Innately, every human desires peaceful environment, wherein, he feels free to work, progress, prosper & excel. No one wants to live in a state of fear, uncertainty & tension caused by either physical violence of intimidation, extortion, killings, damage or psychological violence of trauma & disorder as an after-effect. We all know the euphorical welcome, by one and all, to the extension of ceasefire between NSCN (IM) & GoI. We also know the optimisium that prevailed, when process of peace talks was on, between United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) & GoI, through PCG, and the pessimism after its abrogation. Now, let us analyze the factors pulling down & propping up the peace in the North East region of our nation.
Pulls are: mutual distrust and fear of exploitation by other tribes, or some one else; large number of armed outfits claiming to fight for a so called cause; intimidation/extortion/collection of tax by the armed outfits; interfactional clashes/ interfactional kills for territorial hegemony resulting in direct & collateral physical/ psychological damage; vested interests not making the common man aware of the realities and repercussions; leaders of the outfits staying away from the place of action, and enjoying on the money extorted, collected and sent by the outfit, by remote-controlling the cadres; underdevelopment/ unemployment compelling some youth to fathom darker lanes of life and desire for easy money and easy life, etc.
Props are: public out cry at large, that is evident in luke-warm to no response for boycotts/bandh calls given by the various outfits for vested interests; public, warning the outfits to stay away from the inhabited areas, e.g. a recent case of NSCN factions gathering in Zunheboto Town for territorial control, deciding to settle the score among themselves by requesting police and SF to stay away from their conflict, were chased out of the town by a gathering of 8000-9000 people with dahs, lathis, knives, whatever in their hands; large scale surrender of misguided youth (recent surrender of 809 BRU cadres and 119 HLNC cadres) deciding to join the main stream is an indication of their disaffection with that life; request by All Manipur Nupi Marup (a woman organization) to the PM to initiate concrete steps towards resolving the problem of insurgency in Manipur and protect the integrity of the state, etc.
We know that pull factors are the results of uneducation, under-development and unemployment. To this, our President advocated ‘National Approach’ and Prime Minister expressed the national commitment to eradilate these pulls during their speeches on 59th Independence Day. In line with the same thought, Central Govt is launching an ambitious backward-regions-grant fund of Rs 5000(Five Thousand) crores per year during eleventh 5 year plan (2007-2012). The fund will cover 250 districts (incl 24 districts of seven North Eastern states) of 27 states and will be totally grant-based. Our nation as a whole is a developing country, and finances are always at premium.
One more thought process to add to this planned grant fund is: Firstly, arrive at a consensual understanding without barriers; Secondly, divide these backward districts into 3 categories i.e. Most Favoured Developing Region (MFDR), Favoured Developing Region (FDR) and Developing Region (DR), based on existing progress at national level. The states can also do similar categorization; Thirdly, pool in 50% of local area development fund of MPs, MLAs/MLCs totalling approx 1000 crores per year and add this to the planned finances; Fourthly, allot the accumulated funds depending on the extent of planned development. To cement the props & weaken the pulls let us all think collectively, cohesively, dispassionately with national and state interests in mind and stoically implement the plan in a decided and dedicated manner.
“The aim of life is self development. To realise one’s nature perfectly- that is what each of us is here for” - Oscar Wilde
Lt Col Nirupam Bhargava
Public Relations Officer (Ministry of Defence)
Kohima
