Inaugural e-Symposium

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Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis

IIM Shillong e-Symposia SeriesEmergent North-East India: Strategic

and Developmental Imperatives

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT SHILLONG

A variety of experience around the world reveals the holistic approach to economic growth that goes beyond technology and information transfer. The broad view of transforming the existing state of North East to a sustainably growing region is conceptualized in the framework that includes an interplay of Social system, Environmental system and Technical System as shown in the Figure below.

The framework encompasses three general subsystems, viz., Technical, Social, and Institutional. The Technical System consists of the research and training institutions, information dissemination, service, delivery, tools, techniques, artefacts, methods, configurations, and knowledge procedures used by network driving actors/members, to acquire inputs, transform inputs into outputs, and provide output or services to customers. The technical component creates a structure within which actors/members must operate. The Social System “is comprised of the actors who are part of the system directly or indirectly and all that is human about their presence”, such as group culture, biodiversity, norms and tradition, psychology (confidence, trust, motivation), politics, emotion, etc.The Institutional system is a connector between social and technical systems. As the socio-technical systems are multi-level, a regulated relevant environment is created by Environment system that includes, government initiatives and support, policy and regulation, infrastructure, journalism & media, etc. The policymakers require to align a conducive environment to pursue strategies, select resources and implement technologies.

Prologue

Extending down from the foothills of the Himalayas in the eastern range, the beautiful part of India’s North Eastern Region (NER)is surrounded by Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar. It includes the eight States namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, with the narrow Siliguri corridor in North Bengal called the “Chicken neck”. The region is described as a rainbow with extraordinarily diverse and colourful, serene and ageless characteristics. The region is rich in natural resources and a bouquet of biodiversity and unique traditions. In view of this rich biodiversity and unique characteristics of each state of NER, HonourablePrime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised on the importance of transforming the NER into a Natural Economic Zone.

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, with the narrow Siliguri corridor in North Bengal called the “Chicken neck”.

The Conceptual Framework: Transforming NER into a Natural Economic Zone

This interplay results in a development in terms of market reachability and in turn enhance the management and technical skills of the stakeholders, reaching the goal of sustainable growth of the North East region of India.

The North-East region has great potential to develop not just as a self- sustaining economic unit of India but also contribute to the success story of the country. With the abundant bio multiplicity, the northeastern states can strive to transform themselves into Natural Economic Zones.There is

Conceptual Framework: Way forward to Natural Economic Zone

a need to further explore the potential challenges and opportunities in the North East Region to explore innovative and effective solutionsto the present challenges.

The e-Symposium Series is conceived as a global platform that brings together policymakers, scholars, institutions, corporates and civil society on one platform to also discuss and deliberate development issues in the region, and thereby suggesting solutions for the same.

The Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis is envisioned as a proactive embodiment of the philosophy of the late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, for leveraging knowledge, technology and humanism to achieving Sustainable Development while also ensuring the goals of a just and equitable Social Order. The Centre was the outcome of a tripartite agreement between Indian Institute of Management, Shillong and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and North Eastern Council (NEC) signed on 15th October 2016. The

The role of IIM Shillong in Development of the North East Region of India

Centre aims to emerge as a state-of-the-art resource Centre to assist the states of North East India to plan their projects adequately, promote innovations and function as a repository of data and best practices in the region and make policy recommendations.

Currently, the policy-related work in the development planning of six critical sectors in the North East states is in progress,viz., logistics, tourism, horticulture, handicraft, handloom and business process outsourcing. The Centre covers all the critical areas of development planning, policy formulation, strategizing and analysis. The Centre aims

Located in the green contours of North Eastern part of the country, IIM Shillong, which commenced operations in 2008, remains committed to its goal of excellence in management education and research to evolve into a nationally and internationally recognized educational institution.

Indian Institutes of Management had been declared as institutes of National importance by the Central Government of India. This brings incredible pride to IIM Shillong along with tremendous responsibility and expectation. Being the only IIM in a region comprising eight

states, the responsibility and expectation get compounded exponentially. Normally the mandate of IIMs is to scour for some of the best talent available through a national level selection procedure that is globally considered as one of the toughest. Selected candidates are then groomed, skilled and educated to emerge as responsible leaders with a difference. This exercise is a gruelling task that demands allocation of major resources. That IIM Shillong, in addition to this primary function, has added the task of developing the vast and complicated Northeast region of India through the creation of dedicated efforts that speaks volumes about the priorities and principles of this institute. With a

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, IIM Shillong

commitment towards the development of the region, IIM Shillong started the Centre for the Development of the North Eastern Region (CeDNER) in 2008, the very year the institute was born. The centre is a reflection of the commitment and resolve of the Institute to spearhead a proactive role in the development of the region that is considered beautiful, vast and remote and with a lot of potential for development and growth.IIM Shillong strives to contribute to the inclusive and sustainable development of the northeastern region and in this pursuit, the institute set up the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis in 2016.

to emerge as a catalyst for development through action research and analysis. It strives to emerge as an innovation and knowledge hub that will help achieve Sustainable Development of the region. This is expected to be achieved with the inculcation of universal human values, an awakening of indigenous sensitivity and celebration of natural as well as cultural diversity. Further, the Centre would network with various institutes throughout the country and North-east and establish an institutional network to make policy recommendations.

