Safe and secure investment

If there has been any expectation from the recent CSR and Bankers’ conclave held in Kohima recently, where union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman graced the occasion as the guest of honour, it will perhaps follow the saying that ‘the taste of the pudding is in the eating’. As per the information at the close of the three-day conclave, there were committed assurances of around Rs.38 crore through CSR funding. The amount may be small but quite significant in comparison with the almost nil funding. It was also learnt that bankers have also pledged to fund some Rs.200 crore for various projects approved by the state government. All in all, these figures are small but at least some beginning has been made. In her speech, Sitharaman highlighted that calls for CSR will have to have some reality check. She also encouraged the state government to identify a product from each of the 16 districts. According to the union minister, on its part, the Centre will come up with viable plans build common facilities for packaging or processing. This assurance from the union minister comes from the premise that Nagaland is sitting atop a wealth of organic products. She also highlighted about the importance of branding of organic products by identifying them with image projection. Organic products are in high demand globally and the market is so huge that it will take quite an effort to supply the need. Another important advice that Sitharaman gave to the young students is to take up study of science and technology which are vital for economic growth through use of latest technology. The strong points of eco-tourism are reflected in the case of Sikkim the ‘organic state of India’ which has not only made its organic products well known across the nation but also its famed floriculture products. Tourism in Sikkim has emerged as the new profession of the Sikkimese people with its vast natural potential. Promotion of village tourism, homestay, cultural tourism, trekking tourism, ecotourism, wellness tourism, flori-tourism and adventure tourism has given a fillip to the tourism trade in the state where a large number of people are engaged under different employment opportunities. The lesson that can be learnt from Sikkim is that it has harnessed the potential of its people by empowering with relevant skills and thereby creating a mass-based economic movement. A government can only but provide necessary infrastructure such as roads, power, water etc but it cannot run tourism industry by making its bureaucracy as event managers. Also the government can play a vital role of promoting economic activities by ensuring that there is investor confidence. It goes without saying that investors need to operate in an environment where they feel secure and confident that their enterprises will not be overshadowed by anti-social elements. Nagaland has lost momentum and time for progress. Therefore, the state government has to bell the cat and ensure that it fulfils its constitutional obligations and not shield its wilful neglect by using solution as the red herring.