Welcoming private investments as a means of social and economic restructuring

The policy declared for the North East under the Vision 2020 initiative of the
North eastern Council(NEC)is bold and if properly implemented will undoubtedly
give a new lease of life to the region,which till now has been economically backward. However it is also a fact that any proper implementation
will also require private investments. The most viable is
to seek NRI fundings for the region.The salient features of any investment in the region can be based on the following parameters.
Characteristics of Development Investment
At the end of 1991, the Government of India decided to establish Economic liberalisation policies to support and strengthen the overall process of the nation’s economic growth. Today in conformity with the liberalisation of the economy, economic and technological development zones have been established in all the main industrial cities; all the regional states from coastal region to inland, have become the most flourishing economic areas except the NE States . These Economic and Technological Development policy initiatives were also areas with the largest foreign investment and the highest economic growth in India.Read more on this at http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/29/business/fi-india29.

In view of the need for accelerated growth believe that the future of the region’s Development Area will be more excellent through economic development zones with special supports of Investment finance through NRI/OCB. the main areas of investment are:

Infrastructure
Agriculture,Forestry, Husbandry, Fishery
Metallurgy & Mining Industry
Foodstuff & Light Industry
Service & Agency
High New Science Technology
Petroleum & Chemical Industry
Apparel & Textile
Education & Training
Electronics & Information
Mechanical & Engineering Industry
Medical & Health
Commerce & Restaurant
Information Industry
Environmental Protection
Arts, Crafts, Sports, Office, Supplies
Business and Property Right
Transportation
Building Materials
Finance & Insurance
Places for Renting
Water & Electricity, Energy
Real Estate
Tourism & Recreation

Meghalaya is one of the states that can offer a congenial inestment environment due to its location and accessibility coupled with a more disciplined financial management in the state.
Meghalaya,lies in the heart of the North East is now poised to take its place as an investment destination in the region. In this region, it is the only state which offers an investment climate that is conducive even to foreign investors.
Meghalaya is central to the region, which accounts for its easy accessibility to other capital cities and international gateways, and to potential markets. It is the closest state to Bangladesh, now the industrial and commercial center of southern Asia.
As with its strategic location, Meghalaya also establishes itself as the most progressive state in matters of administration, transparency and accountability. Despite the generally volatile situation in the entire region, it has ensured an environment of peace and stability.

Wealth of Natural Resources, Seat of History and Culture
Meghalaya is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna, including unique geological formations, which never ceases to amaze.
Local traditions have created a rich tapestry of history and culture. These are vibrantly expressed in the music, dance, poetry, crafts, cuisine, in the fiestas; and experienced in the well-preserved heritage structures and sites.
Quality Manpower
The primary asset is its people, with the distinctive quality traits of hospitality, friendliness, dedication to work, industry and self- reliance. Literacy rate is high at 87%, with English as the medium of instruction in education and business. The population includes a highly trainable human resource, making up a dynamic Quality manpower pool to potentially supplement growing technological and enterprise market demands.
Infrastructure Support
Meghalaya is one of the states in the region that has recognized the need to provide necessary infrastructure facilities for a growing population and the increasing demand of commerce and industry. Basic infrastructures like Water and power services have greatly improved. The power projects with capacity for reserved power highlights the focus of the government. The national highways and border roads that link to remote centers have increasingly provided efficient access and transport of people, goods and services.
With the support of NRI finance investments, the state can initiate major development in these sectors without the concern for creation of liabilities and shortage of infrastructure fund. As an overall impact it would enable the capacity to adopt joint venture project between the state Government and private partners ensuring asset creation, revenue generation and increased outflow/inflow of trade and commerce.
Investment Opportunities

Tourism

• Accommodation Facilities
• Health and wellness tourism facilities
• Diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and spa facilities
• Retirement villages
• Housing, with integrated facilities an nursing and care-taking, community activities, shopping
• Restaurants / Food outlets
• Nature parks
• Golf course
• Transportation Services
• Other tourism-related services
Agri-business

• High-value crop production
• Aquaculture
• Resource-based agri-processing industries
• Coconut, mango, ube, aquamarine products, and others
• Post-harvest facilities
• Commercial tree farming
IT Services

• Business process outsourcing (BPO)- Non-voice
• Medical transcription
• Legal, financial, engineering and architectural services, etc.
• Manpower training facilities
Light Manufacturing

• Precision assembly / semi-conductors
• Furniture / Furnishings
• Garments
• Farm implements
Services

• Media / Advertising
• Medical services / facilities
• Financial, engineering, architectural services
• Training and sports facilities
Energy

