[Assam] From Waterwatch

[Chan Mahanta]

*** Why don't YOU give your analysis as to why and how Karnataka is 
doing better than Assam, Ram.

And we will get into HOW it has anything to do with Assam's 
sovereignty aspirations.







At 4:21 PM -0600 3/21/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>C'da,
>
>  >These kind of explanations are little more than thinly 
>disguised >attempts to absolve India of its CONTROLs and to 
>legitimize its >colonial ownership of the resources and the land of 
>the people who >call it home.
>
>
>You are just rehashing an old argument here. The question one may 
>ponder is, how is it that a 'corrupt' state like Karnataka is more 
>developed than say Assam?
>Is it because the Center has given more to the southern states?
>They get preferential treatment, what?.
>
>Or is it because our representatives go to New Delhi and basically 
>keep their seats warm? Or they just don't care?
>
>If the Center is bad or there is mal-governance, all states are 
>affected. Somehow, some states are able to deal with it better than 
>others.
>A good example is UP and MP (and Bihar too). Both these states get 
>the lion's share of allocations from the Center. Yet, due to 
>corruption and politicians are more interested in lining their 
>pockets than development for their states, they are way behind in 
>the national scale.
>
>So, its not just a matter of resource allocation. Its a question of 
>voters asking and demanding the right things from their 
>representatives.
>--Ram
>
>
>On 3/21/06, Chan Mahanta 
><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>Allow me to put it more succinctly:
>
>
>"It is our OWN DAMN FAULT. And we deserve it!"
>
>
>Right?
>
>
>WRONG!
>
>
>These kind of explanations are little more than thinly disguised 
>attempts to absolve India of its CONTROLs and to legitimize its 
>colonial ownership of the resources and the land of the people who 
>call it home.
>
>
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>At 3:15 PM -0600 3/21/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
>>  >Why we don't care?
>>
>
>
>Thats a good question.
>
>People may not care for a number of reasons. But the foremost must 
>be be the general attitude.
>
>In Assam, we cannot say people do not 'demand' to get things done.
>
>But over the years we have seen that many of the issues we demand 
>are related to 'identity' or some such thing. Identity is an 
>important factor, and I am not saying we shouldn't seek to protect 
>it.
>
>However, we don't 'demand' with the same gusto and spirit on other issues.
>
>Examples:
>
>Why has there been no agitation for 100% electricity in our 
>villages? Or for clean water? Or why has there been no agitation for 
>a comprhensive long-term flood control plan? Why do we wait every 
>year after the flood to tell the govt.
>
>Why hasn't the whole state (before elections) demanded that xyz 
>industry or manufacturing be setup in Assam?
>
>
>
>We never do. Maybe the priorities are different.Our politicians have 
>no fear of not being re-elected. They know, they have to canvas for 
>few months before elections, bribe their way thru, and once elected, 
>they need not look back, ever.
>
>--Ram
>
>
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