discourse of development

DISCOURSE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDY OF ARUNACHAT PRADESH

IN TRANSITION

Ecilted by Umo Dullo

(Prlnclpol, eovernment College, Bomdilo)

Sponsored by UGC

Norlh Eqslern Reglon, euwohoti

2001 GOVERNMENT COLLEGE BOMDILA ARUNACHAL PRADESH

@ covrnNMENT coLLEeE,

BOMDI LA, ARUNACHAL PR,ADESH' 2001

Fore

[ckr

]on ntre

lrla First Published 2O01 I

All rights reserved. No part ol this publication may bg' reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmittedi in any lorm or by any means without the priot. permission in writing of the Government College; Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh.

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l.t Cover Design

Manislr Sfrarma

I

10

worksw and we ised ar

NhlTEGRATt0t't OR DTSJUNCTTON : T[{E DISCOURSE OF DEVELOPMENT If{ ARUT'{ACHAL PRADESH INTRANSITION

Krushna Chandra

e has got to usec

though its c of its quan

M

Any discourse of development is a summative statement on the *f change for the better that the people of an area have come eni"rv over a pericd of tirne. so long the period in question is referred

a whole, the *:varuation of achievement in serected fierrrs of

could be and to hr evelopmentz better thal ies in their c< through c< the period un

tr

intr*rvention is made with the status obraining at lhe two cut-off dates and the change in the interregnum is brought to focus. ln 'eferenis, r:enss,, tire dis*ourse has to foliow the integrurtive approach. But on other h;rr;ii each inriiviriuar thrust area of deveropmenuintervention its own picture of c{everapment. Thus, it happens rhat among many indi, area$ like an oasis in a desert sometimes green patches in ErsV cnrni:inecJ contrlbution provide kind of a nuity of effect and the Ecenario thu.s emerging comes to satisfy the evaruator though the anar of t!'i*r Erelr r*d u'rJeveroped reaves much to be desired. it is nere tnar liag*enlr':d riirr:ou-Ee of ihe tievelopment justifies itself because it is in analysil utrcri that causes leading to differentiation and alienation st cul' anr-l again irr order that the fragrnented in the urtimate anarysis :: ire riried to iead t*wards the integrated, the synthesized,

e modif

remedial pr lopment eve ments at tl experience a beara uniform ure of develo5 fore.

olA

such ani

couki r:n tire iast uounr he found ser,ring our end .f fixing whe rJe,;eiilplnenl has taken place or not ancl whether the strategie ini*ru"':r:ticn

,:ra+

i'

The Governme tribes...to ther

ths nq:ed of any corrective thrust.

rt is here by putling pasi, rhe present and the future thar the fragmented courd, lndia was lhr j'i*sraieqr, the aiieni?teil courd be readmitted in to the projecr of marked as cnrnSmsit*"" ancJ the unified harmony and the rlifferentiation could be exobh$ way of Govt. ol in ilia:J rnff tuiie ert ecquaiity;,rnd unity. The grand mission to wipe out ,el ially Excludec Erne rilrr!th'3

ffi

fr"r:r* r-!\!'*rv sy*e' co*ici thevl be achieved. Nol

under compursion a fra 'eiir iiln']tr)friiry unity to prr:vide the platform for cooperalive produ i')ricr*a!*ilrs rffruid then be forgetl, but instead fralrnity-bond-based m

sp0rriilifi{r*u$ ennrbining of the efforts then would be possible. when

124

of Assan

present Arur ntment of on

inistralion

works with the collectiw for the wider concerns of peace, progress, t and well-being of all, both the individualand the colleclive would ised and not estranged. Development in its discourse by the very compulsion of its accumulalive e has got to be fragmentary in character in relation to the time spans

ON

Chandra M rnt on

the

used to measure it at isolated individual independent points of though its compilationalshape may be successf ully tapped to posit a

of its quantum in totality over a period of time where spans al points could be added together to help predict a lrenrl of development on

)ome

hand and to help analyze the lacrors contributing to or adversely affecting

r is referred

developmental process it'self. Development is an indicator of change better that a people as a whole experience. lt is a critique of how in their complex lormation have been efffectively harmonised by a through collective, collaborative, cooperative endeavour sustained the period underquestion in pursuit of a vision and a plan even through modification and correction of these as per time-bound reviews

lelds of rt-off dates

lo focus.

