Introduction

Abstract

The term “equity”, with its acknowledgement as a key requirement for development, has now become a buzzword among academicians and planners of sustainability. Equality insinuates the idea of sameness, while equity includes the idea of justice that brings fairness. The North-Eastern region of India holds potential for a special mention due to its unique geographical position vis-a-vis other parts of India where its value as an integral unit apart from political association was deferred until recently. Affirmative action policies are nothing but equity measures in a context to make it conspicuously egalitarian. Elements of arbitrariness can easily become operational due to limited willingness of policy makers in sustainable development of the region and for the reason of proxy representation. The reality is changing, though, with a greater number of enrolments from different sections of society. The North-Eastern region of India is peculiar in almost all terms as culture, geography and historicity.