Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, 13th September,, visited Churachandpur in Manipur and announced development projects worth Rs 7,300 crore.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the northeastern states, Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam, is in line with the central government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development of the region. However, there is more to this move than just inaugurating bridges, roads and trains. In decades, since independence of India, the northeastern states have largely been neglected by the congress ruled government at the Centre. However, things have changed during the last decade. The Modi government has focused on reclaiming history, rewriting geography, and making the region the gateway to South East Asia. This is in line with the government’s ‘Act East policy’.
India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway
For decades, Churachandpur and surrounding districts in many Northeastern states were seen through the prism of neglect, insurgency, and alienation. They were largely cut off from mainland India. However, now, owing to the infrastructure development, increase in rail and road connectivity, as well as improvement in health and education facility, these states are no longer on the periphery but are seen as India’s gateway.
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, once fully functional, will stitch Manipur into a seamless economic corridor stretching to Myanmar’s ports and on to Thailand’s booming markets.
PM Modi being in Manipur and other Northeastern states is also quite symbolic and a subtle message to China. At a time when China is aggressively pushing its Belt and Road Initiative, this highway provides an alternate route for trade challenging China’s monopoly which often sends its partners into a debt trap. India, with democracy at its core, looks at uplifting communities and neighbours, instead of exploiting them like other superpowers.
And for the people of Northeastern states, especially Manipur, development of this corridor means creation of jobs, increase in tourism and better opportunities. This will ensure they do not leave their homes in search for better work opportunities.
Critics may argue that delays and bureaucratic hurdles remain, and they are not completely wrong. However, over the years, the red-tapism has been brought down and at least this government has shown the political will of ensuring ‘ease of business’. Churachandpur developmental projects, hence, should not be seen in isolation but more of foundation base of the India-Myanmar-Thailand corridor which starts just 100 kms away from Churachandpur.
At a time when Donald Trump rants about tariffs and China tightens its grip on Asia’s supply chains, India is offering something far more valuable: a road of trust, a highway of hope.
2023 Manipur Conflict
Churachandpur is one of the key towns for the hill-based Kuki tribes, which were involved in the 2023 clashes with Meitei community. The 2023 conflict started after Manipur High Court, on 9th April, 2023, directed the state government to consider granting the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Meitei community. However, the Kuki-Zo tribes opposed the move claiming that the Meitei community members are already dominating politics, jobs and land in the valley and granting the community access to buying land in tribal hills, which they claimed would threaten the tribal rights and autonomy.
The protests against this court verdict led to the Meitei-Kuki conflict which quickly turned violent. As per media reports over 200 were killed and 60,000 were displaced.
Economic Development and Stability Into Region
While economic development in the region will not alone bring stability into the region, it will likely play a major role in it. Research has shown economic stability often leaders to political stability as at the end of the day everyone just wants to get those two square meals a day.
However, with the politically unstable neighbours, including Myanmar which faced a coup in 2021, the region does face security issues. The cross-border insurgency will need to be kept in check.
The developmental projects may not be a one stop solution, but it is indeed stepping stone and along with addressing political grievances, the Northeastern India can indeed look at a better future.
