Discriminatory UP model of development cause of despair

Good governance isn't an impossible aim that shall entail despair as price. Progress and prosperity are the common motives of any society or community, as were the objectives of the struggle for Uttarakhand statehood. But not much has changed for good and people believe the present day Uttarakhand is a throwback to the bygone Uttar Pradesh era.

The Uttar Pradesh governments ignored the peculiarities and problems of the hilly region and the conditions didn’t improve to the satisfaction of people in the last 16 years of the state. Successive Uttarakhand governments continued to follow the discriminatory Uttar Pradesh model of development and policymaking and people continued to pay a great deal too dear for what could be provided freely. Peculiar geographical, social, cultural and economic conditions of the hilly region have not been the prime focus of the policies. Even plans and decisions, even if delayed, were not implemented properly and bred corruption. The losses of delayed decisions and their non-implementation are forever; irreversible. People are put off by limber vows and promises of politicians. Visions of good days after statehood have been lost in confusion and commotion. Nature too lent the unkindest cut, and people continue to bear the adverse force of weather. Political leaders enjoyed the fruits of origin of Uttarakhand while people continued to suffer. Corruption and mis-governance thrived and so did the nexus between politicians, builders and mafia. A people’s voice is dangerous when charged with intense anger.

Natural resources not utilised properly

Nature has bequeathed all major climatic conditions and natural resources to Uttarakhand. These resources could have been used for development purposes in a way to provide employment avenues and strengthening the economic condition of the hilly region. There are a large number of varieties of rare herbs and medicinal plants in the state. The hilly area is suitable for the development of horticulture, floriculture, herbiculture, tourism and controlled harnessing of the hydroelectric potential. The state has mineral wealth in the form of limestone, marble stone, rock phosphate, dolomite, magasite, copper and gypsum. However, successive state governments failed to harness these resources for development purposes. Half-hearted and uncoordinated efforts were made that failed to give the desired results due to lack of vision and willpower on the part of planners. 

Mizoram example to follow

Uttarakhand can learn from Mizoram. I was the Governor of Mizoram from 2006 to 2011. That state had an agriculture-based economy. Tribal people were following the traditional system of “jhoom”cultivation, wherein forestland was cleared of woods and the piece of land was used for cultivation of two crops. Thereafter it was abandoned and a fresh stretch of forest was cut for sowing crops. This not only resulted in degradation of forests but also made people live a life of nomads. To find a permanent solution to the problem, a plan for the overall development of the state based on its natural resources was formulated. Every farmer was given a piece of land for cultivation and permanent development. Agriculture activity was diversified to include cultivation of cash crops such as ginger and turmeric, flowers such as anthurium, bamboo and broom grass and development of grape orchards. To assist people to adapt to new cultivation patterns, a scheme of subsidy was also worked out to be provided by the Union government. The subsidy was paid in four to six monthly instalments to ensure that it is used for the intended purpose. The next instalment was paid once the previous instalment was properly utilised. All agricultural products were organic. In fact most districts of Mizoram have been declared organic. Today, Mizoram supplies ginger and turmeric to other states, exports anthurium flowers and is a major supplier of bamboo to the match industry. Grapes grown in the state are being used to produce high quality wine. It is a major supplier of grass for broom making. These activities have turned around the economy of Mizoram. There is need to make a similar development plan based on the resources of Uttarakhand.  

Civil society groups

In fact corruption and the land and mining mafia flourished in Uttarakhand and people began to disbelieve and disdain political leaders. Elections passed with leaders making tall promises only to disappoint the electorate later. People are disillusioned with the political leadership of the state as they feel cheated by their leaders who have been working for personal gains. This widespread disenchantment with the political system has led to formation of various civil society groups. They are encouraging people to vote for honest candidates who fight the election as Independent.  

People’s role in ensuring fair elections

Elections witness wanton use of ill-gotten money to lure voters. Uttarakhand can learn from Mizoram how to curb misuse of money power in elections. In the 2008 Assembly elections in Mizoram, church leaders were motivated to take a proactive role in ensuring minimum use of money. About six months before the expected date of elections, the church leaders framed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) from the election code of conduct. The pact prohibited use of posters, door-to-door campaigning and loudspeakers. But in case any party wanted to address a public meeting, church leaders would be informed and their nominated member would chair the meeting. Once the MoU was finalised, its copies were given to the presidents and the general secretaries of all political parties at a meeting. They were instructed to suggest modification or changes in the pact at the forthcoming meeting. The amended and finalised MoU was signed by the presidents and general secretaries of the parties. After this, the church leaders created a team of volunteers from village-level upward to ensure enforcement of the terms of the MoU, once the elections were announced. 

A few days after the announcement of the elections, a representative of the incumbent Chief Minister distributed money to a few widows in a village at night to seek their votes. At first light, these women went to the village church and handed over the money to the priest. They told him about the Chief Minister's representative who had come to offer money in lieu of their votes. 

In Mizoram, every church has a public address system covering a village. The priest announced on the public address system that the representative tried to bribe some village widows to seek their votes and this was a sin according to the Bible. This has a profound impact and the sitting Chief Minister lost the elections by a huge margin. The post-election analysis showed that some winning candidates had spent less than Rs 50,000 each. 

To fulfil the dreams of Uttarakhand statehood agitators, who lost their life during the struggle, and the aspirations of people, it is essential to insulate the election process from money power. This can be achieved only by motivating and educating voters not to fall prey to the lure of lucre and vote for honest and dedicated candidates. The upcoming elections provide the people of Uttarakhand an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the country and lay the foundation for a bright future.