Constant deliberations between the academia and bureaucrats would augur well for fast progressing Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said while advocating that Rajiv Gandhi University, a repository of knowledge, should act as a think tank in policy formulation.
Addressing the NE economists at the 17th annual conference of North Eastern Economic Association (NEEA) at Rajiv Gandhi University near here today, Tuki, speaking as chief guest, said that the state is going through a massive transition.
Connectivity being the catalyst for development, the 1,600-km Trans-Arunachal Highway would be completed by 2017 while over 529-km rural road have been built, efforts are on to introduce fixed wing aircraft service (ATR aircraft) as Ziro, Pasighat, Tezu & Mechuka airports would be operational next year.
Besides enlisting the achievements in health & tourism and agri allied sectors and other initiatives to generate employment through subsidized state flagship schemes & special economic zone in foot hill areas, Tuki said the 14th Finance Commission has given higher fiscal input of 72.5 percent against 57.5 percent by 13th Finance Commission while the state would get higher share of central taxes.
The state being a late starter has crossed the initial hurdles and has proposed a Vision for 2030. By then the state would undergo a sea change in all-round development, he said. Prof Barbara Harriss-White, Prof Emeritus of Oxford
University, UK, who visited Arunachal Pradesh in 2007, observed that labour market and health, themes of the conference, are vital for India's growth.
She raised six vital questions in her paper - India's informal economy - questions of work and wellbeing - giving enough materials for serious thoughts.
About 93 percent of all livelihoods and over 60 percent GDP, 40 percent manufacturers exports come from unregistered sources, covering many sectors from agriculture to the Border Roads Organisation labour force working in Arunachal which come under informal economy.
Contact labour, illegal labour, women working in paddy fields etc are all part of Indian economy making India's informal economy much larger than that of the other BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa), she said while giving a paradoxical comparison.
NEEA president Prof Sundarja Borbora of IIT-G under scored the importance of good governance with accountability, transparency and citizenry participation which is vital for eradicating poverty and ensuring good heath to the people to boost NE economy.
Highlighting various NE problmes, including insurgency, bandh culture and inter-state boundary problems hindering development, he urged the economists to influence the policy makers for finding a lasting solution to these problems.
