North Eastern Media, Prime Minister's Vision, and Local Challenges: A Reality Check
Jayanta Debnath
December 26, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion calls of “Vocal for Local,” “Act East,” “One District, One Product,” and “Neighbor First” reflect a transformative vision for India’s economic and social development. These initiatives emphasize leveraging local resources, indigenous talent, and domestic technology to propel the country forward. However, the execution of these initiatives, particularly in the North Eastern region, paints a starkly different picture.
In Tripura, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has echoed the Prime Minister’s vision, repeatedly urging bureaucrats and administrators to prioritize local resources and opportunities. Yet, paradoxically, many initiatives that could involve local talent and businesses are still being outsourced to companies and agencies from outside the state.
A Missed Opportunity in Media Engagement:
The recent 72nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) exemplifies this contradiction. While the event aimed to discuss the region's development, media coverage was outsourced to journalists from outside the region, particularly from Delhi. Local journalists and media houses, who could have provided nuanced and meaningful coverage, were conspicuously sidelined. This neglect undermines the very spirit of “Vocal for Local” and alienates the region’s media ecosystem.
However, many of the local officers who were associated with the Plenary Session of the NEC felt that the News Media Management of the Plenary Session of the NEC was also in the hands of the NEC officials. Everything that the NEC authorities have done has been done on the instructions of the officers of the Union Home Ministry. However, efforts have been made to provide local journalists with as much news information as possible of the Plenary Session of the NEC. However, no local or outside journalists were allowed inside any conference hall for news coverage of the plenary session of NEC. But no one could answer the question why they were not allowed to enter the hall. One thing everyone says is that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was present in the plenary session of NEC, so this may have been done for his security. But no one had an answer to the question why no press briefing was organized to give the news media the plenary session of the NEC.
Structural Challenges in Implementation:
Policies designed to benefit the North East, such as the “UNNATI” scheme, are often inaccessible to local entrepreneurs. Complex application processes and reliance on consultants from Delhi further marginalize local stakeholders. This systemic bias not only hinders local economic growth but also perpetuates dependence on external entities.
Moreover, subsidy-driven projects attract companies from outside the region that often exploit these benefits without making substantial contributions. Over 100 such companies have exited Tripura and Assam after pocketing subsidies, leaving local industries in disarray.
The Neglected Role of Local Media:
The central government’s policies for advertising in web media have inadvertently excluded most North Eastern media houses. The stringent requirement of 2.5 million unique monthly visitors is unattainable for local platforms in a region with a small population. Without financial support from the central or state governments, local media houses struggle to sustain themselves, let alone compete at a national level.
A Call to Action:
The development of the North East demands a more inclusive and localized approach. Instead of solely focusing on attracting external investments, the government must empower local entrepreneurs and media houses. Policies should be tailored to the region’s unique socio-economic conditions, ensuring accessibility and relevance.
As citizens of the North East, it is also our responsibility to champion local talent and resources. If we do not promote our region’s potential, who will? It is time to reclaim the narrative, celebrate local achievements, and amplify our voices.
In the words of a Bengali proverb: “We have to play our own drums.” Let us rise to the challenge and be the advocates of our own stories.
(The author, Jayanta Debnath, is a senior journalist and editor of Tripurainfo.com, Tripura's pioneering news portal.)
(Tripurainfo)