Corruption root cause for backwardness

It is commonly held that insurgency and violence by extremist elements retard a state's progress. It is not the whole truth. The insurgency and violence are corollary to continuous backwardness systematically ignored by the state power; that the state apparatus was not mindful of ushering developmental programmes with required zeal and sincerity whereas moneys were earmarked and recorded spent, without visible results on the ground. Since the creation of DoNER Ministry from the time of the previous NDA government (1999-00 to 2003-04), special plan schemes and corresponding fund allocation for economic growth were institutiolized and hence the clamors for special status presently raised by the Govt of Assam is all but political scoring. In the regime under special category status, the Centre used to reimburse transportation of raw materials like cement, steel etc, besides other tax reliefs to industry owners. It is an open secret that the Govt of Assam over the long period, drained funds on reimbursement of transportation charges of raw materials, but the industry did not show proportiote growth. Rumors went around that in the me of reimbursement of transportation charges, moneys were siphoned off on fictitious claims by the core group of businessmen/contractors, industrialists and departmental officials in connivance with the power that be. So a group of people with vested interests thwarted the industrial growth for their self aggrandizement at the cost of the state and so the scourge of backwardness lashed Assam. The same story is likened to other backward regions of the country and such phenome have pushed the states into backwardness. The results have been poverty and acute unemployment, forcing the youth to choose the path of violence. This led to a situation eventually exploited to the hilt by anti-tiol forces. Andhra Pradesh solved the insurgency problem riding on its growth trajectory. The state of Chattisgarh has shown visible improvement where amidst occasiol terrorists strikes, reports of large surrender of rebels are regularly pouring in. Assam has to be a corruption-free state in order to remove backward tag and elimite problem of rebel outfits.

Panlal Dey,

Guwahati.

Water crisis

The whole world has woken up to the challenge the growing water shortage, especially the depletion of ground water reserves. So we should be conscious in using water, particularly ground water, though there is surface water in Assam. The Govt as well as NGOs should monitor the use of water so that people do not waste or misuse water ceaselessly by keeping water taps open.

Putul Sarma,

Bamgaon, BiswathChariali.