Planning And Development Of Assam

Effective planning for development may be possible only if there is an understanding of the mosaic of the area concerned. The mosaic of the North East as a whole, and of Assam in particular, is so complicated that it often misleads researchers and planners as well as the Administration. A general survey shows that the State has abundant resources which the local population and Government have failed to exploit appropriately. While it is true that the region is rich in resources, the constraints on exploration and exploitation of these resources are not easily surmountable. Research is needed to develop solutions of its peculiar problems. A tendency for generalised developmental prescriptions often misleads planners and administrators whole understanding of problem is greatly influenced by observation and experience of other not so complicated areas. The bood aims at presenting a picture of the effective resources of the State of Assam and of the trends in policies of the Government as well as trends of consumption and production. It is hoped, that the book will be found highly useful for those who look for a resource base and direction in the development of Assam.

Prof. P.C. Barua (b. 1926) passed M.A. (Economics) in 1951 with First Position in the University and M.S.S. (equivalent to M. Phil.) from the Hague in Public Administration. While in Netherlands, he had an opportunity to learn under the Nobel laureate Professor Tinburgent and the eminent Sociologist, late Prof. D.P. Mukherjee. He served the Petroleum Industry for more than 20 years as a senior executive following which he joined National Productivity Council as its first Regional Director for The North East. He later joined the North Eastern Institute of Bank Management as Director and Professor. During this assignment, he wrote this book, sponsored by Industrial Development Bank of India. As National Productivity Council Director, Prof. Barua has been responsible for conducting and guiding more than a hundred studies relating to the Region, most of which were sponsored by the North Eastern Council. Prof. Barua had been the Hon. Secretary of Assam Productivity Council for about 10 years and currently he is the Chairman of A.P.C. Consultancy Committee which is carrying out a number of studies for the NEC and the State Governments of the Region. He also was the Chairman of Gauhati Management Association of the Indian Society for Training and Development (Assam Chapter) and holds few other important voluntary assignments. A regular contributor to papers and to Seminars/Workshops, his contributions have found place in many publications is Development Planning of North-East India (Mittal Publications, New Delhi, 1991). Prof. Barua is a member of the Commerce Faculty of Gauhati University.