The only book that brings together ideas and insights for social sector development of North-East India arguing for careful formulation of social development policy keeping in mind the ethnic and cultural diversities of the region.

This volume engages itself with a critical understanding of the changes taking place both at the structural and cultural levels in the northeast of India, a region which has been studied more for its instances of militancy, insurgency, and terrorism. Significant changes are examined, such as: the growth of a middle class * an accentuation of socio-economic inequalities * a sharpening of ethnic/cultural identities * the changing demographic structure * a deepening of the process of democratization * a weakening of the principle of egalitarianism * the gradual entrenchment of the principle of hierarchy. Besides this, the responses of communities to agencies and processes of social changes are the subject matter of incisive analysis. The development model is critically examined, which has been introduced in the northeast, without taking into account the sensitivities and sensibilities, of communities, leading to eruption of feelings of discontent and alienation.

Contributed papers presented at a national seminar organized by North East India Council of Social Science Research in Shillong, India.

Contributed articles chiefly with reference to rural development in Northeastern India; includes articles on cultural history of the region.

Economic development of frontier and remote regions has long been a central theme of development studies. This book examines the development experience in the northeastern region in India in relation to the processes of globalisation and liberalisation of the economy. Bringing together researchers and scholars, from both within and outside the region, the volume offers a comprehensive and updated analysis of governance and development issues in relation to the northeastern economy. With its multidisciplinary approaches, the chapters cover a variety of sectors and concerns such as land, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, finance, human development, human security, trade and policy. This book will be useful to scholars and researchers of economics, public policy, governance and development, geopolitics, geography, development studies, politics and sociology of development and area studies as well as observers and policymakers interested in the Northeast.

Papers presented at the National Seminar on Rural Development in India: Prospects and Retrospect, held at St. Joseph's College, Jakhama in Nagaland, India; organized by St. Joseph's College, Jakhama, India; sponsored by University Grants Commission, North Eastern Regional Office, at India.