By Toki Blah
Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri districts of Assam are now household names for the rest of the country. Familiarity of the rest of India with these remote NE districts is not for any benevolent or praiseworthy reason. Instead it’s because of the communal and sectarian violence that has so far claimed more than 60 precious lives. It’s because of the killings, arson and hatred that has suddenly flared up in the once peaceful and tranquil hamlets and towns of these districts. It’s because of the heated debate, accusations and counter accusations that the tragedy in Assam has raised on the Floor of Parliament. It’s because of the misery and bloodshed caused by neighbour killing neighbour; friend slaughtering friend; frightened strangers lynching other equally terrified strangers. None are spared as innocent women and children become main targets for hysterical mobs. And then its because of sub human living conditions in hell holes called relief camps. The rest of India expresses its indignation and outrage, but at what?
As one watches in shock at the carnage, the slaughter and its aftermath, an unacceptable reality unfolds itself. As one listens with morbid fascination to the half truths and untruths; the excuses and explanations as to why at all it was allowed to happened, a horrifying home truth sinks in. Politics or to be more correct vote bank politics has once again struck with deadly intent at the very heart of Assam. With sickening horror we listen as the political blame game feeds and grows on the blood and misery of innocents. People of the NE watch with nauseating horror as the Congress and the BJP attempt at scoring brownie points over the dead bodies of the riot victims. We bristle with indignation at brazen attempts to camouflage the menace of cross border influx as a communal issue perpetrated by a majority over a minority community. It is nothing of the sort, but those who abet and benefit most from influx would like nothing better than the world should see it as otherwise. Then amidst the tears, the anguish and the confusion a question emerges. Why has no one come out openly with the truth as only the truth can offer any viable solution to the fear of an impending demographic catastrophe that is about to overtake the NE. Do we have the political will to call a spade a spade?
Truth is Influx has always been the bogey of the common and ordinary citizen of the NE. Unabated influx threatens our land; our culture and our very identity. It is a danger that haunts us daily as individuals and collectively as a community. It threatens the very diversity of the region. We react strongly, often violently against the impending threat of demographic imbalance and all NE states have experienced this reaction one time or the other. The surprise is despite the concern and general alarm, the region lacks any credible and effective defence mechanism against influx. Time we realise that there are people and organisations that are either unwilling or incapable of delivering any solutions to this festering problem of the common man. This is a historical truth which no amount of self-righteous denials will erase. This happened and continues to happen in Assam, Tripura and Nagaland. In Meghalaya it’s worse because of a symbiotic relationship between the mining lobby that continues to invest heavily on influx and a political system that fights shy of any attempts to curb activities of this mafia. No wonder therefore that we have infiltration check gates and work permit systems as porous as a sieve. The problem is compounded when illegal migrants attain Indian citizenship in Assam and then enter Meghalaya as bonafide Indian labourers. Outdated check gates are rendered obsolete by such developments. A new thinking is called for.
Having said that, a silver lining has unexpectedly appeared on the horizon. The Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul Sangma has officially made a statement that “influx is a core issue confronting the entire NE and it demands a solution through a stakeholder approach”. He spoke about the need to involve local indigenous institutions; need to protect the rights of the indigenous population; of getting the support of non indigenous communities to any sustainable and workable solution. For the first time we seem to have a CM who is prepared to admit that the issue can no longer be treated simply as a ‘moth eaten law and order problem’. In the past, an insensitive colonial mindset had always focused on problems instead of their solutions. Influx is a socio-political problem that needs socio-political solutions through participation of stakeholders most affected by it. The stakeholders this time are the people themselves. The time has come to take our communities on board as we seek a solution to the influx problem. Is it possible to have a participatory approach to the problem? I sincerely believe it is and it is hoped Dr Mukul is ready to walk his talk on the sensitive issue of influx.
Within the Federal structure of India, any attempt to deal with a regional issue, especially one with overtones on national security, needs a close understanding and coordination between the Centre and the States involved. The influx issue of the NE is further compounded by the presence in some states and absence in others of a common outsider control mechanism applicable to all. The Inner Line Permit system of the Raj is a colonial mechanism, designed more to facilitate foreign control over restive tribals, than any conscientious noble attempt at preserving their identity. Dr Mukul is correct in describing the ILP as an anachronism long past its utility. In 21st Century Independent India, the NE needs to invent and draft its own protection mechanism. A control mechanism that not only protects indigenous identity but with it, the integrity and security of India itself. For too long national security been sacrificed at the altar of minority vote bank politics. Tough decisions are now called for and the Centre has to work in close tandem with the indigenous people of the region to ensure that national security is no longer compromised nor short changed for transitory political benefits.
The 6th Schedule and Sec 370 of the Constitution are examples of Independent India’s attempt to balance the integrity and unity of the country against indigenous pressure for identity preservation. The same principle based on 21st century templates needs to be reviewed for installation in the NE. If America has resorted to digitised identity cards to distinguish its genuine residents from illegal migrants, why can’t the same technology be applied to the regions demand for positive discrimination between genuine and illegal residents? It has already been established that it is the common man who is the most worried over uncontrolled influx. Now why can’t the local people through their traditional institutions be brought in as active stakeholders in implementing and monitoring such a control mechanism? Our village durbars /councils have always exhibited robust features of local self governance. They would be most ideal to “map people staying in each and every locality”. For this to happen new legislation is required. For this to happen, New Delhi which at present is totally devoid of answers to the regions problems, needs be convinced that sustainable solutions can only come from a NE people’s perspective.
The Chief Minister of Meghalaya should follow through on his innovative proposals on influx control. Meghalaya like its other NE sisters is also in dire need of an influx control mechanism. For God’s sake let us not procrastinate any longer on the issue. Assam is paying for its indecisiveness. Bring all stakeholders on board to address this crucial issue of our very survival. We must learn from our past mistakes. Firstly, past attempts to address the issue under pressure has not paid the expected dividends. If a people’s perspective is called for then let us put our heads together while we have the time to ponder and plan at leisure. Secondly, we seriously need to question the efficacy of the typical and conventional “All party” consultation on important issues. Such confabulations in the past have failed to produce positive results simply because most of our representatives are not mentally nor educationally equipped to take on problem solving exercises. The truth is at times bitter but it is the truth none the less. No problems with being politically correct but we also need to be practical. Time perhaps to move away from grandiose, symbolic and yet ineffective gestures and to come up with simple, practical and workable interventions – a workable Influx Control Mechanism. We must all diligently work towards that goal.
(The author is President of ICARE an organisation that focuses on Good Governance).