Influx causing grave problem in NE
>From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 28 In a significant remark, M Veerappa Moily Committees
Report on Administrative Reforms has conceded that illegal migration from
Bangladesh has created intractable problem in the region, reducing the
indigenous people to minority in some parts tracing rise of militancy to the
menace. The six-member Committee which submitted its report to the Prime
Minister on Monday, dwelt on the problem of illegal migration from Bangladesh
at length. Initially, this migration represented movement of peasants from the
over-populated eastern districts of Bengal to the sparsely populated and
fertile and fallow Brahmaputra Valley consisting Assam.
The redrawing of national boundaries following partition provided an impetus to
migrants from East Pakistan for reasons of personal safety to settle in Assam,
where their presence gave rise to ethnic and linguistic tensions. This was
followed by fresh influx of all communities due to the agrarian crisis in East
Pakistan. This migration has continued even after the emergence of Bangladesh.
The fear among the local populace that this immigrant population would reduce
them to minority, as has in fact happened in some parts, has fuelled militancy
in the region, the Moily Committee admitted.
The report goes on to say that militancy in Assam, on the foreigners issue
has multiplied and spread to many new areas. Large-scale immigration into
Tripura gave birth to militancy there in the 1960s the report acclaimed.
The Committee has further criticised the policy of giving autonomy to various
groups and communities. Ad hoc solutions resulting in widely varying degrees of
autonomy to different bodies sometimes within a single State have led to
competitive demands and when they are not met, to alienation and violence. The
report has also touched on the problem of militancy in the North-east. The
numerous militant movements in the region have different objectives, the
Committee noted.
Apart from causing huge loss of human lives, militancy has hampered economic
development of the region. The situation is compounded by the involvement of
some foreign intelligence agencies, which are providing material support to the
insurgents. Besides, the long porous international borders have facilitated the
movement of these groups and smuggling of arms, it said.
The problem of militancy in pockets of the North-east is obviously very
complex. The ethnicity, diversity, geography and history of the region demand a
comprehensive nation building approach for resolving the complex issues. Fair
reconciliation of conflicting interests in the region, adequate local
empowerment with accountability, infrastructure development, economic growth,
greater economic linkages with neighbouring regions and better governance and
democratic legitimacy must go together for the foundation of durable peace and
prosperity in the region.
However, in the short term, security agencies need to be strengthened,
extortion and abductions must be stopped, militancy should be curbed and
accountability should be institutionalised in order to protect human rights,
Moily Committee recommended.
The Committee has also noted the steps initiated by the Central Government like
revamping of the North Eastern Council, creation of separate Ministry of DoNER
for the region, earmarking of 10 per cent of Budgetary allocation of Central
Ministries for the region besides setting up of the Non Lapsable Pool of
Central Resources.
Moily Committee has recommended insertion of a new chapter in Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (ULPA) instead of enacting a new legislation,
to replace the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The new Chapter
VI A in the ULPA, proposes to empower the Centre to deploy forces under its
control to quell internal disturbance, even if the concerned State has not
requested for Central forces.
While recommending repeal of the dreaded Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Moily
Committee has spelled out several built-in safeguards in the new chapter to
safeguard against human right abuse by the security forces.
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