‘Growing inequalities in NE a serious concern’

By Our Reporter

Shillong: The growing inequalities in the largely egalitarian tribal societies of North East India including the severe disparities in income levels among the tribal population of Meghalaya is a case of serious concern and needs to be addressed urgently to avoid long term ramifications on the society.

This has been said by Mr Phrang Roy, former International Civil Servant and ex-vice president of International Fund for Agricultural Development during his recent visit to Shillong. Mr Roy said this while talking to Doordarshan Kendra Shillong in the fortnightly programme - On The Move which will be telecast on Sunday at 7.30 pm from DDK Shillong.

Delving deeply on the issue of marginalisation of a section of the community by citing specific examples of growing inequalities, the former IAS officer of the Maharastra cadre who joined IFAD with a deep sense of involvement to provide adequate food security to thousands in the world with intervention from multi-lateral agencies like IFAD, Mr Roy said that the long cherished values inherent in tribal societies will come under severe strain in the face of imbalances in growth and development.

Observing that this is not a phenomenon unique to this part of the country, Mr Phrang Roy said that it is important to share responsibilities and fates across the economic divide and bring about a uniform spread of prosperity.

Though expressing his happiness at the outcome of the new development paradigm brought about by institutions like IFAD in North East India through the North East region community resource and management group, the man who is actually held responsible for the pioneering efforts in bringing in organisations like IFAD through the much appreciated NARM Groups said that no organisations, institutions or multi-lateral agencies can bring about development until the people themselves decide to better their lives and future with the own endeavours.

The wide ranging conversation brings out the facets of a multi-talented persona of Phrang Roy delves into a host of issues and traces the interesting nuances of the life and times of the great man right from his childhood to school and college days and before he entered the Civil Service. source: theshillongtimes.com