I

rach. But tervenlion J rtany patches in :he

ugh the

is here t cause it is in llienation sl analysis ll , such ana fixing wh i

;

strategi

re by putti

renled

project of uld be

wipe out, rulsion a fra

ve prod -based ible. When

remedial programmes of action. Under democratic governance lopment every-where has come under sharp focus of the elected ments al the centre and the states. ln case of Arunachal pradesh experience also holds true. ln pan-lndian context development does bear a uniform pattern to offer and studies abound as to this very unequal ure ol development being responsible for regional aspirations to come

fore.

ol Arunachal Pradesh in Historical Setting

;

The Government of lndia's 1g1 1 despatch considering the need 'to leave tribes. ..to themselves' and not allow any unclue sense of inclependence' 1990) interfere in the peacef ul rule of the Britishers in the mainlndia was lhe simon commission's basis to suggest creation of tribal marked as 'excluded' and 'partially excluded,areas,. And as a resull of Govt. of lndia Act, 1935 and Government of lndia (Excluded and ially Excluded Areas)orcJer, 1936 during Sir Robert Reid's period (as of Assam from 1 937 to 1 942) the then North Eastern Fronlier Tracts

present Arunachal Pradesh) came to be loosely administered with of one Secretary in 1 937 for assisting the Governor (of lssam) inistration of the hill areas of the present day Assam, Nagaland,

tzc

'leqhaiar,ia and ,Arunachal pradesh (Choudhary 19g0) ln 19S4 with rronrirl atiori nf the lrlcrlh-East Frontier Administration Regt_rlation, the N iame to have fr.lll-scale and iritegra{eri administration. (choudhary : 19i

to lancl).The

The flrst e.r-er developnrentai schemes with a totar outr-ray of only seq lir!.i!';s 'n'er* i*un*hed in Arunacl"rl Fradesh (then NEFA) in 194g-49 riri 1* !Q6P ilqvernnianl speneiing accounred primarily ,for er,tension ir*,"irir:islr;:it;.iil aild tr:rging a cor* of tetlrni*al services,(OhoucJhary : 1 l-l*wevrr, irilrr 19{iS Lrnr.ler Five y*ar pians {eveloprnent activities ha fir:ril"iilcln,j'oriil lncrer*sed pr$visir-rlls (,f allotment embracing rnany key

aii-lndia"lnibal *onference) r"rad expressed a iike de "we wan{ firs{ tlrey {the goocl old customs of the tribal$) sguld survive, bt the ,$aifls tirrre we want that you {the tribes-men) should b-e educated *iici:irj do 'rr.:l;l'parl irr the uueffare of our country. (Vidyarthi et al, 1 i.iehru'* r:i.;r"r*$rn$ ihsn as {he First Frirne l,{inlster of the counlry to work lilar i"jsvq;1i1pvri{*t #l all reflecl ihe lntegration-question and collectil i";illntr;hij1i$il queritinrr in the task oi buildinc up a strong, vibrant ilfflsperous {niJia. Wlien he lvaftted the tribes to cievelop ,,abng the their *wn geniu*", his intentlon wa$ io encourage sponlaneous i rf rhe trib*s iri their chcr,sen rnethoctrs and areas of developrrnent witi rjictatkrn, iritednrence and exploitation frorn out$ide, Dr. Elwin, whose 1 i ihu [3aiga, l-i:r'rclcin, ,iohn [4r.l ray) ',N*ltional park theory pleading lo lire lribes as |ru$eLlm iipeciniens arid j 94 j (Loss of the Nerve) iv*re crilicrr"eci after !nitial aoceptiinc*, in l sss (A philosophy for NEFA, lli";i,rioer{-;l"i

ci*rified

*i

our democral nsideration. Th could I "As a matter c desh, the ther ; alrnost impe T lhe process pattern of life, ergroup relation

become more gohain, 'Chang

timeiy rrrogress of the tribals was what

is of Wet Sian municalion, ex ental pl; ure, health, ically changed

td*l,u fleinr) fflwin appreciated the Thak {* pr*vici* slaliwr.riy sa{r:-guard for the proteclion of

