[Assam] NRIs can show the way (Letter to the Editor, The Assam Tribune, 08.03.2008)

[Buljit Buragohain]

              NRIs can show the way
 Sir, – The The people of the NE States generally accept problems the way they are and expect things to happen, rather than making things happen for themselves. Perhaps, the idea behind the topic – NRI involvement in development and progress – in ‘People Speak’ column (A.T., February 17), is about initiating a change through people’s participation. However, when we talk of development, we should not think of highways, bridges, high-rise buildings and the like alone, we should rather drastically change our perception of development and think of basic developmental issues faced at the grassroot level which are incidental to growth. While our major development projects are expected to be taken care of by the Planning Commission through the ‘vision document’, there are certain fringe areas which need special attention for progress as well as to supplement the vision document by building local capacities involving the people, NGOs, local governments and other agencies. Such
 areas are generally the issues – that of empowerment, upliftment, community development (human resource), local governments and self reliance that can be evoked through the unlikely global perspective of the NRIs.

Developing an illusionary notion about NRIs only heightens our expectations. Such under-expectation inhibits our thinking ability and makes us incapable to chart out a new course for ourselves. However, this argument could be more sentimental than realistic, but sentiments have no place in a progressive society. I think Rini Kakati, being an NRI herself, is having difficulty in expressing her mind fully on these, and stressed herself to draw a parallel between her expressions and the sentiments of the people. It reflects her true idealistic sensibility. She has a global vision and is in tune with the times. In any case, these are, infact, discussions of a hypothetical case as an academic exercise.

When people talk of NRI, they talk of brain-drain, of seeking greener pasture – a better life abroad. No one should have quarrels on that. Opportunity strikes only once. So, if you get a chance to study or work abroad, go ahead. But do look back at what you have left behind. The logic is simple – even our freedom fighters studied in Oxford and Cambridge but came back to apply their education and knowledge for the nation. But this is not to suggest that the present generation should wind up their foreign affairs and trace their steps back home, though it may have a distinct resonance in contemporary reality in the Indian context, since over 60,000 Indian returnees have shed their NRI baggage to work for their country.

Rural NE is ridden with dogmas. People are divided on castes and creeds, villagers are living with power and potable water problems, the local schools are almost in extinction. It is at this point the NRIs can step in by setting up NGOs– new-type NRI-NGOs – trendy yet unassuming, jetsetting yet rooted ! They can literally get the villagers together to build up a movement for effective local self governance. They can engage citizens’ governments, local NGOs and the corporate world with a view to achieving greater citizens’ participation in local self government. It could be a search for excellence and accomplishment of progress – that ensures that the streets are clean, the garbage got picked up ! That, rural health service is in tune, village out-put is increasing and household economy has picked up ! These are a few examples. In effect, these mean finding effective ways of working towards laudable goals by establishing the norms of participative democracy. These are
 serious challenges and not just money that is needed. More than money what we need is investment of political and intellectual energy if we are to translate the NE States’ often talked gateway metaphor to reality.

NRIs cannot bring a seismic change, but they can revolutionise societies with their global perspective. They can adopt a purposive socialising in their respective resident countries, generally friendly and disarming to social science disciplines as well as institutions, organisations, other agencies and the public at large, thereby absorbing intelligent feed-back in nation building from parallel source of intelligence. The feed backs could then be feed-forward here to help build the local capacity to enable people to grow and choose to excell in every endevour of their lives. – Yours etc., R C SAIKIA, Bordoloinagar, Tinsukia.
   
  (The Assam Tribune,08.03.2008)
                  



       
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