Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Manikya Debbarma has cautioned that local communities in Northeast India must directly benefit from ongoing infrastructure investments. Speaking at the North East India Infrastructure Summit 2026 in Shillong, Debbarma warned that excluding residents from the economic gains of development risks fostering resentment and social instability.
Debbarma emphasized the need for active community involvement to ensure long term support for regional projects. During the event, he stated, "They can't become spectators." He argued that without tangible advantages for the people living in these areas, regional transformation efforts may struggle to gain public backing.
To foster more inclusive growth, Debbarma pointed to the rise of homestays as a successful model. He encouraged governments to look beyond large scale luxury hotel projects and prioritize capacity building, specialized training institutes, and community-led tourism. This approach allows visitors to engage with indigenous traditions while keeping the economic rewards within the local population. For Debbarma, sustainable progress depends on ensuring residents are treated as primary stakeholders rather than passive bystanders.
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