Abstract
Peripheral and landlocked regions located within nation states are victims of various kinds of social, economic and political handicaps. Since their problems cannot be adequately addressed within the nation state framework, it makes sense to explore the possibilities of sub-regional cooperation with neighbouring countries. Seen from this angle, sub-regional connectivity projects approved by the Indian government as part of its Look (Act) East Policy seem logical and necessary for the development of India’s landlocked Northeast Region. The sub-regional connectivity projects under BIMSTEC, BCIM and MGP have aroused considerable public expectations in the Northeast. But in the absence of effective physical connectivity linking the villages, towns and cities within the peripheral regions, their impact on local economies remains limited and may prove to be counter-productive.
Originally entitled “Interrogating the Look East Policy,” the draft of this chapter was submitted to the International Conference “Look (Act) East Policy and North East India,” organized by the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati, September 25–26, 2015.
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Notes
- 1.
Anupam Shah, Keynote address by Secretary (East) in the ASEAN Ambassadors Interactive Roundtable Forum in New Delhi, September 18, 2014, http://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/24015/Keynote+address+by+Secretary+East+in+the+ASEAN+Ambassadors+Interactive+Roundtable+Fourm+in+New+Delhi+September+18+2014, accessed on November 8, 2015; Inaugural Address by External Affairs Minister at the 3rd Roundtable of ASEAN India Network of Think Tanks, August 25, 2014, http://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/23948/Inaugural+Address+by+External+Affairs+Minister+at+the+3rd+Roundtable+of+ASEAN+India+Network+of+Think+Tanks, accessed on November 22, 2015; Rahul Mishra, “From Look East to Act East: Transitions in India’s Eastward Engagement,” Indian Council of World Affairs, http://www.theasanforum.org/from-look-east-to-act-east-transitions-in-indias-eastward-engagement/, accessed on November 23, 2015.
- 2.
See, “Chinese Cos Plan to Invest $1 bn in Gujarat This Year”, The Hindu: Business Line, www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/chinese-cos-plan-to-invest-1-bn-in-gujrat-this-year/article609710.ece, accessed on February 3, 2016; also other news reports, “Gujarat Bags Bulk of Investment from Modi’s China Trip”, www.india-briefing.com/news/gujarat-bags-bulk-investment-modis-china-trip-10830.html/, accessed on February 3, 2016.; “China to Invest Rs.19,000 crore for Smart City in Gujarat,” May 17, 2015, www.dnaindia.com/money/report-china-to-invest-rs-19000-crore-for-smat-city-in-gujarat-2086536, accessed on February 3, 2016; “Gujarat, an Investment Hotspot for China, Japan,” www.rediff.com/business/report/gujarat-an-investment-hotspot-for-china-japan/20141113.htm, accessed on February 3, 2016.
- 3.
Some studies on road connectivity and development in the context of India also show that the two are not always related. For example, Raghav’s study on road transport connectivity in Rajasthan shows that in 11 out of 26 districts, there was no correlation between connectivity and development. Similarly, N. Ram Singh’s study on rural road connectivity in NEI shows that, although road connectivity in the Northeast is well below the national average, the growth rates both in India and the Northeast was 8 per cent in 2001–02. Despite the subsequent road connectivity in the Northeast, growth rates could not be maintained beyond 2005–06.
See, Raghav, “Road Transport Connectivity Patterns and Economic Development in Rajasthan,” http://www.geographynotes.com/articles/road-transport-connectivity-pattern-and-economic-development-in-rajasthan/229, accessed on January 26, 2016; N. Ram Singh, “Impact of Road Development on the Rural Economy of NE India,” http://epao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Impact_of_road_development_on_rural_economy_of_NE_India.html, accessed on January 26, 2016.
- 4.
Central government budget outlay for the year 2015–16 for the (NHAI) National Highways Authority of India, which takes up the construction and maintenance of highways, is Rs.22,920 crore. The Special Accelerated Road Development Programme, which includes the KMTTP, was given Rs.4000 crore. In contrast the total outlay for rural roads (roads and bridges) stood at Rs.14,291 crore, out of which Rs.1155 crore have been earmarked for NER and Sikkim.
- 5.
See also, “Burma Insurgency,” http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/burma.htm; “List of insurgent groups in Myanmar”, Smith (1999) and Than (2013).
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Srikanth, H. (2018). Look East Policy, Sub-regional Connectivity Projects and Northeast India. In: Sarma, A., Choudhury, S. (eds) Mainstreaming the Northeast in India’s Look and Act East Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5320-7_9
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