Re: [asom] Nehru's letter

[sanjoy hazarika]

I do not know if there are solutions but perhaps there are measures which can help tackle the issue.

 

If the problem lies in outmigration from Bangladesh, then surely it makes sense to help tackle the economic and environmental pressures which force people to move. This could be partly through developing manufacturing and economic zones on the border which can be used to produce consumer goods which can be sold in either country or elsewhere.

 

Of course, there cannot be any dimintion in strengthening border policing. But I believe that we cannot stop migration by fences or laws.  We need to ensure that migration does not become a security, cultural and economic threat as people are saying.

 

For that to happen, we need to make migration legal but with controls and curbs such as enabling them to have Work Permits which will ensure that they stay only for a specific period in a specific area for specific occupations and then  go back: at the moment they are coming illegally and settling, buying and acquiring immoveable property and even getting the vote.   The Work Permit idea is not new but it must be preceded by a Identity Card regime which covers all residents in the country, starting with the NER.

 

These are the issues which need discussion and debate in a rational manner.  This is a start and there is much more to do.  In addition, the state legislature in Assam should have a majority of the seats reserved for indigenous/local communities. We have lost so many years in irrational anger and debates.

 

I do not think that Bangladeshis will outnunber us:  just look at the rates of growth for the different communities and over the past decades. Numbers and statistics do help asses the situation calmly.

 

Also with Bangladesh's lower birth rate and fertility rates and improved economic conditions, we may even see a reverse migration! It helps to occasionally have a sense of humour.

 

Sanjoy Hazarika

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

I too agree to Mr. Hazarika's observations.
But do we have any solution to this illegal migration problem?

 

There is a common fear among the native Assamese people in Assam that soon Bangladeshis will out number them and will be forced to adopt their culture, language and probably religion.

 

How realistic is this fear? I will be glad to know about your observation regarding this.

 

Dipankar

 

Dipankar Malla Baruah
Dy Supdtng Engineer
Well Logging Department
Oil India Ltd.
Duliajan 786602
Assam, INDIA
Phone: 919435039820

----- Original Message -----

From: Sanjoy Hazarika

To: assamonline@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 5:53 AM

Subject: [asom] Nehru's letter

I am completely in agreement with Mr. Shantikam Hazarika and Mr. Amrit Nehru.

 

We seem to enjoy living in the past and blaming others (usually vague charges) instead of taking responsibility for problems which are of the creation of our generation.

 

Illegal migration is not as simple as we would make it out to be.  Unfortunately, it is discussed so superficially and emotionally in Assam and the NE that there hardly is a debate --  only the outpouring of loud, empty and prejudiced rhetoric: there are many issues and complexities involved and political and other leaders in Assam and the rest of India (of all hues) are as responsible as anyone else.

 

Sanjoy Hazarika

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moderator edited, assamonline

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