By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Keeping in tune with the call of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), HNYF and FKJGP on Monday staged a sit-in demonstration near the Raj Bhavan to press for an immediate fulfillment of NESO’s charter of demands including effective measures to check infiltration.
The demands drafted by NESO recently included repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), proper education policy and human resource development, repeal of all the draconian laws, check on infiltration of illegal migrants, implementation of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, popularly known as (Inner Line Permit) system to the entire North Eastern Region, economic and infrastructural development, etc besides demand for special constitutional status and separate time zone for NE region.
Supported by NESO Chairman, Samuel Jyrwa, who is also a former KSU leader, the students’ union on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh through Governor RS Mooshahary.
According to the memorandum, the region is presently facing an acute economic crisis because of the burgeoning population. Low per capita income and poverty is on the rise. Due to the increase in the population, the demand for food products are increasing and, therefore, prices of essential food items along with goods have increased, thus creating food problem. Besides, the problem of unemployment is rising to several lakh of people.
“It is high time that the government of India adopts a proactive policy in the form of a ‘White Paper’ rather than a reactive policy to this issue”, the memorandum stated. “We will continue to demand immediate Redressal into the issues affecting the lives of the people in the North Eastern states and as one body. We will take up the matter with the higher authority in the centre seeking actions on its part”, NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa said.
Jyrwa also stated that they will continue to pressurize the government at the Centre and the State to implement the inner-line permit.
“Influx has been a major issue affecting the indigenous people of the region, influx and infiltration of people from Bangladesh and Nepal have affected the tribe not only in Meghalaya but the entire region,” the NESO chairman said adding “If we do not act now, it may be too late.”
The NESO team will visit New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister as well as the central leaders in April. NESO will also hold its General Council Meeting at Arunachal after the team is back from New Delhi.
Jyrwa also said that the organization will decide after consulting with the different State Governments of the region and then decide on the further course of action.
