Without the development of the North East, India's goal of achieving a 5 $ trillion dollar economy will be a difficult path. With the help of AATMA-NIRBAHAR BHARAT, the Indian government invested a huge amount of money with the support of Japanese foreign funds. The seven sisters of India (Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim) which surrounded by 5 countries (Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Bhutan, Nepal). The total area of the Northeast states is 2,62,179 SQ KM which includes 5,182 KM of an international border.
The biodiversity of the Northeast is a genetic treasure of various forms of plants, animals, and microorganisms. The northeast region comes under the Indo Burma biodiversity hotspot which ranks 6th among the 25 biodiversity hotspot of the world. Most of the North-Eastern states have more than 60% of their area under forest cover. In addition, 25% of the forest of India is covered by Northeast states. In 2019, an assessment of the forest cover in terms of the percentage of total geographical area ranked the five northeastern states: Mizoram (85.41 percent), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63 percent), Meghalaya (76.33 percent), Manipur (75.46 percent) and Nagaland (75.31 percent).
SPECIALITY OF NORTHEAST INDIAN FOREST
* 6 out of India's 9 Important vegetation types.
* 800 species of 1500 endangered floral species.
* 3624 species of Insects.
* 236 species of fish.
* 541 species of birds.
* 160 species of mammals.
POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF THE REGION
In 1950 Assam became a constituent state. The Capital city is Dispur.
In 1963 Nagaland became a formal state. The Capital city is Kohima.
In 1972 there states where statehood was assigned (Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura)
In 1975 Sikkim statehood was assigned. The Capital city is Gangtok.
In 1987 Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh statehood was assigned.
LITERACY RATE OF NORTHEAST INDIA IN 2011 CENSUS
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North East houses a large no: of Ethnic communities with a diverse tribal population with numerous languages and dialects. On top of that, 200+ Ethnic groups. In the Indian population, 16.2% and 8.2% of SCs and STs are from northeast India. The main reason for the tribal population is under Article 371 North East have been provided a special provision to protect their religious and social practices. For instance, under article 371 A, Nagaland protected its religious and social practices by regulating customary law, ownership, and resources.
ECONOMICAL POSITION
In the financial year 2018-2019, the 8 northern states contributed only 2,8% of India's GDP, with 2/3rd share by Assam and 1/3rd by the other 7 states. It is mainly by a lack of development in administration, social and economic infrastructure, per capita power consumption, credit deposit ratios, road and railway transportation, and so on.
REASONS FOR LOW PROGRESS IN THE NORTH EASTERN REGION
As per politicians, low-intensity conflicts challenge internal security and development in the region. In addition, as to sociologists, the clash is between the traditional social structure and chaperones and the challenges of modernization-led economic development. Moreover, as per separatists and insurgents, the backwardness is due to the government's extractive and colonial policies. The issue of the North East back to the colonial era when the British exploited the North East for her raw materials at the time of independence it was over but the policies did not change for a particular time period. Besides, the economic activities were concentrated in selected pockets leaving the vast areas accessible with the least development.
furthermore, high rainfall, courses of rivers, poor drainage systems, and narrow valleys are the main reasons for floods, earthquakes, landslides, epidemics, and so on. The tough geography of the North East is also a big hurdle in its development. Consequently, the total railway network development is comparatively less when it considering other regions of India. On top of all reasons, Chinese aggression in 1962, affected private investment in Arunachal Pradesh. Also, the refugee crisis from Bangladesh further fuelled the socio-economic and political problems. Strike culture and suspicion of outsiders are also the reason behind the low development of the North East.
Moreover, the northeast is connected with the mainland through a 22 KM wide chicken neck in Siliguri. The disturbance in one region affects other regions as well. On the other hand, The main reason for the insurgency is the lack of development in the industrial sector and hilly terrains, sparsely populated areas, isolated human population. In addition, the difficulty of road connection, communication links, schools, and hospitals are the main important problems for connection in the region.
REASONS FOR ECONOMIC BACKWARDNESS OF NORTH EAST INDIA
* Due to a lack of tax collection and internal resources, the North Eastern states have to depend on the funds of the central government.
* Centralized planning led by the government has restricted the participation of the indigenous population.
* Due to the concentration of economic development in certain pockets.
* Lack of political stability.
* Leakage of funds due to inefficient financial management was also a major cause of economic backwardness.
* Reliance on traditional method.
* Low agricultural productivity.
* Low coverage of irrigation.
* Poor governance.
* Low fund Utilization.
* Land Limited acquisition.
* Forest clearance problems.
* Limited work season.
* Fragile law and order situation.
GOVERNMENT STEPS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHEAST INDIA
Steps for the development of the northeastern states are begin taken since independence, the first example of which we can see from the grant of statehood to various region.
* Government implemented a program called NERCORMP a joint initiative of the North Eastern Council, Ministry of DONER, an international fund for agriculture.
* NITI FORUM FOR NORTH EAST was formed to identify constraints in the way of accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth of the North East. This forum is headed by the vice chairman of NITI AAYOG and co-chaired by MDONER.
* Northeast's special infrastructure development scheme focuses on infrastructure development. NEIDS incentivizes MSMF sector.
* The government has shifted its policies from the development of heavy industries to local model development.
* Through the National Bamboo Mission and Skill Development Mission, the government is developing handicrafts and trying to tap the regional potential.
* IMC through MAPs cultivation and sustainable development trying to bring livelihood and economic transformation.
* The 19 KM Dhubri-Phulbari Bridge on the Brahmaputra, connecting Assam and Meghalaya will be a longer bridge
* The connectivity is being improved through road and airport development which will help the economy to boost.
* NHIDCL handles 92,000 crore highway projects, and projects worth 1,20,000 crores are on the detailed projects report.
* The govt has fast-tracked the peace process through Myanmar's collaboration and dialogues with NSCN-IM and other 5 rebel groups.
* The govt is building confidence among local political units that have given up rivalry and are now focused on the region's development.
HOW CAN NORTHEASTERN INDIA BECOME A BRIDGE TO SOUTH EAST ASIA
There will be an automatic flow of men, materials, technology, and ideas when the North East will be connected with East Asian countries. In addition, international economic cooperation with countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar will rise the development growth of this region. under Act East policy multiple projects like Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit, and the Rih-Tedim road project is being developed with the help of japan investment. India is trying to develop business routes through the North East to ASEAN which will boost the GDP of the North East and the whole of India. A developed North East will act as a bridge between India and South East Asia. IMT highway under the look East policy will connect India, Myanmar, and Thailand.
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