The 8th webinar in the series focussing the issues and challenges of SGD localisation in the state of Manipur is conducted on August 22, 2020. The Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Counties of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi and the North East Training, Research and Advocacy (NETRA) Foundation, Guwahati in collaboration with the Region Centre of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Manipur as knowledge partner organised the webinar.
The introduction to the 8th webinar as well as address of welcoming to the panellist and the participants are given by Dr. Durga Chetri, Vice President of NETRA Foundation.
While introducing the webinar theme, he welcomed the Chairperson of the webinar sessions Ambasadar Bhaskar Balakrishnan, Science Diplomacy Fellow, RIS for Developing Countries, New Delhi. He introduces also the panelists of different sessions namely; Professor E Bijoykumar Singh, Department of Economic, Manipur University, Smt. Kulka Rani Devi, Joint Director, Department of Planning, Government of Manipur, Mrs Thingreiphi Lungharwo, Executive Secretary, Mountain Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Manipur, Dr. N Surjitkumar, Head, Department of Tribal Studies, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur and formerly visiting scholar, University of Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Kanak Haloi, President NETRA Foundation & Retd. Professor and Head, NIRD&PR, NERC, Guwahati besides Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, General Secretary, NETRA Foundation. Also he welcomes all participants for their keen interest exhibited by way of taking part in the webinar.
Professor E Bijoykumar Singh in his presentation on inclusive development issues in localisation of SDGs in Manipur highlighted various confronting aspects of development which the smaller state like Manipur faces with. Non availability and inappropriateness of data are other type difficult challenges which the state encountered. Also he highlighted the progress of commendable nature in number of indicators which resulted to the attainment of 6th positions among all the states in the country while on account of performance in the areas like poverty, hunger, health and wellbeing etc things are not encouraging. While speaking about the measures that are required to address the issues, he enumerated the need of coordinated actions particularly among four actors namely; the planning board, planning department, directorate of economics and statistics and the SDG cell of the state. The other areas requiring action are the production system in rural area and the monitoring system which need strong support and strengthening towards attainment of inclusive growth.
Kulka Rani Devi presented and discussed about the implementation status of SDGs in the state. She enlisted thoroughly the tasks accomplished like the vision document, indicator framework, and constitution of sectoral committee and inter departmental groups besides the involvement of district administration, awareness generation among the departments and the NGOs etc in SDG localisation in the state. Besides, she also highlighted about the implementation of the special programme like “Go To Village Mission” along with the achievement made in multiple nature supporting the inclusive growth and development of the state.
On gender issues related to localisation of SDGs, Mrs Thingreiphi Lungharwo presented the scenario of women participation in the state. Women in Manipur although looks empowered in general, various suffering which women experience as a result of the continuity of the armed forces act are also highlighted. According to her the state still need to work hard on the issues of political participation, and the gender participation in higher education and work inviting necessary initiatives to address them.
Dr. Surjitkumar in his presentation on SDGs and tribal development in Manipur: problems and prospects outlined various aspects of tribal development in the state besides the implementation as well as the achievements of MGNREGS. While enumerating the positive contribution these programmes unleashed in the state, he suggested the need for strong monitoring system for improved and inclusive development of the state.
Professor Kanak Haloi in his presentation on local government and localisation issues of SDGs in Manipur outlined the status of three types of local governments in the state i.e. Village Authority and District Council in six hilly districts, PRI in four valley districts and local bodies for urban areas like Municipality Corporation, Municipality Council, Nagar Panchayat and Town Committees followed by the status of empowerment of the local bodies in terms of functions, funds and functionaries and lastly the participation of the local government system in the implementation of development programmes. The state according to has strong base of local government systems to carry fourth the agenda of decentralised development. The opportunities of local government are missed so far and this needs to be attended seriously and empower them to reap the benefit of decentralised development and inclusive growth.
In the question & answer session, few questions came up on the part of the participants which concerned panellist aptly clarified.
Ambasadar Bhaskar Balakrisnan in his concluding remark as session Chairperson provided first a summary of the all the presentations. In his concluding remark he stated that towards the larger benefit of the humanity in general and the state in particular, the decisions and actions of the state governments are the key for reaching the SDG agenda by 2030. The problem like data gap, unemployment, poverty, road connectivity and the gender inequality in education, employment, political participation although are of common in nature in most of the Indian state, the state at the same time need to emulate the example of better state and make progress by attending the gap areas towards attainment of higher level of inclusive growth.
At the end, DR. Jayanta Choudhury, General Secretary of NETRA offers the formal vote of thanks to all panellists, participants and to RIS for making the event a successful one.