,rris ii*;:r:s {vicfu*rlhr et al, 1$i}4:4 t s)

l-h* l-hakkar consideration

prlniarily iil ensurs devni*pnren{, prevenl exploitation, difteril:rti.*iirrn sftd aridless tu the, proLriern nf alionation (here i:':xi,!i!i.ri,,iJ

xas

ence, spiri

to the

irr i$$I,

iijcr.:'iirfrr'i.)l'rdai:i$i-r

icularly in th

for apprecii

w;ru genrecl r:pt*. L"at*r in I1}6s {A, New Deal fclr Trihal india,

irlui:lrshr+ri i.*rl':j

*rrt

). The "basis fr

contact shoul , 1994 :{ " and "de! non-intefferenc

,,Jn"gdalpur 1['t.11]

$Nrillcing)

come forv , while holding

The Schedulet . changes shou

iJuring il-ii: Ffue year ptiuls an atternpt has !:een rnacle for bringing a cnrnprehel'shie anci integratecl change in the social, economic, p iind #ullLiral lii.',r rrf Ihe tribai p*gple,' (Viclyarthi et. ai, 19g4 :461), wher "r":*n'Jiti'iirs iir rihirlr trirey can contribute their best to the total growth of c,:ilntl'y" {lnirj"; havr, been created. Nehru in 1$55 (whi,i: addressing

i:'il.

ed adequa ulation and in tribal has we

ion tlre swift lra ernity." (Miban j$i

*r f*i ,s-

s!,

i#'#.i$#*lri!ii,e,uuf;

i

1954 wilh rlation, lhe N )udhary : 1

ly of only 1948-49

or extension ruldhary:

1

activities nany key r

bringing

urornir:,

461), wher lgrowth of dressing al

d a like i survive,

reducated hi et al, 19 ntry to

rnd coll I, vibrant 'ng the I JS

Dmenl

r, whose'l rading lo r"isolation tor I{EFA,

was what ibal lndia, he Thak lection of ideration 't, discour

iq5-q#rg3g!:ilt|:

to land). The Govt. of rndia in its pranning for the tribar c{everopment }ras lected adequate 'concern' for the werf;lre ancr weil-being of the t;"ibar

ion and in context of Arunachar pradesh "v/ith the change of tirne, e tribai has welconrecJ the initiative on the pail of the (iovernrnent and come fcln'vard tr: cooper;rro with the way for irnprovino his economic t, while holding cn to his sacred tirne hnnoureC flulture,, (lr.,1ibang, 199a l). The "basis for the generods treatment" whir:h the tribesrnen in Incia.

:

rticularly in the l{orth Easl, are getting,, r:ould f:e ,,ou3,,,

t",

,, it,,-. ience, spirit, vision antJ moral force of Dr. Elvrin" {lv,libanE, 1994 : g0). -lhe ticheduled rribe comnrission (1990-61) in its i:leport sugg*sterJ ihat . changes should notr destroy the harmony of their (,,the tribals") life, and e contact should nnt result in suppressirrg their cfistin*tive persnn;*llty,'

ibang, 1994 :86).The report had its c*nsirjeration for tho',protective " and "developmental aspecis"" preventir,n of exploitation, prr:rnlue non-intederelrce and nr:n-impcisition and persriusion and prevailinE u;:ori for appreuiatiorr, acceptance and integre"tion withcut opposition ancl ruction to lher grand objectivr:s of thn Inclian cormtitr.rtion in #re r;onlext

our democratic ideals thus were the oomrni*sion's irnmediate

'l-he ion. change and cJevelopn-rent Arunachal Flri*desh nas ergcrtre could be sumrned up in the following way :

"As a rnatler of {act, during British Rule, social change in Arunachal deslr, the then l\orth Eastern Frontier Agency wa* gradual ancl verv , alrnost imperceptibie. only alter the ailainment of indepenclence in 947 the process of social change has been extensive aneJ expoditioLrs^ paltern of life, both public and private, the rneans of earning livelihood. ergroup relationship and both social as well as political awareness have become rnore prLrnounced th;ln ever Lrefore in the nation's histnry' {l.l gohain, 'Changes and D*velopment in the socio-econornic life of the

is of Wet Siang district,' Resarun, p. Ati) \nlith the improvernenl of lommunication, extension of administration and implementation of varr*us mental plans and projects, esprecially in respect of educatian, griculture, health care by tlie goverrrment during lhe last two cJecrxlss has dically changed the socio-econornic profile of ihe lerritcli-y anri *er into, ion the swift transition c.rf tlre tribal soclety frorr traditionai way of iife.t* ernity." (Mibang, 1994 : BB-89). 127

Continuity And Change Under Developmental lnitiatives

:

