar.

Festivals :-

There are diversified important traditional festivals in Assam. Bihu is the most important and common and celebrated all over Assam. It is the Assamese new year celebrated in April of the Gregorian calendar. Durga Puja is another festival celebrated with great enthusiasm. Muslims celebrate two Eids (Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) with much eagerness all over Assam.

Bihu is a series of three prominent festivals. Primarily a non-religious festival celebrated to mark the seasons and the significant points of a cultivator's life over a yearly cycle. Three Bihus, rongali orbohag, celebrated with the coming of spring and the beginning of the sowing season; kongali or kati, the barren bihu when the fields are lush but the barns are empty; and the bhogali or magh, the thanks giving when the crops have been harvested and the barns are full. Bihu songs and Bihu dance are associated to rongali bihu. The day before the each bihu is known as 'uruka'. The first day of 'rongali bihu' is called 'Goru bihu' (the bihu of the cows), when the cows are taken to the nearby rivers or ponds to be bathed with special care. In recent times the form and nature of celebration has changed with the growth of urban centres.

Bwisagu is one of the popular seasonal festival of the Bodos. Bwisagu start of the new year or age. Baisagu is a Boro word which originated from the word "Baisa" which means year or age, ang "Agu" that means starting or start.

Bushu Dima or simply Bushu is a major harvest festival of the Dimasa people. This festival is celebrated during the end of January. Officially 27 January has been declared as the day of Bushu Dima festival. The Dimasa people celebrate their festival by playing musical instruments- khram (a type of drum), muri (a kind of huge long flute). The people dances to the different tunes called "murithai" and each dance has got its name, the prominent being the "Baidima".

There are three types of Bushu celebrated among the Dimasas Jidap, Surem and Hangsou.

Moreover, there are other important traditional festivals being celebrated every year on different occasions at different places. Many of these are celebrated by different ethno-cultural groups (sub and sister cultures). Some of these are:-

Me-Dam-Me-Phi

Ali-Aye-Ligang

Rongker

Kherai

Garja

Awnkham Gwrlwi Janai

Chojun/Swarak

Sokk-erroi

Hacha-kekan

Hapsa Hatarnai

Porag

Bathow

Wangala

Other few yearly celebrations are Doul Utsav of Barpeta, Brahmaputra Beach Festival, Guwahati, Kaziranga Elephant Festival, Kaziranga and Dehing Patkai Festival, Lekhapani, Karbi Youth Festival of Diphu and International Jatinga Festival, Jatinga can not be forgotten. Few yearly Mela's like Jonbeel Mela, began in 15th Century by the Ahom Kings, Ambubachi Mela, Guwahati etc.

North Eastern Council (NEC)

The North Eastern Council is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura and functions under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (Government of India) and situated at Major District Road 32, Mawkasiang, Meghalaya 793012.

The North Eastern Council was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament. The constitution of the Council has marked the beginning of a new chapter of concerted and planned endeavour for the rapid development of the Region.

With the passing and implementation of the North Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971, the region emerged as “Seven Sisters” comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. While strategy to reconcile national unity with the maintenance of socio-economic identities induced by the historical realities led to the re-organisation of the north eastern areas administratively, the constraints specific to the region, as a whole such as physical, demographic, economic and socio-political made it imperative to constitute a regional “Planning Body” to integrate them and to accelerate development of the area maintaining at the same time the balanced inter unit growth. This led to the inauguration of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in November,1972.

         NEC has been instrumental in setting in motion a new economic endeavour aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of normal development of the region and has ushered in an era of new hope  in this backward area full of great potentialities.

The objective of the North Eastern Council (NEC), as envisaged by the North Eastern Council Act of 1971 is to ensure that the existence of the political units in the North East of India does not affect its economic development that their rapid economic integration is facilitated and that the problems of the region are dealt with as an integrated whole. The dealings of the council, as envisaged in the Act are chiefly with the Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance and to a lesser extent with the Ministry of Defence and the approach of the council to the Government of India was through the North Eastern Cell of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which the north-eastern states have a common interest and advise the Central Government as to the action to be taken on any such matter. This was done so as to take care of economic and social planning of these states (since they were lagging from other states) and to take care of inter-state disputes.

The development concerns of these States are pursued through their respective Five Year and Annual Plans as well as those of the Union Ministries and Central Agencies. In addition, projects of inter-State nature in the Region are funded through by the North-Eastern Council (NEC), which has a separate additional budget for the purpose.

The North East has essentially depended on Central funding for development works. All the States in the NER are Special Category States whose Development Plans are centrally financed on the basis of 90% Grant and 10% Loan. Further, the Special Category States are allowed to use up to 20% of the Central Assistance for Non-plan expenditure.

The Act was amended in 2002 to (i) redefine the functions of the NEC as a regional planning body for the north eastern region, (ii) include Sikkim as a member state of the NEC and, (iii) provide for three members and the Chairman of the Council to be nominated by the President.

NEC include discussion on matters of common interest to the member states and/or the union government, on issues falling under the fields of: (i) economic and social planning, (ii) inter-state transport and communications, and (iii) power or flood control projects.

In addition to Governors, Chief Ministers of the states, and Administrators of the union territories, the Act also provided membership to one of the Counsellors to the Administrators to the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh.  In place of the Counsellors, the Bill introduces two non official members to be nominated by the President. Further, it provides for the inclusion of one member of the Planning Commission of India, in charge of the north eastern region.

The office of a nominated member shall be three years, and may be extended for a further period of two years. The allowances of such members may be determined by the central government.

The Council under the Department of Development of North-Eastern Region, which was formed within the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2001, has been upgraded to full-fledged Ministry in 2004.