30.1 Why are some regions in India economically backward regions despite
of the fact that they are rich in resources?
Answers
working on "Tourism's role for the economic and sustainable development of a backward area with rich cultural tradition and heritage in ancient past". Unfortunately, despite abundant resources to develop and promote tourism in the region, policymakers failed to recognize, understand its potential and prospects, its role in economic development and towards conservation & development of heritages in the region. Tourism, as an alternative approach, particularly in the case of underperformance of primary and secondary sectors in the region. Please suggest, how to initiate & do my doctoral research which could have some social r
elevance and helpful in sustainable economic development, conservation & protection of cultural and other resources and beneficial for all stakeholders in the region.
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Explanation:
Natural Resources: The NER is richly endowed with natural resources, viz. Agro-forestry accounts for 26 % of the forest cover of India, largest producer of bamboo, world’s single largest tea growing region (16% share), largest producer (55% share) and exporter of tea in India, producer of premium quality Jute and silk, horticulture and herbal resources. It is rich in flora and fauna and is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world. The torrential Brahmaputra deposits its rich alluvial silt along the banks of the plains of Assam. Despite abundant natural resources and better education levels NER is one of the least developed — economically and industrially — regions in India. Per capita income in NER as a whole is amongst the least in the country.
New Initiatives: Government of India prioritized the economic development of the region from the Eighth Plan period onwards. In October 1996, the Government’s ‘New Initiatives for the North Eastern Region’ included, inter alia, specific measures for the development of the NER emphasizing planning and implementation of special programs for geographical area development and projects for the development of key sectors of the region’s economy accompanied by policy changes to suit the needs of the region with a radical departure from the policy pursued for the country as a whole, viz.
– To make financial resources available for the region’s development, a policy initiative to earmark at least 10% of the Plan Budgets of the Central ministries/departments
– The Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) created in 1997—98 to permit the accrual of the unspent balance of the mandatory 10% budgetary allocation of the Ministries/Department. The policy of NLCPR aimed at ensuring the speedy development of infrastructure to bridge the existing infrastructural gaps (economic and social) in the region through uninterrupted flow of funds available from the pool.
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– The Central Government has also been announcing special packages for socio-economic development of the NER from time to time. Priority funding (both in the Central plan and State Plan) is being arranged from time to time for expeditious implementation of these packages. Besides, NER implemented Government’s anti-poverty program of Integrated Rural Development from 1978 to 1999 and Swarnjayanti Gram Rozgar Yojana from 1999 to 2011 and now National Rural Livelihood program to alleviate rural poverty and since 2006 implementing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to secure guaranteed employment of 100 days in a year.
Institutional Support: To accelerate the pace of development in NER institutions have been established from time to time viz. North Eastern Council; North East Development Finance; North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited; North East Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research Centre, among others.
Ministry of Development of NER: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) was set up in 2001 to coordinate and give impetus to the Centre’s development efforts for socio-economic development of the region. DoNER now operates NLCPR which earlier the Planning Commission was operating. DoNER is responsible for coordination, planning, execution and monitoring of the developmental schemes and projects in NER. While DoNER is to coordinate with various Ministries/Departments primarily concerned with development and welfare activities in NER, the respective Ministries/Departments are responsible in respect of subjects allocated to them.
North Eastern Council: The NEC was established under the NEC Act, 1971 to act as an advisory and the Regional Planning body in respect of socioeconomic development and balanced development of the seven States of the NER in which the State of Sikkim was included in 2002, Sikkim. The functions of NEC, among others, include formulating regional plans and recommending the mode of implementation, monitoring the progress of project implementation and recommending to the Central Government the quantum of financial assistance to be given to the States. The function of NEC was to have been an effective regional planning body which will act as a bridge between the State’s priorities and the regional perspectives and ensure well-orchestrated investments of States and Central resources within a common regional perspective.
The NEC, since its inception, has invested Rs7182.61 crore till the end of the Tenth Plan [1972-73 to 2006-07]. Investments made in sectors include
– Rs.3315.32 crore in Transport and Communication
– Rs.2586.27 crore in Water and Power
– Rs.472.85 crore in Social and Community Services
– Rs.393.15 crore in Mapower Development
– Rs.241.53 crore in Agriculture and Allied Activities
– Rs.110.36 crore in Industry and Mining
– Rs.48.07 crore in General Services and
– Rs.15.06 crore in Externally Aided Projects.