KOHIMA, SEPT 25 (DIPR): ‘The North East is fast emerging as a region of opportunities, in contrast with its image of yesteryears as a region prone to violence’, according to Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Development of North Eastern Region, P.R. Kyndiah. He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Seminar on ‘Peace and Development in the North East’, at North Eastern Council Auditorium, Shillong today. The Seminar is being jointly organized by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, North Eastern Council and North Eastern Hill University .Kyndiah said that ‘the North East, with more than 200 ethnic groups can be called a mini-India and the strength of the North East lies in its diversity. The region is on the threshold of a new era of massive development.’ He also said that the Centre has initiated several projects and stepped up investment in all sectors including infrastructure, connectivity, education, health and agriculture to benefit people of all states across the eight states.
Kyndiah said that ‘the government is in fact seriously trying to connect the region to the economically dynamic South-East Asian countries to boost the region’s economy, as part of the country’s Look East Policy. North East is strategically located. It is surrounded by Bhutan , China , Myanmar and Bangladesh . We are exploring possibilities of opening new and innovative frontiers in trade and commerce with these countries. All these will provide an opportunity to develop the region into a regional economic hub.’
Referring to the GOI’s efforts in bringing peace in the region, Kyndiah said that the Centre along with the state governments of the region have been successful in bringing nine rebel groups either to the negotiating table or sign ceasefire or peace accords. The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN I-M too is engaged in negotiations with the Centre as the ceasefire agreement has now entered its ninth year. He said that the political dialogue with the NSCN (I-M) has given hope for a permanent solution to the decades old Naga insurgency. The ceasefire with NSCN (Khaplang) as well has ensured and facilitated an era of peace and development in Nagaland.
Kyndiah said that the upgradation of the Department of Development of North Eastern Region to full-fledged Ministry has accelerated growth and development on Northeast. The Ministry is now acting as a catalyst for economic transformation of the region. He added that the insurgency problem in the region should not be viewed from the point of view of law and order alone, and has to be approached with a holistic perspective to understand the problems in greater detail.
Also speaking on the occasion as Guest of Honour, Home Minister of Meghalaya, R.G. Lyndoh stressed on the need for sustaining peace in the region. He said that after finding solution, strategies for sustaining peace have to be developed and worked out. He said that peace can be sustained only when people are made stakeholders in the development process. Lyndoh appreciated the organization of the Seminar, saying that peace and development in the region is something that has to be given the importance that is due. He called upon all states ‘to grow together as a region’.
Delivering the welcome address, Secretary, NEC, H.V. Lalringa, IAS, said that peace is the best living condition of all human beings. He said that the concept has to be discussed, analyzed and understood in a broad perspective. He is of the view that peace should go beyond the absence of violence and should be dynamic and take root in the minds of the people. He said that peace is the foundation for all-round development, adding ‘peace pays’.
Director, IDSA , N.S. Sisodia said that this is the first time the IDSA is organizing a seminar in the Northeast. He said that the Seminar would give an opportunity to engage some of the finest scholars in the region, as the region has a strong intellectual tradition. He expressed hope that the Seminar would be a beginning of a process of understanding, peace and development in the region.
The Seminar will address key issues pertaining to the security situation in the North Eastern states. It might be mentioned that the NEC is playing a mandatory role in issues concerning the security scenario in the region.
Participants at the seminar include representatives from various universities, defence forces, IPR officials from all the north-eastern states and research scholars. During the technical session, there will be paper presentations on the broad topics of Insurgency and Counter Insurgency, Identity and Conflict, Peace and Development and The Way Ahead.
