NESO proposes 8-point agenda to GoI
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, May 10 2013 :
A delegation of the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) has proposed the 8-point agenda to the government of India which include education policy and human resources development; repeal of impunitive legislations and expedite the ongoing peace process for an early negotiated settlement; infiltration of illegal migrants, refugees and demands for a comprehensive policy on the issue; economic and infrastructural development and concern on environment; employment policy for the North East; Indo-Bangla land swap deal of 2011 and stapled visa; special constitutional status and separate time zone for the region and restructuring of the Ministry of DoNER.
The NESO which comprises of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU); All Assam Students' Union (AASU); All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU); Garo Students' Union (GSU); Khasi Students' Union (KSU); Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP); Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and the Twipra Students' Federation (TSF) has been camping in New Delhi since May 6 to apprise the central leaders on the burning issues confronting the people of the North East region.
The delegation called on Prime Minister, Dr.Manmohan Singh on May 8 at his Office at Parliament, New Delhi and submitted a memorandum and had an in-depth deliberation on the various important issues affecting the North East region.
The delegation also called on the Leader of the Oppostion, Lok Sabha, Mrs.Sushma Swaraj, MP; the office bearers of the North East MPs Forum; the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr.Rajnath Singh, MP; Mr.Rahul Gandhi, MP, Vice President, Indian National Congress; Mr..H.SBrahma, Election Commissioner of India.
NESO has urged the Prime Minister to set up a Special Educational Commission in order to assess the State of education in the NE and to evolve a suitable and appropriate educational policy which is relevant of the people of NE.
That, due lack of adequate quality education in the NE Region, thousands of students having no other option are compelled to seek for better and higher education in mainland India inspite of exposing to all forms of discrimination, harassments, torture, murder, etc, besides draining out of over several hundred crores of rupees.
On this, the Hon'ble Prime Minister has said that he will look into this matter and will see what he could do for it.
Regarding this issue, NESO has urged the Hon'ble Prime Minister to repeal AFSPA, 1958 and other inhuman laws.
NESO asked the PM that if the Govt.can send a parliamentary team to the Jammu & Kasmir why not in North East to assess the ground situation.
In this regard, the Hon'ble Prime Minister said that he understood the sentiments of the people of NE and he will definitely discuss on this issue and if required he will try to send a parliamentary team to the North Eastern Region.
On the ongoing Peace Process, the PM asserted that, for the last nine years he has taken personal initiative to bring about a negotiated settlement at the earliest in order to restore peace in the region.
NESO has pointed out the problems of influx of illegal migrants/foreigners and refugees.
It also stresses on the enrollment of illegal foreigners in the electoral roll and urged the Hon'ble Prime Minister for the deletion of names of the foreigners and to deport them to their own places.
NESO also pointed out that the National Register of Citizens, 1951 should be updated.
Moreover, NESO also urged the Hon'ble Prime Minister for the affective implementation of Assam Accord and Manipur Accord.
In this regards, the Hon'ble Prime Minster said that he is agreed with these and said that the names of foreigners who got enrolled illegally should be deleted and make out a mechanism to deport the foreigners to their own places, he categorically stated that illegal foreigners must be detected, their names must deleted and they must be send back but during such process, steps should be taken so as not to harass genuine Indian citizens.
The delegation while urging the Election Commission to expedite the process of detection and deletion of names of illegal foreigners already existed in the electoral rolls of all the states of North East, the traditional institutions should also be involved during the process of enrolment, detection and deletion thereof.
Regarding this issue, NESO urged the Hon'ble Prime Minister to evolve a sustainable economic policy for the NE region, to stop construction of Mega Dams in the NE region keeping in view of seismic sensitivity, to declare floods and problems of erosion in NE as a National Problem.
The NESO press communique said the the Prime Minister asserted that, flood and erosion is a national problem and assured the delegation where mega dams are concern, he has made his mind very clear that the north East, being a sensitive seismic zone, this fact should be taken into serious consideration so as not put the lives of the people at risk.
The delegation stressed on the need to have an employment policy for the indigenous peoples of north east where by a 100% reservation in Grade III & IV is needed to be reserved in all the Central Government offices located in the North East.
NESO asserted that, the Indo-Bangla Land Swap Deal should be scraped in order to protect the land of the people of the region.
We express our utmost concern and oppose the Indo-Bangla Land Swap Deal of 2011, as the issue was never informed and agreed upon by the indigenous people of the concerned states.
Regarding this issue, NESO urged the Prime Minister for granting of Special Constitutional Status to the people of NE states that must delegate vast federal authority to the states governments including the rights over land and its natural resources, NESO press note stated.
The Prime Minister asserted that NE region has a special status.
There are special packages meant for NE region only.
Moreover, he will try to do more for advance development of the NE Region, NESO added.
According to NESO, apart from the charter of demands included in the memorandum in which the Prime Minister has assured the delegation that the Government will have a thorough study, NESO has demanded the Hon'ble Prime Minister not to dissolve the Ministry instead urged for restructuring of the Ministry of DoNER.
The Prime Minister has given the NESO team the assurance that the Ministry of DoNER will not be dissolved.
"He will look into it for more strengthening and affective implementation of the projects taken up by this Ministry in order to provide opportunity to boost economy and develop all such infrastructure needed thereof," NESO press communique said today.
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