The inaugural program of the NIRDPR-NERC Off-Campus Write Shop on “Development Strategy for the North Eastern States: Priority Areas, Concerns, and the Way Forward” was held at the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Kohima, on 12 November 2024. The event was attended by representatives from fifteen departments.
Assistant Professor at NIRDPR-NERC, Dr MK Shrivastava, while briefing on the course on development strategy, emphasized that despite the North Eastern states being endowed with natural resources and a vibrant cultural identity, the region faces challenges such as weak infrastructure, limited access to markets, social inequalities, and recent conflicts like the situation in Manipur. He explained that development is a process that fosters growth, progress, and positive change in economic, environmental, social, and demographic components without damaging environmental resources. He also stressed the importance of sustainable development, which can help reduce poverty, improve resource efficiency, and enhance the resilience of communities.
Dr Shrivastava highlighted that in order to uplift the economy, focused efforts are needed, considering both strengths and weaknesses. A sustainable development strategy must be developed to enable the states to utilize their rich natural resources and other assets effectively. This would involve refocusing on sectors offering competitive advantages to minimize resource deficits, cover development gaps, and accelerate progress.
He further noted that the primary objective of the write shop is to formulate a calibrated strategy for the development of the state, with a particular focus on rural areas. The strategy aims to identify competitive sectors and products, address existing gaps, set priorities, develop action plans, assess risky factors, and bring together various institutions to enhance rural connectivity and improve the standard of living.
In his inaugural address, Dr R Murugesan, Director of NIRDPR-NERC, stated that the write shop would cover key development indices across core sectors of the rural economy, including connectivity, infrastructure, health and nutrition, skills development, employment, rural industries, banking, and the tourism sector.
The chairperson of the program was Dr Kintso, Sr Lecturer at SIRD, and the welcome address was delivered by Additional Director Imlimenla Longkumer.