NE: Not just a geographical location - Gateway to South East Asia
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 08, 2014 -

Geographically the North East region or States are well placed to become the trading and commercial hub of South East Asia.

Culturally and racially too the region is definitely better placed than other parts of the country to reach out and attract countries of South East Asia.

Points which cannot be undermined without jeopardising India’s emergence as an important player in Asia and by extension the world. Fits in well with the Act East policy enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju must have had this in mind when he recently stated that the North East is set to be made a trading and commercial hub of South East Asia in Agartala.

India seems intent on successfully moving from the Look East policy to Act East and it was in line with this that the Prime Minister recently visited Myanmar and addressed the Association of South East Asian Nations.

The all important question is whether the North Eastern States are ready to maximise the new opportunities that will come once the eastern doors are opened or not.

Moreover there also remains the question of whether Delhi and the Central Government will be ready or are committed to the idea of letting the region really tap the benefits that are bound to come.

These questions are important for it is not without reason why the people of North East region feel they have been short changed since 1947.

Is the North East region going to figure in India’s Act East policy only by virtue of its geographical location or is it going to be a case of genuinely doing something beneficial for the region and the people ?

Only time can answer this poser, but the need for Governments of the North East States to be ready for the new opportunities need not be over emphasised here.

Even as Rijiju was spelling out Delhi’s plans and eulogising the geographical merits of the region, the Chief Minister of Manipur was in Delhi apprising the Union Minister of DoNER about the pending power projects in the State.

At the same time a survey in Delhi revealed that people from the North East region continue to face discrimination in other parts of the country, particularly in Delhi.

As the survey revealed, ethnicity is the greatest determinant of discrimination thus questioning the very idea of India as a Nation.

It is these points which need to be addressed to on a priority basis.

Make the North East the gateway to South East Asia and at the same time it would do good for all, particularly Delhi and others not to make the geography of the region a tool for discrimination.

The North East region is not just a region but is also home to people.