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| wise words ::. | | What is the difference between genius and stupidity? Genius has limits. - Albert Einstein. |
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| editorial. | 15/10/02 |
Rural connectivity
Only when the Centre takes an interest in the rural population does it seem that state governments give some attention to them. If the opposition leader's accusation of neglect of border area villages are true and the past Congress ministry and the present MNF ministry did not take up the schemes for rural connectivity in the eastern area of the state, it can really be said that governments have been truly indifferent to the plight of the people.
With the Centre having allocated funds for the development of border areas and the connection of rural villages with good roads, it is hopeful that development will now start to take shape in the more inaccessible parts of the state.
However, rural connectivity can have many connotations in view of rural areas being neglected in so many ways. Not only are they neglected in terms of giving them good roads, they are neglected in the areas of health and hygiene, power, drinking water and work. A good connection between Aizawl and the rural areas in terms of knowing their difficulties and hardships are needed.
The rural connectivity being initiated now through the Centre's funds is a good start. However, road connections, while valuable, are not enough. Why are the people of the southern parts unhappy with the government? Because there is no real connection between Aizawl and the districts. Lunglei is connected by good a good road, a national highway. Still, the people of this town and its surroundings are unhappy with the government. This can be directly attributed to the lack of emotional connection.
More than the physical connection through roads, what is needed is an emotional connection between the powers-that-be in Aizawl and the rural areas. The accusations of other districts about the government taking an interest only in Aizawl and its nearby surroundings may not be true, but it certainly seems so taking into account the hardships rural and farflung areas have experienced and are still experiencing.
As such, during the implementation of the the rural connectivity scheme, the government must try to establish a more binding emotional bond with the rural areas so as to have connections that are both physical and emotional. The development of a certain area of the state has to go hand in hand with the development of other areas of the state to achieve an encompassing overall development. Developing only a certain portion of the state, be it the people or the land, is self defeating.
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