IMPHAL, May 27: Education Minister M Okendro Singh inaugurated the two day international seminar on `Deprivation, Marginalisation and Social Exclusion in the North Eastern States of India`™ today at the Court Hall, Manipur University.
Speaking at the seminar, the Minister highlighted the educational scenario of the state and initiatives in education.
Speaking on the occasion the Minister said, `Both the government and the public have a onus in improving the education institutions. Presently we are formulating a new policy for education and invites suggestions and ideas from expertise on the subject.`
Imminent economics Professor Atul Sarma, who is also the Chairman, OKDISCD, Guwahati & Visiting Professor, Institute of Human Development and Former Member , 13th Finance Commission delivered a special lecture on the occasion on the transition of the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog. He detailed the basic responsibilities and mandate of the Planning Commission which focus on integrated planning for every five years.
On procedural limitations he said, `While tools and approaches remain unchanged, there are mismatched in allocation and utilization failing in achieving the targets. Second disconnect is that annual budget is allocated on the basis of available resources despite the long term five years plan. Thus widens the dichotomy of plan and non-plan where new projects gets priority and results in incompletion of plan expenditures and fiscal imbalances`
Central sponsor scheme Special Plan Assistance with its one size fits all without state autonomy has only widen the disparity of the states thereby attracting the private players only to rich states where infrastructure is better, he continued.
`This has led to the need for restructuring and revamping the planning commission and the formation of NITI Aayog. However the nomenclature itself has reflected its contradiction of being both an institution and an organisation`™ he alleged.
Prof Atul Sarma further dissected the basic difference between the two, NITI Aayog is constituted as a think tank and an advisory body and not as an executing body. However unlike the planning commission that is governed by National Development Council, NITI Aayog is governed by the collectives of the Chief Ministers with the Prime Minister as the Chairperson along with part time members with 15 objectives to facilitated the decentralization planning process.
He ended with introspecting concerns on NITI Aayog as an administrative architecture, financial mandate for an advisory body, capacity, expertise and mandate to coordinate and integrate the different departments, mechanism to integrate the regional plan into a national plan and the rational of allotting 20 lakh crores without a budget on the pretext of special assistance to the states.
In his keynote address, Vani K Borooah elaborated on the concept of social exclusion and policy that hinders equal access and equal growth. He argues that all forms of social exclusion matters if it leads to depriving human dignity and lowers the sense of self esteem thus leading to losing life opportunities.
He further explains that if people with similar potentials results in varying level of achievement owing to the circumstances of deprivation, it will amounts to exclusion.
Such excluding variables can be gender, social group, religion and others, he said. Explaining the interplay of these factors he talked about multi layered exclusion based on a study led by him. Interesting findings implies that poverty amounts for 50% of exclusion from life chances, while social grouping , rural origin follows in the ranking.
Borooah implores the imperative need to research how people are treated after inclusive entrance in higher studies and voiced concern about support policies to make people inclusive. `Inclusiveness would mean a fusion where everyone is integrated into the fabric of human resource, and fit in to assimilate and become a part of the popular culture.`
He added, In India this is often seen as a nuisance however it is imperative to bring this to the consciousness and attention of every citizen.
Prof. L Tombi Singh, Director CSSEIP & Head Dept. of Economics and the guest of honour for the function cited various cases of discrimination and deprivation both within and outside the state. He said, how can the BJP conveniently claim that it was a printing mistake after referring to us as immigrants in their election manifesto. Such is their mindset towards us.
He explains, `Our primary exclusion is that we are politically and economically excluded and discriminated in developmental process. Inclusive policy in implementation is exclusively benefited by few powerful people. Such disparity has deprived us from inclusive growth.`
Prof. HNK Sarma, Vice Chancellor, MU also attended the inaugural as the president and supported the new approach of inclusive growth to decentralize and suggest that more conducive environment will expedite the development.
The two day international seminar was organized by Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Manipur University under the sponsorship of ICSSR.