Session Plan

Time Event

10:30 – 10:55 AM Registration for the e-Symposium

11:00 – 11:02 AM e-Symposium Initiation

11:02 – 11:20 AMWelcome Address by Shri. Shishir Bajoria Chairman, Board of Governors

11:22 – 11:27 AMAddress by Shri. K Moses Chalai, IAS Secretary, North Eastern Council, Shillong

11:28 – 11:35 AMAddress by Dr. Inder Jit Singh, IAS Secretary, Ministry of DoNER, Govt. of India

11.35 – 11.40 AMIntroduction of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysisby Prof. Keya Sengupta, Centre Coordinator

11:42 – 11:55 AMThematic Address by Shri. Atul Kulkarni, Member, Board of Governors

11:57 – 12:25 PM Inaugural Address by Chief Guest Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of MDoNER

12:25 – 12:30 PMVote of Thanks by Prof. D.P. Goyal, Director, IIM Shillong

Inaugural Session- IIM Shillong e-Symposia Series

5th June, 2020

Time Event

12:35 PM – 2:00 PM Panel Discussion

Panelists

Dr. Saibal Kar, Professor of Economics, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata

Dr. D.Rajasekhar, HAG Professor and Head, Centre for Decentralisation and Development, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore

Dr. Madhurjya Prasad Bezbaruah, Professor, Department of Economics Gauhati University, Guwahati

Mr. Amit Raje, Ex-Managing Director in Goldman Sach’s Principal Investment Area

Session ModeratorProf. Keya Sengupta, Centre Coordinator, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre, IIM Shillong

Technical Session

5th June, 2020

Emergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives

Time Event

19-Jun-20 Tourism in the North East

03-Jul-20 Horticulture in the North East

17-Jul-20 Logistics in the North East

24-Jul-20 Handicraft in the North East

21-Aug-20 Handloom in the North East

28-Aug-20 Business Process Outsourcing in the North East

* The schedule is tentative and based on the availability of the key stakeholders of the respective states the final schedule would be communicated

Participants The event aims to attract all relevant stakeholders. Participants expected for the e-Symposia include, Representatives of States, Representatives from DoNER, NEC, Representatives from the Industry, Stakeholders from various Institutions that are active in North East, Subject Experts on North East, Board Members and Faculty Members of IIM Shillong, Students and Alumni of IIM Shillong. About 300-350 participants are expected.

IIM Shillong e-Symposia SeriesEmergent North-East India: Strategic and Developmental Imperatives

Tentative Schedule

Expected outcome of the IIM Shillong e-Symposia SeriesCollating the experience of more than a decade of working on the ground, IIM Shillong is in the process of critically reviewing itself. While highlighting achievements it is also considered imperative to acknowledge failures and shortcomings. While the process of such an evaluation is on, the need for process reengineering has come to the fore. This would require a certain amount of disruptive thinking and innovative solutions. While action research would certainly emerge as the prime vehicle,

what is also being actively considered is the creation and implementation of models of sustainable development by engaging with the community.

The expected outcome of the e-symposia series is tocontribute to the knowledge body and publish a series of reports on the Current Status, Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Recommendations for North East India. The e-symposia series further expected to contribute with the prime inputs on the six critical sectors that would assist the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre inshaping its efforts

in policy research and analysisinthe key areas of development planning, policy formulation and strategizing. Discussions, deliberations and creative engagements during the e-symposia would help the states of North East India and the implementing agencies getting ideas to further improve onthe plan and executionof projects, promotinginnovations, and implementationinsix critical sectors namely logistics, tourism, horticulture, handicraft, handloom and business process outsourcing.

Symposium Organizing Committee

• Prof. (Dr) Keya Sengupta, Centre Coordinator, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre

• Dr. Rohit Joshi

• Dr. Ridhi Arora

• Dr. Gurpreet Kour

• Mr. Hemango K Dutta

• Mr. Manish K Sinha

Registration for the Symposium:Kindly visit HERE for registering for the e-Symposium

Indian Institute of Management Shillong

Mayurbhanj Complex,

Nongthymmai, Shillong – 793014

Phone: +91 364 – 2308145 / 8000, +91-8131983051

Email-id: apjcentre@iimshillong.ac.in

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