Better late than never

 All efforts to bring back the misguided North-Eastern youth to the mainstream will come to  naught, if the State Governments do not take immediate and proper steps to rehabilitate those who have already laid down arms, reposing their faith in peace and progress. Thus the fact that the rehabilitation process in the region is getting unduly delayed rings an alarm bell to all the peace loving people of the country.

 Proper rehabilitation of the surrendered militants is a key to establish peace in the North-East region. Unlike Kashmir, where religion played an important role in promoting secessionism and terrorism, militancy raised its ugly head in the North-East because of lack of development, poor employment opportunities and a sense of neglect. Till couple of years ago, there were virtually no avenues for the educated youth of the region. Thus the frustrated youth easily fell prey to the sinister designs of dubious external agencies like the Pakistani ISI. Frustration of not being able to earn livelihood and not being able to maintain one’s family paved way for militant activities in the region. Whatever the underground leaders say, the fact is that the youth of the region did not pick up guns to secede from India, but to become rich overnight through means like extortions, kidnappings.

 How much the money played an important hand in increasing the strength of the underground outfits active in the region can be judged from the fact that during the mid-90s, when its popular support base started to crumble, the ULFA not only paid handsomely to its newly inducted cadres, but also to those middlemen, who lured the youth to the path of violence. Many other insurgent outfits active in the North-East also adopted ULFA’s tactics to strengthen their hold.

 But over the years, the misguided youths have realised that peace, not violence, is the key to progress. They have also realised that they are just like tools in the hands of forces, whose main aim is to destabilise India. But rejoining the mainstream was not as smooth as their joining of the militant ranks. Often, they had to pay with their lives for deserting their militant groups. 

 Thus, the rehabilitation of the misguided youth should get top most priority from all the State Governments of the region. The surrendered militants should not get a feeling that they are unwanted. The Centre should also provide a proper guideline to the states on how to rehabilitate the misguided youth and make all efforts through funds and other required steps for their rehabilitation. Lack of commitment in this regard will only defeat the purpose of winning over the misguided youth.
           
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