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Suggestions for Non-Resident Assamese

Good to be back in the 'Net' after more than nine years. Some of you
may remember that I had received my Ph.D. in the US in 1994, taught in Tezpur University for some time and since 1997 have been working with NEDFi. Anyway, it's
great to see your enthusiasm to do something for Assam. My suggestions are:

1. Assam is not short of funds for development activities. A lot of funds meant for the region go unutilized. Even after the Non Lapsable Pool was created at the Center, the money remains unutilized. A lot of unnecessary studies are being done by NGOs who have no real interest in the state. Therefore, we need your help in formulation of good projects for the state. You can develop a project for the area that you come from (e.g., drainage project for Golaghat town to be funded by the Minsitry of Urban Affairs etc) and send it to the relevant department in Assam for forwarding to the Center. For doing the liaisoning work a set up may be needed. My wife and I have started a Trust called T. Sarma Institute fro Change (TSIC) with office near Gauhati Club. You all could use its services -free of cost.

2. The bureaucrats here are the laziest bunch you all will ever come across. Exceptions are there. Therefore we need your help to keep sending reminders to them pointing out the lacunae, the delay or fund-misappropriation, etc. Even letters to the editor from an NRA makes a lot of difference. The people in power have become indifferent. "If Congress forms the government this year, next it will be the AGP whether there is any performance or not" is the general feeling. You all could help here by congratulating the good and castigating the bad, or even asking some difficult questions. NGOs in places like Bangalore have been doing such activities.

3. In case you are thinking of helping groups in some places - say, your native places monetarily, you may try linking up with NEDFi's micro  credit program which has already given loans to more than 175 NGOs in various places. In case you all think that NGOs are frauds, let me tell you that only about six to seven out of them have turned out to be very difficult. The team at NEDFi should be able to guide you to reach good NGOs for your work. NEDFi is also working in developing model villages -fishery villages in Hajo, milk village in Jagiroad, piggery village in Tezpur, etc. Youare welcome to assist in these ventures -more with ideas than money.

There are other ideas too. But this should do for now.

- by Amiya Sharma. Amiya Sharma is Deputy General Manager (Economist) of the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi), Guwahati, India.. He received his Ph.D. from  Rutgers University in New Jersey.