Poverty reduction, regional growth high points of summit

DIPR DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 26 A GALAXY of policy makers, representing various states, deliberated on pertinent Mountain State issues and suggested way forward on the second day of the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-III at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Higher Education Kohima on Thursday.Former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and NTPC chairman, Institute for Public Policy, Doon University, Dr RS Toli, presented a paper on Appropriateness of Centrally Sponsored Schemes and other programmes for Indian Mountain States. Dr Toli emphasised on the visions of the 12th Five Year Plan which he said was for faster growth, more inclusive and sustainable, rapid GDP growth, targeted at 9.0% per annum. He said it is necessary for two reasons. Firstly, to generate income and employment opportunities needed for improving living standards for the bulk of the population. Secondly, to generate resources needed for financing social sector programmes aimed at reducing poverty and enabling inclusiveness. On more inclusiveness of the Plan document, Dr Toli said regional growth, poverty reduction and marginal growth have been highlighted. Enlightening the Policy makers on CSS, Dr Toli informed that the numbers of CSS has been brought down from 147 to a manageable 60 and termed it as a major re-structuring of CSS. The CSS has been re-structured under three schemes namely Flagship Scheme, Sub-Sectored Schemes and Umbrella Schemes, he furthered informed. Apprising the gathering that henceforth any new flagship programme would be 100% Centre supported Scheme, Dr. Toli encouraged the policy makers of the Mountain States for working out on new flagship schemes to avail the opportunity of the 100% CSS. Participating in the deliberation, Parliamentary Secretary Agriculture, Nagaland, Dr Benjongliba stressed the need for setting up a strategy conducive for the Mountain States. He said production, marketing support and linkages should be placed on priority, while making the strategy. He noted that unlike in the mainland where policy makers set strategy for production on priority, in Nagaland market linkages should be accorded priority rather than production. He pointed out that due to non availability of markets, the farmers are not encouraged to produce more although Nagaland has potential farming avenues. He also stressed on giving more importance on water harvesting, saying that Nagaland faces acute shortage of water during the lean season. Representatives from the States of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland raised their common and highly concerned hydro power issues while deliberating on the future proposal for Hydro Electric Project of the Mountain States. Commissioner & Secretary Education Nagaland, Imkonglemba Ao suggested for a re-think of long term policy by the 11 Mountain States particularly in agri and allied sectors, so as to expand agriculture and food processing for sustainable living. He said that except Mizoram, 70% population of the North East States is dependent on agriculture. Towards this, Dr. Toli commented that Animal Husbandry was an important scheme which could be brought under the sub sectoral pattern. With regard to the mid-day meal scheme Imkong pointed on the high transportation cost and felt that cost would be reduced if local products are allowed to be served. Director General International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, David Molden said he was impressed by the vision of the 12th Plan and suggested for inclusion of the private sectors. He observed on the likelihood of more hydro power which he commented would be worth the money. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi, BMS Rathore, emphasized on the importance of linking the three goals of the policy and put forward the idea of engaging the youth, terming them as a huge resource. “If we utilize the huge resource of the working age group (15-59) we will achieve the goal of faster development,” he commented. Commissioner & Secretary Urban Development M. Patton while pointing out on the peculiar land holding system of the mountain States, remarked that delay and cost escalation are mainly due to land issues and proposed cost of acquired land to be inbuilt in the CSS. Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Setong Sena, also participating in the deliberation, dwelt on the importance of affordable technology to be made available for the policy makers, to enable them to plan out policies based on sustainable development. “Technology changes within short span and market follows accordingly to the change in technology, so farsighted planning is required,” he maintained. Various issues relating to skill development, vocational training education, power sector were deliberated by the participants of the mountain States. Summing up the Policy Makers Dialogue, Dr Toli, who chaired the session, said “Every good policy is based on very good practices and every good practice has a sound policy behind it.”