While the other parts of India got united quite fast after independence,NE was different or shall I say indifferent.There was not so much participation from NE.These regions always stayed aloof.While the very much needed attention from the center was missing irrespective of which party's government it is,an equal level of sense of unity and integrity was missing from the people in NE as well.
Besides NE is divided and sub-divided in to many tribes,each fighting with other for their own land and culture.
The war in 1971,and the state of civil war in Bangladesh made some 10 million refugees from Bangladesh to pour in to India,which complicated an already delicate situation.The state of West Bengal was also hard-hit due to the refugee-exodus.
All these socio-political frictions gave rise to militancy,some wanted autonomy,some wanted freedom,some wanted some extra benefits for their tribe.Had the issues been looked in to before,then most of these issues would not have even surfaced.The govt of India,as usual reponded late,and when they responded,they did it with the Army and AFSPA,pretty moronic in my opinion.
but then the changes are already set in to motion.Militancy is on decrease and the militants are gradually returning to mainstream.There is a lot of development going on in NE.A few of them are listed below:
The Government of India has approved a new industrial policy and other concessions for the North Eastern Region. It includes
1. Development of Industrial Growth Centres with central assistance that has increased from Rs. 10 crores to Rs.15 crores.
2. Funding of IID centres between Government of India and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been increased from 2:3 to 4:1 and the Government of India funds would be grant.
3. Transport Subsidy Scheme would continue upto 31/03/2007 till the end of 10th Plan in the existing terms and conditions.
4. Growth Centre/Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre/Industrial Estates would be a Tax Free Zone from Income Tax & Excise for a period of 10 years from the date of commencement of production with provision to be made for exemption of local sales tax and municipal tax on the part of State Governments.
5. 15% Capital Investment Subsidy is provided to industrial units located in growth centres subject to a ceiling of Rs. 30 lakhs.
6. Special consideration for financing term and working capital loans by commercial banks and North East Development Financial Corporation.
7. Grant of 8% interest subsidy on working capital loans for 10 years from commencement of production.
8. Similar benefits are extended to new/expansion units in Growth Centre/Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre/Industrial Estate/Export Promotion Zone.
9. Relaxation of PMRY norms namely, maximum age limit raised to 40 years. Family income limit raised to Rs. 40,000 per annum, no collateral upto projects of Rs. 1.00 lakh, subsidy ceiling raised to Rs. 15,000, coverage of areas of horticulture, piggery, fishing, small tea garden, project cost limit raised upto Rs. 2 lakhs other than business sectors for individuals and Rs. 5 lakhs for group financing, etc.
10. NEDFI be granted Rs. 20 crores for funding by them for techno-economic studies for Industries & Infrastructure.
11. Setting up of Debt Purchase Window by State Governments for purchase by NEDFI to reduce blocking of capital.
12. Exploration and development of market for export to neighboring countries particularly Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
13. Assistance for restricting State PSUs from National Renewal Fund.
14. The community pattern of land holding in large parts of NE region does not lend itself to providing collateral security as required under conventional bank lending. RBI has constituted a Committee to look into this issue. An appropriate system of "guarantees" will be evolved for NE region.
15. NEDFI be designated as Nodal Agency for released of transport subsidy.
16. Development of Village and Small Industries sectors, like strengthening of Weavers Service Centre and Indian Institute of Handloom Technology. Priority be given for setting up market complexes and exhibition facilities, design centre for handicraft, advance training programme through Master craftsmen, setting up of new emporia and renovation of existing emporia. All four silk varieties are covered under Mill Gate Price scheme. Central Silk Board to give priority in the implementation of programmes in the North-East.
Union Budget 2011: Allocation for northeast doubled to Rs 8,000 cr
The allocation for the development of the northeast region has been doubled to Rs 8,000 crore (Rs 80 billion/$1.7 billion), Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced on Monday while presenting the budget for fiscal for 2011-12.
"In order to boost development in the northeastern region and special category states, the allocation for special assistance has been almost doubled to Rs 8,000 crore for 2011-12. Out of this, Rs 5,400 crore has been allocated as untied Special Central Assistance," Mukherjee said while delivering his budget speech in the Lok Sabha.
In addition, the ministry for development of north eastern region (DoNER)has been allocated Rs 1,550 crore for infrastructure development. This is, however, almost 12 percent lower than the Rs 1,760 allocated for 2010-11.
Of the Rs 1,550 crore, Rs 700 crore will be for schemes of the North Eastern Council (NEC), Rs 800 crore as grant from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and Rs 50 crore for the schemes of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
DoNER, through its schemes of NEC and NLCPR, takes up projects in the northeast for infrastructure development in the sectors like roads, bridges, power, irrigation, health, education, sports and drinking water supply.
Another Rs 170 crore has been earmarked under the Social and Infrastructure Development Fund for creating and upgrading infrastructure facilities, specially in Arunachal Pradesh and other border areas in the northeast.
The region will also get Rs 191 crore for central plan schemes. This includes Rs 60 crore as loans to the North East Development Finance Corporation ( NEDFC), Rs 68 crore for the North East States Road Project (NESRP) and Rs.35 crore for the North Eastern Region Livelihood Project (NERLP).
The central government has a separate ministry for the development of northeast region comprising Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
Sharing over 2,000 km of boundary with Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, many states in the region have been battling insurgents for decades. More than 30 rebel groups operate in the region with their demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy and the right to self-determination.