Itanagar, 23 Oct: Assembly Election 2009, results are out. In deciding the fate of political parties, people have decided their fate too.
Amidst the fanfare of victory celebration, I wonder the whereabouts of civil society advocates. Prelude to election also, disappearance of civil society advocates- individuals or groups; and their inactions are equivalent to their irrelevance. It is surprising that Union and federations of students and intelligentsias’ alike did not commit themselves to the political process. They were silent either as group or as its representatives. But in their individual capacity, they were working for somebody or the other. Their active or passive roles as group or as its representatives only goes to prove that all these unions and federations are frontal organisation working for some parties, if not for individuals. Ironically, these same irrelevant individuals and organisations would mushroom all over again once the government is formed. That is also a problem. Bigger problem starts when symptom of their psychological disorder of attention deficiency syndrome (ADS) starts showing and these individuals and groups becomes a nuisance to the society. These ADS patients would release notes to media even when a mosquito bite their Presidents and General Secretaries.
Assembly Election 2009 is significant in the context of geo-socio-political-economic dimensions in near future. It is unfortunate that this election has been taken as a routine exercise by many, including the intelligentsia. Silence of intelligentsia on electoral process coupled with the failure of political parties in envisioning the challenges ahead of Arunachal in next 5 years is not only heart-aching but also heart-breaking. Because Arunachal is at the threshold of unleashing its great potential in Hydro Power; secondly, in next 5 years, Arunachal is going to witness the execution of mammoth Trans-Arunachal Highway Project; thirdly, these economic developments would ensure exponential growth of population in next half a decade.
In short term, Arunachalees will benefit economically out of ‘Green-Costing’ and consequent demand of ‘Green-Bonus’ in the name of large green tract of Himalayan range and its products. But Green Costing is an absolute ‘Costing’. But in long term, this ‘green costing’ and ‘green bonus’ shall prove to be the ‘Sword of Damocles’. Unless a linkage between ‘Green-Costing and ‘Social Costing’ is established. It means that costing methodology should be a ‘relative costing’, not absolute costing as has been the case earlier. Developing Arunachal will not be for free, it shall have a cost attached to it. But how fair is it to sacrifice the future for the glory and prosperity of today? Therefore, intelligentsia must exhort the people and its representatives to make public the linkage between ‘green-costing’ and ‘social-costing’.
Lets understand these: If 100 plus MoUs in hydro power projects are implemented 30,000 MW shall bring-in an investment of 24000 Crore INR, skilled manpower to the tune of atleast couple of lakhs and destruction of huge invaluable forest land. What does it mean?
One must realize that social implications are going to leave permanent scars on demographic profile of our tribal society. Moment social matrix changes-moment local population is outnumbered by the floating population, moment disparity between the rich and poor cracks-Arunachal would explode. These social aspects would have cascading impact on ‘political dynamics’ of the state. Floating population, mostly non-tribals, shall determine the electoral outcome of tribal dominated state. It is unimaginable to extrapolate social and political equation in a state where tribals are hyper-sensitive about differentiating between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Change in social matrix and political equations shall have a huge irreversible bearing on culture of the tribes in Arunachal. Nehruvian ideology of protectionism may come to an end under a congress led government. That would be ironic. But ‘death of concept & ideology of Verrier-Nehru’ should be the least of botheration for any thinking man who visualizes of a develop Arunachal.
It is high time that federations and unions should stand up for larger cause and for greater Arunachal, while doing away with bigoted misconceptions and influences of material needs provided by their political masters. Silence on ‘social-costing’ by the civil society at large and government in particular is akin to the silence of the graveyard, it is therefore deafening, and if continued they will not be forgiven by posterity.