• Development of Indigenous/Renewable Power Source
• Human Resources Development
• Power Generation, transmission and other activities using environment-friendly technologies

Active partnerships with global institutions, non-governmental and grassroots organizations and the private sector are a vital part of developing investment in this state.
What is required is a policy to maintains commitment to local ownership and management. The North East Region of India has a strategic location in the Asian trade and commerce sector and this asset has to be transformed into one of the major business destinations for the ASEAN communities.
In short the time has come when the overview of the economy has to be linked to acceleration of private investment and the most viable and non debt creating mechanism is that of foreign investments especially from NRI sources who have a commitment to building India's economy. For too long we have neen ignored and the time has come for us to take our rightful place in the world by opening our doors to friends who are willing to help,
Regards,
Erwin

The return of the curse of ancient diseases

The plagues and ails of humanity are many. We are passing through a phase when supposedly ancient diseases are now rearing their heads again to haunt and torment us. Malaria is one of the killer diseases that were thought to have been wiped out around the middle of the twentieth century. However we have found that malaria today is a killer disease which is affecting the life and the survival of people in many parts of the state of Meghalaya. The disease has become resistant and new strains have developed which are in the main resistant to many of the drugs prescribed for curing the more traditional forms of malaria. Once upon a time it was thought that malaria was prevalent only in swampy areas infested with brackish water and mosquitoes. The disease has mutated into many forms which have placed a strained on the resources of the state department which is trying its level best to combat the new forms of afflictions. In order to effectively combat the growing pandemic nature of the spread of malaria, people have to be made aware of how to take care of themselves especially when hold families are suffering from this debilitating disease. The pathetic state and condition of health care in the rural areas leaves much to be desired and if we are to deliver an improved health care service to the people many of whom are poor and needy, then many changes have to be brought about in the administration of health care in this state of ours.
However, a more serious concern is in relation to the rise and return of tuberculosis (TB) or what is commonly known as consumption as a disease which is silent, deadly and a killer if proper care is not taken by those stricken by it and by government agencies. This disease is one of mankind’s greatest scourges. The disease can remain dormant for a very long time before manifesting itself and ravaging the human body. Children in particular are very very susceptible. The germ causing TB, the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the main cause of T. B. in human beings. The germ can be trapped in human tissue, surrounded by defensive cells, breeds and finally scaled up as a hard calcified nodule can be seen by X-Ray. The main areas of the human body which are affected are the lungs and stomach. In order to cure this disease, heavy doses of antibiotics are needed and one of the most effective today is the AKT series from Lupine who are the pioneer company in the development of anti tuberculosis drugs. Apart from the above form of this disease, tuberculosis also attacks the bones, a vindictive manifestation especially if the spine is affected which is called Koch’s or Pott’s Spine. I have a firsthand experience of this manifestation because my wife has been afflicted with this form of the disease. The disease is so vindictive that the effect on the spine could only be rectified by major surgery and now she has been bedridden for almost two and a half years. Thank God she’s now up and about.The tubercle bacillus spreads from the primary area of infection, moves into the bloodstream and gets deposited in the bones. It may take years for the disease to manifest itself. The recuperation is long and arduous. As it has been my experience the germ also becomes resistant and requires a regimen of more antibiotics, a generous and sustained dose of tender loving care and proper nutrition. My dear wife had to fight and both mind and body were put to the extreme test not to speak of us at home who had to support and share in her pain. I want to warn people that the germ, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not the only strain that can infect humans. The strain found in cattle especially dairy cows, the bovine bacillus can also attack us if the milk is not properly boiled or pasteurized. The condition and system of rearing dairy cows in and around the city of Shillong testifies to the potential breeding grounds for TB and other diseases. This is a matter that can no longer be ignored given the rising cases of TB everywhere whether it is the rural or urban areas.
Children are very susceptible to the disease. In many cases they develop immunity to TB but time and again the germ may spread to vital organs especially the meninges or covering of the brain where it causes tuberculosis meningitis. The primary cause would be severe exposure to the tubercle bacilli through inhalation or a lowered body resistance due to malnutrition. This is where my primary concern lies. Government action has to be directed towards building up a support system for children in villages in the rural areas in order for them to get proper nutrition. A small help would be to control the rise of prices of food item especially eggs, meat and fruits. Apart from this the efforts being made by the Social Welfare Department, the Education Department and the Health Department should be coordinated by maybe even creating a special task force comprising of these three departments to tackle lowered resistance of rural children as well the poor in the urban areas. The form of the disease in adults is different. The source of the infection however may be traced many times over to infection during childhood which may be a reactivation of the earlier primary infection of the disease or a new and heavier infection. But what cannot be ignored is the need to build up the resistance of the human body. The availability of free vitamins and other supplements would go a long way to solve the problem.
At the end I have to be true to my profession and here again I reiterate the need for an action plan at the political level. Political parties can play an important role in educating the people to take necessary precautions. Signs of infection like frequent bouts of temperature, listlessness in children, strange aches and pains should be brought to the notice of a doctor. A simple test, the Mantoux test will correctly ascertain if the infection is TB. A blood test for the malaria parasite will help identify the root cause so that proper medicines can be administered. A dedicated and trained party cadre will really help government tackle the menace of these ancient but returning and rising diseases.If NGOs and political parties as well village authorities get together, then many of our problems can be tackled in a cooperative and effective way.

