North-East: Crisis of Identity, Security and Underdevelopment

Even after the creation of seven states to satisfy the ethnic aspirations of the local people, the north-east continues to be in turmoil. Further balkanisation is being demanded which will lead to the creation of very small and totally unviable states. The existing states have failed to meet the basic needs of the people. There is growing discontent over corruption. The regional disparity between the north-east and the other states has widened as has the disparity between the rich and the poor in the north-east. Clearly, it has become necessary to reconsider the approaches and policies followed so far.