Arunachal Pradesh in trasition from tradition to modernity offers a of change in practically all spheres of life of the people that consisten pleads of laudable achievements in lerms of development through soc harmony. lt is remarkable that after the establishment of regular network administrative cenlres in the interior of the hills, particularly after 1 g56, ,, tribal feuds or village warfare have virtually ceased and people have to be aware of the advantages of a permanenl network ol adm their midsl." (Mibang, 1994 : 92). This, to me, is a great step the lribes-men in Arunachal pradesh been able lo take rowards achieving internal harmony and order for coexistence under planned cooperatirin.whereas the rest of the North has been a place of unrest and agitation, for rong Arunachar pradesh conlinued to maintain the distinction as lhe lsland of peace. Andin almosphere of lranquillity and security, developmentaltask has been to proceed in the state. Frequenl and regurar rarge scare natural ca like flood and landsride have disrupted rhe d road communicarion, contact with the rest of the country has been impaired. Tolls of life property during devastating monsoons have been quite disturbing. But lhen disaster'preparedness in the srate offers a rerieving picture.The net

of cooperatives have rendered admirable services lo the people, administration all over the state in such periods has remained active boldly respond to all kinds of service-demands of an unpredicted nature. From this experience one courd safery discount the fears rhat (1984) and many of the Tribal lndia,s researchers shared regarding the of development programmes for an inepl bureaucracy. Arunachal pr in this regard to a great extent is an exception. Bureaucralic

apathy impromptitude to a grear extent is not seen here, Researchers wor elsewhere in the Tribar area have been red lo attribure the faiture of developrnenlal exercises of the Governmenr to (i) "socio-culrural factr hinderlng the acceptance of an innovation", and (2) 'rack of personner right motivation and correct aptitude lo work in the tribalareas,'. (Vidvarrh et al, 1 984 : 461 ). lr/ibang (1994) in this regard makes a signif icant remi :The "single line Administration" has "greatly increased lhe etficiency work and the spirit of cooperation among rhe officers" (p.93) and at same tinre the rigorous exercise at all levels of the administration and

128

lemented

,

maker

uring the inistration le in admi

country h: been res try'. (Miba As a result, of Arur munity Dr eat deal in in lation that e: nlany new ide tve so disseminat

)the gr:ateker teacher har change ag, imation..." (l On the socir former Lt. C Prad unique. The second l breeze of cl urbing the e

lopmentArunachalF modern in al e lime too I

tribalcomn identity

originalna becaus

::r:::^:'::::llj:o:'ntesrared"jpffi,3*1$}$'1ffi$ttrffifl benefit,h";;;;;;;#". nsuring >urces makes development results accrue to

the cooperatinn of the peopre has arso been easy for the l:::::i"j:leroilaborarive resutr thus r,u" J""n quire sarisfyins rhe ,ple in administration drawn from the stale as

ier 1956, ple have

*",,r" U",

li;;;jr.';;

country have worked w*h dedication and 'missionary zea' and they ,change bringing in rhis far-fturrg area of the l,T",i,:::O"n:ll" ry'. (Mibang, 1994 "r : 94).

,,int

lministration

As a resurt of the creveropment initiatives of the Governrnent, ,,t'day the pradesh are no tonger.io**ol,o,n rhe outside wortct. l3::,:l.1ili::hat tmunity Development programme anc.l panchayati Raj have helpecl a .the mobitiry.of rurarpeopre airo nreaxing down rhe t that existed previousty, between the vi,age ano asricutturat iractices, heatth_services, :::,::::1,:gafflns ilo.roved oeralive societies etc. which are diic'ssed in ilre viilage by rho Anchar ,n"*"rrr. ...(who happens ro .

Pradesh er for he North

Pradesh

:e. Andin

l,::?3':::i:iig

i;;;;;;,

""il;",

ing. But

;lrh.;;il;;;;il;;;; i:::T,1,:: ) th e ratekeeper of chan ge rhe rage. A*"6th;;;ffi vftat rote to ptay in moo",:ni*ins rhe "trffi:il: viilase ... or ail ::?1e'h11 li:: ""^r: change agents, the teacher o""uji". rh" hid;;ip;#;.";;J* imation..." (Mibang,

The people,

?jl:-::"::econoryg

ed active

l"^r::l*::g."r,"rnor.shir

as been ral nication,

g

ls of life

in

1

994: 94_95).

rransf ormalion exercises in Arunachar prad esh K. A. A. Raja observe*

::1"^::.T: ?::'^lirrn

ro rnake up for flre

il;;;ffi;ilil;

nesl;t onhe

century

oin",l"iii"l;'i; T;; :llfl:"::: i:lT:li::':k:n ro.this remote ^,,"pig North Eastern 3 :::T1 l'*er ""r.;;'; il;, i# ff"J

hat rg the

tal apathy

.striies i^

urbing the even tenor of tife of the peopte.

