Non-utilization of NEC funds: Letters to The EDITOR

Non-utilization of NEC funds

The front-page news published in your esteemed daily (The sentinel, May27) under the caption 'Non-utilization of NEC funds' is shocking. Many schemes/projects launched in Assam for the benefit of the people with the funds sanctioned by the North Eastern Council (NEC) have to be shelved midway owing to the fact that the lethargic bureaucrats could not complete them within the stipulated time of three years. In our opinion, this is a criminal negligence on the part of the State bureaucrats who discharge their duties with an avaricious mind. In any omission and commission by the bureaucrats in implementing any schemes/projects, the ministers also are equally accountable. What goes on in the government offices of the State is known to all. We feel appalled to note the shabby work culture prevailing in most of the offices, the instances of which are aired by the electronic media from time to time. When the government employees clamour for pay hike and are instrumental in realizing the same from the government along with other concomitant benefits, still they fail to live up to the people's expectations as many employees attend office late and leave early. The bureaucrats are also not free from analogous maladies and not in a position to submit the utilization certificate. Incidentally, the commencement of many projects for which utilization certificates could not be submitted on time dates back to Tarun Gogoi's regime. The present incumbent cannot claim exoneration from the ignominy either. We are of the opinion that all such projects where a date of completion is specified should be under the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.

Economic prosperity awaits 'peaceful NE'

It is pragmatic for the State of Assam that militancy and insurgency problems in the region have remarkably fallen since 2009. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the year 2018 saw a pronounced decline depicting the lowest insurgency occurrence since 1997.

There has been an overall 18% fall in registered cases of militancy throughout the Northeast and this has only been possible due to the commendable performance of the security forces operating within the region and the government's continuous efforts to bring peace to the region.

As per statistical data, there is next to no insurgency problem in the states of Tripura and Mizoram and violence has been reduced by 16 per cent in Assam, 24 per cent in Manipur, 40 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 48 per cent in Meghalaya. This drastic difference cannot be left unacknowledged.

The frequency of militancy allied activities has declined from 402 in 2009 to 28 in 2018 which is astonishing and must be gloated about, especially considering the fact that the northeastern region is considered to be a hostile region by many people residing in other parts of the country. The improvement of the entire scenario in the region shows a promising future for its residents. It is a known fact that unrest causes hindrance to development and progress and we are fortunate as there has been over a 25 per cent reduction in the number of security personnel and civilian deaths in the region. We are optimistic that ours will soon be an insurgency-free zone with the continued efforts of the new government and the conscientious efforts of the security forces. There is indubitably an anticipation for the economy of this part of the nation to boom and prosper.

Rifa Deka,

Royal School of Communications and

Media, Royal Global University, Guwahati.

Centre needs to push all important bills now

The new government should push important bills urgently to expose those opposing in the Rajya Sabha instead of waiting for majority for the ruling NDA in Elder's House.

People have given absolute and clear mandate to the ruling BJP to go ahead with many important reformative bills. The new government should push all bills, including abolition of Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution, implementing two-child norms in a family, women reservation, massive but consolidated poll-reforms, including simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and many other such bills which were till now deferred either in wait of never-to-be achieved consensus or the ruling BJP lacking majority in the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition parties are not likely to oppose such bills in fear of further dilution of their already largely-squeezed base amongst the masses. Any opposition of these bills will further expose the opposing parties and in turn further vote-gain for the BJP in any next elections, including for state assemblies. Even if the new government presently fails to get required support to these bills in the Rajya Sabha, these can be pushed later after BJP with its other NDA allies later get absolute majority in the Rajya Sabha.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

1775 Kucha Lattushah,

Delhi-110006.