By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The recurring problems in the border areas of the State deserve an immediate attention of the government especially in terms of development of infrastructures, providing employment and checking infiltration of migrants which otherwise can give rise to terrorist activities and smuggling, were the notable words of Ideologue and Ex-Editor of Organiser Weekly Seshadri Chari.
Chari who is currently in the city as part of his on-going nation-wide campaign to the border areas under the banner of FINS, a forum for Integrated National Security, said that they would be submitting the findings to the state government besides forwarding a few suggestions gathered by them during their 5-day stay in the border areas of Meghalaya.
“The information gathered by the volunteers of the forum on the problems and difficulties faced by the people living in the border areas will be forwarded to the state government for further actions on their part”, Chari told reporters here on Friday.
The forum which was formed 7 years ago comprises of more than 10,000 youth from 646 districts of the country who takes on an enthusiastic endeavour by visiting the international check-posts and interacts with the personnel and people to attain first-hand knowledge of the overall scenario.
So far, the youth has covered over 149 international check posts and in their visit to Meghalaya, over 140 youth have journeyed to 11 camps in the state while interacting with the people and BSF personnel based at Dawki, Nongjri, Ranikor, Balat, Shella and also Tura in Garo Hills.
It was also mentioned that about 23 youth from Shillong who are part of this forum are on tour to Bhuj in Gujarat as part of the on-going campaign to study and learn the difficulties of the people living in that part of the country.
In their observation, the youth maintained that there is an immediate need to educate the people living in the border areas on the issue of national security at the same to inculcate a sense of patriotism amongst them.
“It was noticed that there is lack of infrastructural development in all the border areas of the state and the government has not concentrated on infrastructure in these areas”, the veteran journalist said while ruing the fact that with improved technology, “Why can’t there be railway lines in the state to make transportation easier?”
Further, Chari pointed out that the lack of employment opportunities in the border areas has compelled the youth to migrate to the city with a hope to get better exposure and security. “This however, can post a threat to the traditional bonding as with distance, they get cut off from their roots, culture, language and family”, he opined.
Commenting on security, the ex-editor of Organiser Weekly said that the unfenced areas along the border lines can give rise to many terrorist activities, smuggling, influx, anti-social activities and encroachment besides others, clubbing together can pose a threat to national security.
“The aim of this forum and this campaign is not to do any research but to collect information from the 469 areas and provide a concrete information compiled together to the Union as well as all the State governments”, Chari asserted.