NEW DELHI, June 7 - Falling short of making promises on opening dialogue with underground outfits in the North East, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has expressed its determination to tackle militancy in the region as a matter of urgent national priority. President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in his address to both the Houses of the Parliament, which also happened to be his first address to newly-elected members of the 14th Lok Sabha, unveiled the UPA government’s plans and programme. The address itself was reiteration of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) announced earlier.
However, UPA’s plans for the north-eastern region (NER) has not pleased the Opposition parties including the BJP and AGP, though the Congress Party has welcomed it. The Opposition parties pointed out that unlike in case of Jammu and Kashmir, where the Government has proposed to hold dialogue with all groups, it made no such promises in case of the North East. Dialogue with all groups and with different shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir will be pursued on a sustained basis, in consultation with the democratically elected State government, the President said.
In contrast, Dr Kalam said that the Government was determined to tackle terrorism, militancy and insurgency in the North-east as a matter of urgent national priority. The North Eastern States would be given special assistance to upgrade and expand infrastructure, he added. The President made no mention of any offer to hold negotiations with the militants in the North-east, like he did in case of Jammu and Kashmir, said AGP MP Dr Arun Kumar Sarma.
However, in other areas, the UPA has promised action in North-east. “Appropriate measures will be initiated to speed up the industrialisation of the eastern and North Eastern Region (NER),” the President said. The NER is also expected to be benefited by Government’s proposal to consider establishing a Backward States Grant Fund that would be used to create productive assets in these states but with performance parameters as well.
About the problem of regional imbalance, Dr Kalam said it was a matter of concern that regional imbalances have been accentuated not only by historical neglect but also by distortions in Plan allocations. The Government is committed to redressing growing regional imbalances, both among states, as well as within states, through fiscal, administrative and other means. He also trained focus on the debt-ridden States. A structured and transparent approach to alleviate the burden of debt on states will be adopted so as to enable them to increase social sector investments. All non-statutory resource transfers from the central government will be weighted in favour of poor and backward states, Dr Kalam said.
About the flood problem, Dr Kalam said that the Government would start a Flood-prone Area Development Programme and support the flood control works in inter-state and international rivers. The President’s address also confirmed that the fate of river inter-linking project hangs in balance. Starting with peninsular rivers, the environmental, ecological and techno-economic feasibility of linking the rivers of the country will be carefully examined.
The Government will accelerate the development and use of the country’s irrigation potential. All ongoing irrigation projects will be completed on a time-bound manner, Dr Kalam said. But a major pain in the back of States like Assam where the eviction from forest land had acquired political dimension is likely to ease with UPA working out a way to end the crisis.
State governments will be urged to bring about legislation conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce on people from weaker sections working in forests. Eviction of tribal communities and other forest-dwelling communities from forest areas will be stopped, Dr Kalam said. The Government will reconcile the objectives of environmental conservation and faster economic growth without jeopardising the ecological balance or diluting the objectives of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. An effective system will be put in place for rehabilitating the tribal communities displaced by development projects, the President said.
On India’s neighbouring countries, Dr Kalam said the Centre shall seek to resolve outstanding issues with Bangladesh and strengthen relations with this important neighbour. “It would continue to attach great importance to our close and vibrant partnerships with Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives. Trade and investment with China will be expanded further and talks on the boundary question will be pursued purposively. India will also expand political and security exchanges with China to ensure regional security, Dr Kalam said.