KEY ISSUES AND STEPS TOWARDS RESOLUTION

Necessity for Review of Political Structure

The north-east has more than 500 different ethnic groups, many of whom feel neglected in some way or the other. Since it is a nation's chief responsibility to ensure the security and well-being of its people, it is the government's duty to ensure a socio-political structure that meets the aspirations of all. Provisions for this have already been made in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution wherein it is stipulated that adequate measures may be instituted where necessary, to apply a suitable political structure based on existing tribal and local structures in the north-east with a view to protect the values and culture of the people of the region. We have however unfortunately faltered by foisting an alien and unworkable political model on the north-east.

Balkanisation – A Mistake

Firstly, we must understand it is next to impossible to keep balkanising the existing states of the nation to meet demands of the numerous ethnic groups. The redrawing of state boundaries on so called ethnic lines, in the manner as has been done repeatedly, has been a major error as it has given further impetus to splintering the already fragile pluralistic civil society structure. It contributed to the creation of extremist groups like the ULFA, NDFB, NSCN, a number of Manipuri and Arunachal insurgent organisations and an upsurge in insurgency in the north-east.