A Dark Moon over verdant green

I wake up very early these days. The mornings are pleasant as summer mornings can be.The season is changing and we are supposed to be in the middle of the monsoons but the intermittent rains are tinged by an everlasting, ever so present cold finger of winter. Every year it seems, winter's imperceptible year long presence is stretching itself out into the maturing year. This may be part of the global warming syndrome. Our impact on the environment is proving to be very costly for us right now in the short run, not to speak of the now predictably insecure future for the Earth and the environment.

The state of Meghalaya needs to have a proper environmental policy linked to commerce, industry and human endeavour.This more so in relation to forests. The extent of forests in the state has shrunk to 15, 584 sq Kms, much of which approximately 95% is in private hands. (see more: http://megforest.gov.in/default.htm://The District Councils which have authority over forests are also ineffective in pro active management ( http://khadc.nic.in/sixth_schedule.htm, http://khadc.nic.in/forests/type%20of%20forest%20control%20n%20manage%20by.htm.) The timber ban of the Supreme Court of India in 1996 has proved and ramified the message that we have to seriously start implementing a dynamic policy where forests are concerned. Here I want to interject the human aspect wherein the urgent need of conservation and preservation of the environment has to be tempered with the human need of employment and resource generation. A new policy has to be formulated along these lines, apart from other considerations. Meghalaya which is a revenue scarce state can fall back on forests as a major source of revenue as the British did long long time ago when they were masters of these hills. I must also emphasis here the unique position we enjoy under the Constitution of India. There is a National Forest Polcy in vogue We do not really need to emulate or implement any national polcy, but in fact our own traditional forest management systems should be improved and streamlined and our example should be emulated by others. I am appalled by the fact that though we are a people who have a deep affinity and link with forests we have no say in the formulation of any policy that severely impacts us especially in the rural areas which comprise around 85% of our people. Its high time we wake up to the realities an shoulder the responsiblity.

The Fullmoon Dhar issue is not dying down with press making more and more speculations and allegations the govenment has finally given in and has appointed a judicial probe. More details on this Search Page :http://www.google.co.in/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enIN332IN333&q=fullmoon+dhar .

So long until next time and regards,

Erwin

Hi. I've just started this blog today. In fact its high time I got down to something that been long overdue. I used to have a column entitled "Between the Kettle and the Pot" wherein I discussed many current issues pertaining to Shillong, Meghalaya and North East India published in the Meghalaya Guardian

The monsoons are late this year and from is on the news India's economy is apprehensive. For us here in Shillong the main concern is the level of Umiam Lake and the irritating prospect of intermittent load shedding.

At home we are going through a medical crises since our third daughter Nathalene is fighting "pancreatitis" in Woodlands Hospital. Two years age she gave birth to my first grandchild, a girl fighting this disease. I am glad for the small mercies God gives us and I am asking for strength.

Apart from this, there is also good news is also. I joined the Meghalaya State Law Commission again as Vice Chairman for the third time. We have a stupendous task ahead of us given the peculiar nature of our laws within the existing India Legal system. I intend to put in my bit especially in the light of the abuses and injustice against women and children, the consistent void between rich and poor and the inconsistency in implementing and applying the law.

The case of the recent jailbreak by the notorious Fullmoon Dhar and the allegations of complicated and overlapping nexus between criminals and politicians is a case in point. You can read more of this and the public outcry on this link-http://theshillongtimes.com/

It's already late evening. I' ll be posting my thoughts on many issues. Please feel free to object or support. For friends who have logged on for the first time and are not familiar with this part of the world log on this feed to learn more-http://www.meghalaya.nic.in/

Regards,

Erwin