GUWAHATI, May 28 ? Financial constrain has seriously affected the functioning of the North Eastern Council (NEC) set up for the development of the region, admitted the Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha. In an interview with The Assam Tribune, Lt Gen Sinha, who also served as the chairman of the NEC, said, ?we tried to activate the Council as much as we could within the limited financial allocations. I also ensured equitable allocation to all the States, particularly Assam.? He said that the NEC had been doing commendable job but it is difficult to achieve results overnight. He expressed the view that the Central Government should sanction more funds to the NEC.
Lt Gen Sinha said that the 10th Plan allocation for the Council was fixed at Rs 3,500 crore, which is the highest in the history of the NEC. But unfortunately, the annual allocation has been falling far short of the target in the first two years. He said that for the first two years, the annual allocation should have been approximately Rs 700 crore per year but the NEC received only about Rs 450 crore a year. Similarly, the 9th Plan allocation for the NEC was Rs 2450 crore but the Council received only Rs 1970 crore during the period. ?The shortage of funds adversely affected planning and execution of schemes by the NEC,? Lt Gen Sinha admitted.
New assignment : Lt Gen Sinha is scheduled to take over the post of Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on June 4. Replying to a question on his new assignment, he said, ?I am leaving Assam with a heavy heart. I would have loved to continue in Assam but the Government of India wants me in Kashmir and I have accepted the challenge and responsibility in the interest of the nation.?
Replying to a question on the difference of militancy in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Sinha said that though the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) received assistance from foreign agencies, the problem of insurgency in Kashmir is much more complex. He pointed out that insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir has become an international issue with the involvement of the United Nations. He said that in Kashmir, a hostile neighbouring country has been playing a very active role in promoting proxy war, which is not the case in Assam.
Lt Gen Sinha expressed the hope that his long experience of working in Jammu and Kashmir as an Army officer would be of great help to him in carrying out his responsibilities as the Governor of the State. Talking about his experiences of working in Jammu and Kashmir as an Army officer, he said, ?I was associated with the State from the first day the Indian Army set foot in the State on October 27, 1947. I was involved in organising massive airlifting from Delhi to Srinagar. There were about 800 sorties in 18 days and I was the only Indian operation staff officer in a skeleton headquarter manned entirely by British officers. I had to play a major role in planning and conduct of operations. I was also the secretary of the Indian delegation to the UN in 1949 to draw up the ceasefire line agreement in Jammu and Kashmir. I had served in the State for 12 years during my career in the Army and there is no sector in the State with which I am not familier with.?