[Dec 2007, Volume 4 Quarterly Issue] Pdf File size - The IIPM Think ...

THE OTHER PATH
and income poverty; and,
• Development of a full fledged participatory
government based on the consent
of the citizenry and a strong social-audit
system.
The programme areas in the BVIDP
will include macroeconomic growth strategy,
income generating activities, re-distributive
activities, social service delivery,
food security, improving public resource
management, creation of an accounting
framework for poverty reduction interventions,
improving participation in local decision
making, coordination and monitoring
and information, education and
communication.
Integrated Development Plan
Process(es)
Orissa and Madhya Pradesh were among
the few Indian states that reiterated its
commitment to a region-specific Integrated
Development Plan process thus acknowledging
the truism that growth and
pro-poor policies have to focus on the
needs and circumstances of the particular
area. South Asia Development Gateway,
as indicated earlier, initiated the formulation
of such plans in the Northeastern region
starting with Mizoram (state level)
and Karimganj (District level) in Assam.
It was agreed that in view of the multi sectoral
nature of development, a task force
or core committee be formed consisting of
all key decision makers at the highest level
in government sectors and donor representatives.
A technical working group
comprising the concerned departments
was also constituted where necessary. This
group held several consultations and subsequently
United Nations Economic &
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP), Bangkok agreed that
it will assist the pilot programme in the
target levels to develop the Integrated Development
Plans. Accordingly, a senior
UN Regional Advisor will visit the areas.
An expert review of all relevant development
data and surveys will be conducted
first and a draft outline of the plan will be
prepared which will be used as a basis for
starting the process.
Though the Government of Assam was
approached at the very beginning of the
exercise in December 2006, there was no
positive response from the government
departments and even the special requests
from a central minister were found missing
in the secretariat. In the mean time, states
like Mizoram and autonomous regions
like Bodoland shown tremendous interest
in cooperating with international agencies
to develop such plans. The Chief Minister
of Mizoram, himself chairs the High Power
Committee formed for this purpose.
However, in the District of Karimganj, the
Deputy Commissioner and specially the
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development)
took special interest in formulating
such a plan. In a recently conducted
meeting, Prof.S. P. Parashar, the Director
of IIM, Indore, has agreed to help the district
in formalizing such a development
plan and implement it, after following the
Guna (Madhya Pradesh) model.
Ongoing Activities
Ongoing activities include a review of the
objectives and strategies of the integrated
development programme with a view to
identifying tangible activities for achieving
the said objectives. These objectives have
been identified during the participatory
process. The programme is being designed
to address cross cutting issues such as gender
and environment. In addition, performance
indicators and benchmarks are
being developed for each of the objectives.
Some of the major areas of activities are
outlined below.
Agriculture And Natural
Resources
Agricultural and Natural Resources
(ANR) is the dominant sector in Barak
Valley’s economy, employing the majority
of the total work force. Notwithstanding,
ANR continues to lag behind in productivity
and modernization and is still characterized
by an undiversified primary agricultural
system. It is also conditioned by a
seemingly unbreakable cycle of erratic inadequate
input supplies, inappropriate
technology, low output and productivity
Agricultural and Natural Resources continues to lag behind
in productivity and modernization and is still characterized
by an undiversifi ed primary agricultural system
growth, low incomes and an acute inability
to generate savings for investment.
While some of the constraints are exogenous,
many are occasioned by human deficiencies
and failures. ANR continues to
lack a local policy focus and the political
will necessary to transform the sector.
Progress into next two decades will call for
substantial improvements in the sector’s
output and linkage to the sectors. In particular,
overall productivity will have to
improve significantly.
Improvements in the ANR sector therefore
call for serious examination and setting
of projects that are both realistic and
THE INDIA ECONOMY REVIEW
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