)rs

re of grand rral factors lrsonnel , (Vidyart mt ficiency rnd at ,

and

vir

ment-lnjected General Aspirations

d;;

,

;;d;i

:

Arunachar Pradesh in transition has raised aspirations in the peopre to of tiving. The love of the tradirion however is ailhe litoo"llstrong ."spects to be overcome (Mishra : 1999). l".Jirn" of Arunachat pradesh have srarred ro rejecr rheir rr identity and raken new names on rhe prerext were siyul by lho ptains peopre. rhis

:.Y:

M;;;;; ffi ;

I,l*:,l.rylties

ilJ;;; ffi"';i

:Jyl1,^::i:1a.nd because today they are afraid

happenerd

of tosing the- ,o-riov

".J-r#ffiIl,

129 i j

I

Is

as they are becorning more and more close with people in the plains. elite have come up with the opinion that it is high time for thorrr to ident themselves by their original name and at the same time form some c groups for every community wherein they should receive all their I or there is a chance for them to lose everylhing in the wake of the changes due to modernization. Political participation at evory level is a

ono hand ium of cr 994:10).Th tnc uage.Thr e1

encouraged along-with educational, economic developments

ir

(Bhagawati : 1990)

The preceding identlty-consciousness is a malter of contact with t outside world in a nrrore vigorous forrn and a reeultant of edllcaiion, culturesensltivity rrnci poiitical con$ider?"ti$ns. l-he experie nce in the past of and inclirect exploitation ln the hands ol the Eritishers aligned with

apprehensiolr that in post-independence phase political exclusion mi breed fast, the Arunachal Pradesh indigenous people have kept track power configuralions againsl a* all-lndia perspective and; as a coupling their evaluation of their slrategic locational advantage with l cornpetitirre aspirations to advance fast they have an order of that far outdoes the rate of progress in the major part'of the tribal lndia. ona cornparos the progress of Arunachal Pradesh-tribes with those f)rissa or Andhra Pradesh, one may be convinced that isolation arising of very many compulsions of situation both in British lndia and inrdependence lndia has allowed A,runachal Pradesh to emerge as a of political attention in a unique way. The people of this North Eastern slate have not seen much use in the tactics of resenting orthreatening separation while bargaining for ailention of the Governmenl of lnriia adequate lunds for developrnental schemes. As a consequence, as "lsland of Peace", the state has put up a unique example and without disturbance has taken place in an unimpedecj manner. Closely allied to the pursuit of culturaldistinctiveness, the communit in Arunachal Pradesh have come to feelthat language as a toolof ancl as a carrier of the culture has lo be retained and developed. challenge has been to teach languages so far ariailable in the unscript

ertainmen ependenc,

g

rmpc

ional as w

ion

fr

has ber are or in Galoc

out ir n a bid to har the primarl

empts are e a signifi disuse an the 1990's i ment r ission with . Allsuch r the various the Juture. r

nachalP As a refle of tribes and o

fonn as leical dialects. The language scene in Arunachal pradesh is picturesque and bewidlering as its flora and fauna. The absence of

or Orisr e. These

common language has been a barrier to the development of the slate as whole.l'he dialects of different tribal cr:mmunilies for an absence of

instanc

130

plains. Th am lo 60m6 0 heir f $

:

of the y levelis

llopments rtact with t ltion, ast of n

ned with :lusion mi kept track as a rest rge witlr th developme :ribal lndia,

vith those rn arising a and

easa Eastern 'eatening r

of lndia ence. as

romIn

rlof

ident rloped.

runscripl ldesh is sence of e state as ce of scr

handandrormuruarr-,",-,,,r,r',,Jtryffi'rqmH'f#m-T$rUfff,H* of communjcatisn to be Assamese, l"lindi ancj Errglish {Mih_rrrg, 94:lcl).Tlrestateloac.rer:;r'ii1.rr'i;*i'; beeri quircccirisrii,ul,-itri-t1.-,'r,i"rii"|, ling in contexl of lndia and its struggle to develop Hin