A delegation of North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has urged Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Minister C. P. Thakur to evolve a clear-cut economic policy for expediting the socio-economic development of the region. Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharya led the NESO delegation to the minister; All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) president Dominic Tadar and general secretary Maji Margin, were among the members of the delegation. They demanded policies on human resources development, employment and foreigner and refugee imbroglio.

Insisting on the ouster of the refugees from the NE, particularly the Chakmas and the Hajongs from Arunachal Pradesh, the delegates pleaded for conversion of Arunachal University to a Central university, trade-link with China through Arunachal Pradesh, a regional employment exchange at Guwahati, job quota for NE youth under the Union Government, and proper monitoring of all Central schemes and reduction of air fares. Dr Thakur has assured to look into their demands.

The student leaders met the NE MPs Forum (NEMPF) on August 25. Fifteen MPs including former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma and Nagaland Chief Minister N Rio attended the meeting held at the Nagaland House.

The meeting unanimously decided that the NESO, the NEMPF and the NE Chief Ministers’ Forum would jointly evolve a broad-based economic policy for the region which would be taken up in Parliament by the NEMPF. It was also decided to put continuous pressure on the Centre to find a lasting solution to the refugee and foreigners’ tangle.

All NESO federal members have congratulated the AAPSU and the Gegong Apang-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Government over the repeal of the APCOCA. AAPSU has decided to conduct an inter-tribe youth festival at Itanagar in November to promote harmony among all the tribes.

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