Editor
Being a central government employee, I had the opportunity to serve for 6 years in Nagaland with headquarters at Kohima and for more than 7 years in Arunachal Pradesh with headquarters at Shillong, two of the three states of the Northeast where the ILP has been in force. While at Kohima I entered and exited Nagaland via the Chumukedima ILP check-point several times in a year en-route to Shillong, New Delhi or other places outside Nagaland. I was never questioned by those manning the checkpoint. My wife and children too, at times with friends, entered and exited Nagaland through the same checkpoint but were never asked to produce any document. While I always carried my identity card, my wife, children and their friends entered Nagaland without any paper or document. While on official tour I entered Nagaland through Mariani, Amguri and Sonari in Assam and through Mao Gate and Jessami in Manipur, but I was never held up or checked and did not remember to have seen any ILP checkpoint at those entry points.
While serving in Arunachal Pradesh, I had to undertake official tours to the interiors of that State. I entered Arunachal Pradesh through Naharkatya, Margherita, Jagoon, Doom Duma, Sadiya, Jonai, Likhabali, Lakhimpur, Banderdewa and Balipara in Assam. Except for Bandardewa on way to Naharlagun/ Itanagar, I was never checked and did not remember to have noticed I LP checkpoints in other entry points. I had also entered a few villages along the Arunachal Pradesh – Assam border like Mombosa, Yinkiong, etc, but I was never checked nor have I seen ILP checkpoints at those entry points. So I doubt if Meghalaya is more competent to implement the ILP successfully with so many entry points from Assam and Bangladesh. From the north I have so far seen only one infiltration checkpoint at Byrnihat and one from the southeast at Umkiang and maybe a few along the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border like Muktapur, Lyngkhat,etc. While those infiltration checkpoints on the Highways are attended to 24/7 because it helps swell the pockets of those manning them by way of extortion from the drivers of trucks and buses, those like Lyngkhat, Muktapur, etc are not attended to daily because they have nothing to offer by way of extra income. Is it really worth destroying both private and public properties by the ILP fanatics for a cause that is difficult to implement? The infiltration checkpoints have already failed miserably. The ILP will also meet the same fate!
Yours etc
A Pyrtuh
Shillong – 14
Road blockade, livelihoods and self sufficiency
Editor,
With reference to the welcoming initiative of the Department of Fisheries in organizing the 1st State Aquafest, I wish to first and foremost applaud the well-meaning move of the Department to provide a forum for our fish farmers to display their fish and earn their livelihoods. I am informed that as much as 10 metric tonnes of fish will be on sale in the two- day Fest. Such an initiative, I am sure, would not only make our fish farmers self-sufficient but also bring about a sense of self identity. This brings me to the spate of night road blockade called by the NGOs who in my view are established to work towards the welfare of the society. It is sad that while the government is going all out to ensure a decent life for our farmers, our so called NGOs who are expected to work for the welfare of the communities totally ignore the plight of these poor farmers who are willing to travel from far flung villages to make a decent effort to earn their livelihood. I am sure the call for night road blockade will in many ways hamper their travel and worse of all affect the sale of their produce which has taken them two years of sweat and toil. What right do the NGOs have in preventing our fish famers from earning their livelihoods? Would the NGOs be ready to buy the bulk of unsold fish? These are hard question we all would like to ask our dear NGOs. I would suggest that they start learning from the GSU who have called off the night blockade in view of the 100 drums Wangala festival.
Yours etc.,
Kenneth Pala,
Via email