The land where a legendary river veins through its ancient expanse, embedding with it, untold stories of business success and prosperity.
That swath of planet earth which shares the sky, rivers, fields and barbed wires with three countries, through which can flow the energy of commerce, literature or fashion.
There is a quintessential unknown town that tucks Asia’s biggest dry fish market which could possibly transport culinary bliss to the faraway lands like China, Hongkong, South Korea, Sri Lanka or the Republic of Congo and bring in economic joy in return.
But, the reality is poverty has been endemic in Assam. We are not going beyond the rim of sunrise.
So what else retards economic vibrancy and prosperity apart from corruption, political and administrative inertia that runs in the State? Is it just the incessant floods or is there a draught of collective will to challenge the status quo that’s running on a loop? Is there a role, we the people, could have played better?
Over the last two decades, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Kerala have been consistently sprouting homegrown businesses, catapulting their stature further, from being celebrated local brands to adding a national appeal to their aura. Is this what we call the Economic Awakening of the Indigenous? Post this pandemic, if possible, comb through the length and breadth of Assam, you would realize there isn’t a single brand that haloes a strong regional aura, cutting across both the Valleys. This, despite producing almost half of India’s tea production; despite sitting on an inadvertent global monopoly, accounting an astronomical 95% of Muga Silk production; despite having the potential to build a world-class Inland Water Transportation mechanism; despite being blessed with spectacular nature and wildlife.
That this endemic poverty flows from the extractive approach of the multiple government machineries, that there prevails internal colonialism, needs no denial. Let’s remember, without the support of the Africans, Europeans couldn’t have spurred slavery into a lucrative business. There is always a native gene to any socio-economic outcome.
The raison d’etre of our abortive attempts to progress is probably a confluence of factors. Citizen-participation in the development process, is one of the critical factors. While most of India has a defunct administrative mechanism, the fact is that we do have tools of democracy. The question is do we have the awareness and the intent to harness these tools? Maharashtra for example, tops in the number of RTI applications with 61.80 applications filed by citizens. It is by Tamil Nadu at 26.91 lakh, Karnataka at 22.78 lakh and Kerala at 21.92 RTI applications filed by citizens, reveals a report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. Sadly, information about the number of RTI applications from Assam is extremely difficult to get online. Probably because it’s miniscule.
Essentially, this means people from these states have the intent to participate in bringing in the desired change, therefore they ask, they seek to know. They try to harness these tools of democracy. Is Assam asking enough questions to ensure government accountability?
We lack a concerted effort from our institutions – administrative, academic, media to amplify awareness about these democratic tools? Assam’s academic institutions and Media can play an active role to nurture more conscious citizens, dial-up citizen participation in the development process and raise leaders to push Assam’s development Agenda.
It took one Jose Dominic to catapult Kerala to the status of an iconic tourism hub for the international community, through a model that was rooted in the state’s rich indigenous culture and nature. Given the right environment, Assam too can have its own Jose Dominics.
Dr. Ubed, the Founder of the award winning omni-channel, revolutionary eye care service called ERC Eye Care based out of Jorhat, as we speak, is transforming human conditions in the rural landscape of the state. This illustrates, Assam can create successful business stories through innovation and technology. We, as citizens, must ensure that such success stories are celebrated and persuade the government to create an environment that ripples more such stories.
Karnataka tops the chart in the Niti Ayog Innovation Index, followed by Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Maharashtra. Has our government drafted a plan to nurture more innovators from Assam? We need to ask these questions to our government. Why can’t our media houses redeem themselves by starting a sustained democratic campaign with the support of students, citizen groups and even politicians, asking questions that are critical to the State – Floods, Inland Water Transportation, Agricultural Economy, Education system and lead these conversations to a constructive space?
The Glorious Revolution in England during the early 17th Century was not a revolt. It was a societal awakening, activated by a coalition of the gentry, merchants, and manufacturers against absolutism. The Government of Assam has started the project preparatory activities for the World Bank funded Inland Water Project under the IWT Department at Rs. 975 crore (US$ 150.60) which will help realize the huge untapped potential in this sector. Under State Budget 2020-21, Rs. 2,498 crores (US$ 357.42 million) has been allocated to the power department. We ought to check out the steps taken by the government elevate the equity of Muga Silk and further bolster its production and desirability for a global luxury audience. We need to be aware of the progress made on this. These are the themes on which questions need to be relentlessly asked through.
Back in 14 AD, Roman citizens were given free handouts of wheat and, subsequently, olive oil, wine, and pork, and were kept entertained by circuses and gladiatorial contests. While we don’t have any free lunches, we are being engrossed with jingoistic politics, the cacophony of junk spewed by the Media and Social Media.
Unless, we wake up from this slumber and collectively take initiatives to build awareness about our democratic tools and harness these tools to advance our agenda, our dreams would remain as mere prisoners in our minds.
Today, Assam has 14 million internet subscribers. And it isn’t really that difficult for citizens – poets, actors, musicians, film-makers, entrepreneurs, students, academicians, media, politicians, farmers to come together and leverage the power of technology and amplify conversations on development.
It is only when citizen-participation is sufficiently activated, Assam shall embark on a journey to being ‘awesome’.
Sources
- https://niti.gov.in/planningcommission.gov.in/docs/plans/stateplan/sdr_assam/sdr_assch1.pdf
- https://www.ibef.org/states/assam-presentation
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/karnataka-retains-its-position-as-most-innovative-state/articleshow/80361190.cms?from=mdr