Cross-border trade could solve unrest

Advocating a united stand to voice the aspirations of north-eastern States before the Centre, lawmakers of the region have sought development of communication and cross-border trade with neighbouring countries as a panacea for tackling youth unrest in the land-locked region. At a three-day conference here, the experts said the Northeast Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA), which is an important forum of lawmakers of the region, should take up development issues with the Centre and have pro-active interaction with regional bodies like North Eastern Council (NEC).

The meet, attended by Speakers, Deputy Speakers, ministers and MLAs of the region, resolved yesterday that the eight States must take up with Centre the issue to aggressively promote the Centre’s ‘Look East Policy’ as the Northeast offers immense scope for development from this initiative, resulting in large-scale employment.

Tripura Assembly Speaker and acting chairman of NERCPA, Remendra Chandra Debnath said development of roads and communication and opening up of border trade points with neighbouring countries would lead to self-employment and help in containing militancy and youth unrest in the region.

“We are all aware the unemployment problem is the root of youth unrest, leading to proliferation of insurgent groups in the region,” Debnath pointed out, asserting the NE States would have to generate employment opportunities to cope with this burning problem.

Insisting on development of communication in the region on a priority basis by the Centre, particularly in the State of Arunachal Pradesh, Balo Raja, MLA, reieterated the State’s demand for construction of East-West Highways connecting all district headquarters.

The Arunachal legislator, however, lamented that there was no mention in the Railway Budget about linking State capitals of the region by railway network. However, Arunachal Pradesh was actively pursuing with the Centre to set up a greenfield airport near Naharlagun, Pasighat and Tezu to put the State on the air map of the country, the MLA said.Raja pointed out that the border trades with Myanmar and Bangladesh mostly functioned through unofficial channels, and felt such trading must be elevated to a formal mechanism with support of authorities concerned and trade bodies.He also demanded opening up of the historic Stilwell Road, constructed during World War-II, connecting Assam with south China via Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.

Underscoring the need for development of border trade and commerce, Debnath pointed out that without such infrastructure interested parties would not come forward for investing.Besides focusing on development of roads and communication on priority basis, Debnath said that another area of concern was the impediment in the process of investment due to activities of some insurgent groups in the region.

Meghalaya Speaker Martin M Danggo said as most of the States did not have rail or air links, the important prerequisite for economic development of the region is improvement of roads and communication and opening of border trade and commerce.

Development of roads and communication was also a step towards opening of border trade and commerce with countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Bhutan and Nepal, Danggo said. “In this era of liberalisation, we have to develop spirit of competitiveness and promote India’s look east policy,” he said.

Assam | North East Enquirer (Headlines) | Nena Home Page |