Weakened by Crutches

A healthy individual who has no problem with his legs does not need crutches to walk. By giving crutches to such people we merely ensure that they are never going to walk normally. A Central government scheme of fiscal assistance which is 90 per cent grant and only 10 per cent loan in the case of the Northeast is no different from a situation of giving a healthy person crutches to walk with. This is the best way of ensuring that these States will never be able to match up to the more advanced States of India that do not get such special dispensations. It is, therefore, not fair to say that there is nothing for the Northeast in the Union budget for 2009-10. There is enough for any State that is ready to put up its proposals, execute its projects efficiently and transparently and submit its reports and accounts promptly and correctly. There is not enough for endless corrupt practices. And defaulters cannot be spoon-fed for ever. SOURCE: THE SENTINEL