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| Debate marks seminar on special category States in University | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 30- The 2- day seminar on “Development of Special category States: Problems and Prospects” organized by the Department of Economics, University of Jammu suddenly burst into life in the form of a debate between Professor N.K. Taneja of Chaudhury Charan Singh University, Meerut on one side and Dr M.K Datta of IIT Guwahati and Atul Kumar Deputy Director, Industries, Jammu and Kashmir Government on the other.
The debate was sparked off by some observations made by Professor Taneja, who was chairing a technical session of the seminar. Prof Taneja commented that the Special Category States had not developed as fast as it had been hoped on account of their “inhospitable” attitude to “outsiders” and poor human capabilities. This lack of openness was, according to Prof Taneja, the main cause of their poor developmental record. Responding to this, Dr Datta cautioned against excess generalization pointing out that even non-special category states had a poor record when it came to industrialization. Pointing out to the poor record of West Bengal and mineral rich Jharkhand, Dr Datta observed that economic development was a complex process. He pointed out that Assam in particular was a place which had long welcomed settlers from all over. Atul Kumar from Jammu and Kashmir pointed out that contrary to popular belief, clearing of files for industrial projects in Jammu and Kashmir was faster than Himachal Pradesh. He asserted that in this respect Jammu and Kashmir was more welcoming than Himachal Pradesh.
Other speakers included Dr Pradip Biswas, College of Vocational Studies, Delhi University whose study revealed that in terms of value addition the un-organized manufacturing sector does better than the all-India average. He proposed that knowledge about the technical ‘Upgradation Fund’ be disseminated so that entrepreneurs upgrade their techniques. Dr M.K. Datta spoke on the North East experience where owning to its landlocked nature this region has stagnated.
Manoj Bhatt, Department of Economics, University of Jammu asking whether India's Fiscal Federalism was “green” pointed out to the inconsistency of India's attitudes towards deforestation given that it does not compensate special category states from harvesting their forests but in international negotiations holds on to this principle.
Dr Subrata Mandal of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy spoke on land use and mountain development in special category states and recommended a participatory decentralized model where local institutions could be strengthened. Dr Ashish Saxena, Department of Sociology, University of Jammu opined that although the idea of decentralization in Jammu and Kashmir was old starting with Maharaja Hari Singh's initiatives, it was never properly implemented. The existing set up was not satisfactory and did not accept the basic recommendations of the 73rd Amendment.
Earlier, the seminar supported by the Indian Council for Social Science Research started with a welcome address by Prof Rajender Gupta, the HOD Economics. Welcoming the participants he traced the genesis of special category states and outlined their peculiar needs.
The chief guest and keynote speaker, Prof V.R. Panchmukhi, former Chairman of the ICSSR spoke on the development paradigm India should choose. He opined that the current global financial crisis has caused the end of the present wave of globalization and that there was need for a new paradigm which he termed as Holistic Paradigm of Development whose key elements were high growth process, giving full attention to social aspects of development and development that gave place to values. Invoking Ancient Indian thoughts he listed out a list of dos and don’ts for future policy planners. G.A. Qureshi, Director General Economics and Statistics spoke on developments in Jammu and Kashmir questioning whether special category states have used the special assistance granted to them effectively. He voiced concern that in special category states natural resources were being degraded at a rapid pace.
While congratulating the Department for organizing the seminar, Professor, B.P.S Sehgal Dean, Academic Affairs, University of Jammu traced the genesis of special category states from the original provisions of the constitution.
Prof Nirmal Gupta, Department of Economics and Honorary Director of the School for Visual and Performing Arts, Design and Architecture, University of Jammu presented vote of thanks.
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