Whither 'feel good' in NE?

What 'feel good'? What 'India Shining'? That's what the geographically isolated northeast of India seems to be asking as the catchphrases sweep across the country ahead of parliamentary polls.

What 'feel good'? What 'India Shining'? That's what the geographically isolated northeast of India seems to be asking as the catchphrases sweep across the country ahead of the parliamentary polls.

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"There is nothing to cheer about as the so-called 'feel good' factor has failed to spread its glow in this remote region," said Arunim Das, an unemployed youth in Assam with a first class degree in civil engineering.

"There are no jobs even for a person like me with an engineering degree and just imagine the fate of thousands of youths who have a simple graduation degree and are desperate for work."

Despite the tall claims of successive state governments in the northeast and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in New Delhi, unemployment figures continue to be on the upswing.

Around five million educated youths are estimated to be jobless in the northeast out of a total 32 million population.

"When I read or listen to the prime minister or the home minister making claims about India prospering and achieving milestones, I feel like breaking the television set or tearing the newspaper," rues Tombi Singh, a post-graduate in history from Manipur.

"If the government cannot create employment opportunities for its educated people, then I think there is no point shouting from rooftops about achievements and success stories and asking people to vote for them."

Many angry voices in the region say successive governments in New Delhi, be it the BJP or the Congress party, have done very little for the development or solving the unemployment problem of the geographically isolated northeastern region.

"The BJP government has announced several exclusive economic packages for the northeast during the past five years. But in reality we have not seen any development trickling down to the grassroots," said Telimeren Ao, a tribal rights leader in Nagaland.

"Unless there are visible signs of development how can any government claim to have changed the face of the country or for that matter the region?"

The growing unemployment problem in the region, coupled with the tardy pace of development works, besides a not-too-sincere approach for the uplift of the region's economy by New Delhi, has been the root cause for breeding insurgency in the northeast.

"It is true, frustration over not getting a job despite good qualifications and a sense of alienation of being treated like an outsider by New Delhi over the years had forced many youths to join the underground," said former Manipur chief minister Rishang Keishing.

Today there are an estimated 30 militant groups in the northeast, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy and the right to self-determination.

More than 50,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the northeast since India's independence in 1947.