Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFA????????Seeking answers???

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:36:20 -0700

After going through this thread, I tend to generally agree with what Barua has said. He is right, when he makes comparisons with a state like Rajasthan. No, we don't like it, but it is the truth.
 
Why is it that a state like Rajasthan is able to export $700 million worth handicrafts, while Assam has not? What holds Assam back?
If Assam cannot capitalize on a strong suit like handicrafts, how can we visualize a brand new industry/export? Why is Rajasthan different?
 
Bhuban da, your take on villagers or even poorer sections thinking about cattle for agriculture as opposed to some paved streets is correct, but the onus of developmental efforts has to be a top-down approach. The GOA, intelligentsia, the businesses, entrepreneurs all have to take the lead first.
 
There are, however, some positive trends. A few responsible citizens are now trying to take the lead in a number of areas, and against all odds - but glad to say, they are making good progress. There is some new thinking, and some are now seriously looking outside the box.
 
A great example is that of Shantikam Hazarika of AIMs. He has been ceaselessly trying to launch some projects in spite of so many difficulties along the way, to effect the changes in Assam that we all look forward to,. And there are now quite a few Hazarikas in Assam - that is what Assam needs.
 
--Ram
 

 
On 9/26/06, Rajen & Ajanta Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

Bhubanda
Thanks for your outburst. It simply shows that there are many sides of the issues.
The bottomline is the people need to be educated. For this our intellectuals need to keep on writing the right stuff and enlighten the people. We must stop all these non sense slogan of Center-treating-Assam-like-a-step-child theme. Today on one hand we are still shouting Assam does not have industries, and on the other hand the realty is that Assam has more refinaries than the amount of oil produces. As a reswult some refineries are running at reduced capacities.
 
A state like Rajasthan is exporting about $700 million dollar worth Handicraft every year. I donot believe a state like Assam cannot produce that much Handicraft. The realty is one cannot find even a good Assamese Japi in place like Guwahati not to speak of Delhi or Calcutta.
 
May be more ammiunition for fresh somebody's outburst.
Rajen Barua
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Assam] AT: Who runs ULFA????????Seeking answers???

 

Rajen

 

We even donot have the courage to ask an MLA a question "Why we don't have electricity why the roads are bad. This confidence will come only when enough people will get out our Kharkhowa state and work outside like a guy of Kerela, UP, Rajasthan, Gujrat or Punjab.  We the Kharkhowas even donot know how much export we can made of Bamboo products to Delhi and Mumbai and USA which will help the villagers. Not that we donot need a Gas Cracker but a Gas Cracker does not necessarily help our villagers

 

While I agree with your views, I have reservation in regard to the later part of your rejoinder.  The constituents do have the courage to ask their MLAs why there is no electricity, why a particular road is in bad condition, and so on.   They are aware of the conditions very well. Obviously electricity and roads are not their priority; what they want badly could be money for the children's  education,  bulls and cows needed for the farm and   family, jobs for the unemployed sons and daughters, etc. etc.

 

 I do not think people have to go out of their State in order to boost their confidence. We know very well why a Rajasthani (Marwari, to be precise) or a Bengali moves out of the State.   There is no reason why a Kharkhowa would not be able to survive at his own home in the first place.

I suppose that kind of outlook is at the root of ULFA coming into existence. Not lack of confidence in their ability but an orientation that they are or were the victims of a colonial power.  Do not get me wrong, I do not deny the benefits of travel and work wherever it is available.

 

To the point, I have come across boys  in search of jobs outside the State.  It appears the Army and, in particular, the Police Battalions and Border Security Forces have also provided employment to many North-East boys. I would not however know their numbers. One young man told me that now-a-days people do get out.

 

Now the marketing of local products.  It is not for the kharkhowa manual worker to work out the marketing aspects of the problem.   At the time when a paper mill was set up in Nagaland some forty years ago,  an expert told me that the mill was set up not as either  as a utilitarian or  economic (feasible) project.   People demand industrialisation and so a Nagaland Minister fulfilled a political need.  A ceramics expert who worked in a newly established ceramics factory in Orissa told me that the factory would never make money (he explained).   Now you have stated that a Gas Cracker does not necessarily help our villagers.  As an intellectual you would know  the logisti cs but the young boy or girl waving placards at George Field, would not know.   Mukul Mahanta's relevant queries can be found in today's batch of e-mails.  After the agitation for a Refinery in Assam was cooled down, it was discovered that a refinery was not a large recruiter and then the main refinery was set up at Barauni, as a result of the lobbying by the MPs of Bihar. In affect the recruitment was done at Baruani for the Guwahati refinery except for the handful of Fourth grade staff.

 

Did not want to prolong; I was carried away.

 

Regards

 

Bhuban

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