Amidst the fanfare of victory celebration, I wonder the whereabouts of civil society advocates. Prelude to election also, disappearance of civil society advocates- individuals or groups; and their inactions are equivalent to their irrelevance. It is surprising that Union and federations of students and intelligentsias’ alike did not commit themselves to the political process. They were silent either as group or as its representatives. But in their individual capacity, they were working for somebody or the other. Their active or passive roles as group or as its representatives only goes to prove that all these unions and federations are frontal organisation working for some parties, if not for individuals. Ironically, these same irrelevant individuals and organisations would mushroom all over again once the government is formed. That is also a problem. Bigger problem starts when symptom of their psychological disorder of attention deficiency syndrome (ADS) starts showing and these individuals and groups becomes a nuisance to the society. These ADS patients would release notes to media even when a mosquito bite their Presidents and General Secretaries.
Assembly Election 2009 is significant in the context of geo-socio-political-economic dimensions in near future. It is unfortunate that this election has been taken as a routine exercise by many, including the intelligentsia. Silence of intelligentsia on electoral process coupled with the failure of political parties in envisioning the challenges ahead of Arunachal in next 5 years is not only heart-aching but also heart-breaking. Because Arunachal is at the threshold of unleashing its great potential in Hydro Power; secondly, in next 5 years, Arunachal is going to witness the execution of mammoth Trans-Arunachal Highway Project; thirdly, these economic developments would ensure exponential growth of population in next half a decade.
In short term, Arunachalees will benefit economically out of ‘Green-Costing’ and consequent demand of ‘Green-Bonus’ in the name of large green tract of Himalayan range and its products. But Green Costing is an absolute ‘Costing’. But in long term, this ‘green costing’ and ‘green bonus’ shall prove to be the ‘Sword of Damocles’. Unless a linkage between ‘Green-Costing and ‘Social Costing’ is established. It means that costing methodology should be a ‘relative costing’, not absolute costing as has been the case earlier. Developing Arunachal will not be for free, it shall have a cost attached to it. But how fair is it to sacrifice the future for the glory and prosperity of today? Therefore, intelligentsia must exhort the people and its representatives to make public the linkage between ‘green-costing’ and ‘social-costing’.
Lets understand these: If 100 plus MoUs in hydro power projects are implemented 30,000 MW shall bring-in an investment of 24000 Crore INR, skilled manpower to the tune of atleast couple of lakhs and destruction of huge invaluable forest land. What does it mean?
One must realize that social implications are going to leave permanent scars on demographic profile of our tribal society. Moment social matrix changes-moment local population is outnumbered by the floating population, moment disparity between the rich and poor cracks-Arunachal would explode. These social aspects would have cascading impact on ‘political dynamics’ of the state. Floating population, mostly non-tribals, shall determine the electoral outcome of tribal dominated state. It is unimaginable to extrapolate social and political equation in a state where tribals are hyper-sensitive about differentiating between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Change in social matrix and political equations shall have a huge irreversible bearing on culture of the tribes in Arunachal. Nehruvian ideology of protectionism may come to an end under a congress led government. That would be ironic. But ‘death of concept & ideology of Verrier-Nehru’ should be the least of botheration for any thinking man who visualizes of a develop Arunachal.
It is high time that federations and unions should stand up for larger cause and for greater Arunachal, while doing away with bigoted misconceptions and influences of material needs provided by their political masters. Silence on ‘social-costing’ by the civil society at large and government in particular is akin to the silence of the graveyard, it is therefore deafening, and if continued they will not be forgiven by posterity.
Do we really have a so called 'Intelligentsia' in Arunachal? or for that matter civil society groups? No, i dont think so. What we have in hundreds are Special Interest Groups...without naming names....who cater to their own short term needs. and those who claim to speak for the whole of our society ( in the larger interest of the state and the nation as a whole - being their favourite line)are the ones who work tirelessly to benefit themselves.And at certain times, they'll be the voiceover for certain politicians if the payment is right! That's such an open secrect but even the press stays silent because atleast on paper, these groups are a sort of 'voice of the people'.
ReplyDeleteWith new Legislatures of different political parties on the scene, let's hope things get better. Fingers crossed.
...ye duniya, ummeedo pe ka-yum hain! Lets be optimistic and feel good that you and I have positive and progressive thoughts.....Lets do our bit inorder to change the attitude. You see, tribals are usually soft, amenable people provided they are guided positively.
ReplyDeleteBTW, you are entitled to your views, rightly so.