Public hearing on Vision 2020 Document in Imphal

A public hearing on the Vision 2020 Document, which aims at promoting development in the northeast to bring it at par with the economy of the rest of the country by 2020, was recently held here.

Imphal, Nov 20 : A public hearing on the Vision 2020 Document, which aims at promoting development in the northeast to bring it at par with the economy of the rest of the country by 2020, was recently held here.

During the public hearing, prominent citizens, government officials and stakeholders expressed their views on what the final draft of the document should contain.

Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh, while hailing the Vision Document, emphasised the need for improving connectivity in the region.

He said: "There is the problem of law and order. But nowadays law and order problem is not only in Manipur. Manipur may be bit more serious, but in Nagaland, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir even in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh there is Naxalite problem."

The Vision Document aims to draw a roadmap for an all round prosperity of the North Eastern Region (NER). The 329-page document is being prepared by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

It takes into account the survey of over 40,000 households and focuses on building up the income level of the region to bring it at par with the rest of the country by 2020.

Gautam Naresh of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi said, "This vision report is not the government's report. We call it the people's vision. So, the views of the people are of paramount importance. People, whether they are in government, or an NGO, or stakeholder."

The principal target is to achieve a growth rate of 13.11 per cent by the 13th Plan period. This is sought to be done through improved infrastructure, particularly, better road connectivity. Experts believe that all round economic development will curb insurgency in the region.

Manipur University Professor R K Priyoranjan said for a more meaningful document, it needs to be discussed in such workshops in other districts as well, at least in district headquarter with the involvement of common people.

"Unless this document is discussed in other workshops as well, this discussion, which we are having in Imphal, would be only for the elite, not for the people," said Prof Priyoranjan.

The important highlight of the hearing was the Chief Minister's acceptance of the fact that law and order in the State needs to be improved and insurgency contained for any meaningful development to take shape.

ANI