IMPHAL, Nov 2: The ‘public hearing’ on the Vision 2020 for the North Eastern Region document, held today at the State Guest House, Imphal, proved to be a sore disappointment for civil society leaders and interested members of the public who went to attend, as most of them were not given an opportunity to be heard.
The hearing, organised by the state planning department in association with the North Eastern Council proved to be almost entirely a government one, with mostly government officials turning up to participate, and those few representatives of civil society organisations and members of the public who were there not being given any chance to air their opinions or make representations on the Vision 2020 document on the excuse of lack of time, thereby leaving most of the latter fuming and angrily questioning the public nature of the ‘public’ hearing.
The hearing was formally opened by chief minister O Ibobi Singh who (rather ironically, given the outcome) urged all present to take the opportunity of the hearing to make sure that their opinions and views are incorporated in the Vision 2020 document, which he pointed out, is given the highest significance by the ministry for DONER as a roadmap to bring peace, progress and prosperity to the north eastern region.
Ibobi also wondered how and when the Vision 2020 would be implemented, pointing out that though it has been some years since the Look East Policy was initiated, it has had little impact in Manipur.
Ibobi in his address, also cited disadvantages of roads and connectivity infrastructure as one of the reasons for the state not being able to make greater strides in terms of development.
Stating that the state government has been pressuring the Central authorities in this connection, he disclosed that night landing facilities will soon be installed at Imphal airport so as to improve the state’s connectivity.
After the opening, senior economist Dr. Gautam Naresh, of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi, which framed the draft Vision 2020 document, made a lengthy exposition on the document, thereby taking up much of the time meant for the hearing.
In the technical sessions that followed, only the government officials who attended were able to give their opinions, after which things were quickly wrapped up because of paucity of time.
The Imphal Free Press
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