Time to 'Act East': Northeast staring at new possibilities but challenges remain

Inhospitable terrain that characterises most of the Northeast and inappropriate connectivity with the rest of India, and, indeed, within the region itself, has always hindered not only the economic development of the region, but has also contributed to the socio-political apartness that bedevils the borderland's association with mainland India. Indeed, were stock-taking exercises to be undertaken in order to unravel even the reasons for unrest, strife and insurgency in the region, the resultant that would entail would have it that the severance of the pre-Independence umbilical cord has been an important motivation. The lack of connectivity has also kept the…