TODAY -
✦



E-Pao! Feature - After 10 years - North East India Will Be

After 10 years - North East India Will Be

By: R.B. Thohe Pou *



The North Eastern States of India have rich resources and in the midst of rich resources, the people are poor and just depending on nature. The total population of North Eastern states according to 2001 census is 38,49,5089. The literacy rate of India is 65.4% in 2001 Census and the literacy rate of seven sisters is 65.85%.

The Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest literacy rate with 54.7% and second lowest is Assam with 64.3%. While Mizoram has the highest literacy rate with 88.5% and second highest is Tripura with 73.7%. Most of the seven sisters states are rural and the region's literacy rate is more than all India rural literacy rate, which is 59.4% The Seven Sisters endowed with rich natural resources and relatively have higher literacy rate as compare to other states of India.

However in the midst of abundant natural resources, the people in the region are mostly depending on nature and economically backward. The literacy rate in all the seven sisters are high and where will all the educated people in North Eastern States will be heading without any job opportunity in the region after 10-15 years?

Why there were bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland on 2nd Oct. 2004? When I learnt about the bomb blast from National Newspaper, I was not shocked or panic. I just said to my friends, "The time is coming that there will be many more bomb blast after 10-15 years if the central government is not taking the initiative to solve the insurgent problem."

According to newspaper report, about 67 were killed bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland and more than 100 people were seriously injured. It was indeed sad that many of our precious brothers and sisters were died and injured in bomb blast. However after 10-15 years more serious bombs are sure to blast incase the government of India fails to solve the insurgent problem in the region.

The recent bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland is just the seed sprouting, which were earlier sown in the region due to some reasons. Many insurgents are sowing seed of bomb in the region and it is likely to sprout more plants after 10-15 years. The U.S. government is aware of the insurgents' problem in NorthEast India and they want to solve the problem. However the Indian govt. is still dithering to solve the problem sincerely.

The North Eastern states are drawing the special attention of the central government in recent years in many aspects and it is slowly opening up the heart to understand the Seven Sisters' problem. But the question is what they were doing in last 50 years for the N.E. people?

The central government is now trying to bring some development in the region. However they are now helpless to bring any successful development project due to insurgency problem. The central government blames the insurgency groups for not successful development project in Seven Sisters States.

North Eastern States before 1990

Do you think the central government is sincerely trying to bring the development in Northeast? Many people alleged that the N.E. people are economically suppressed or neglected. The only gifts and development project in North Eastern States is only Armed Force Special Power Acts in last 30-40 years.

Human rights are violated in different aspects. The educated people in the region were become helpless and restless to get justice in human rights violation by the Indian Armed Forces. The region has high literacy rate but economically backward due to central government negligence.

The central government policy of recruiting less people in Assam Rifles from northeastern states in last 3-4 decades made worst the situation in northeast. How can the people from other state or foreign country understand the local people of the NorthEast India? If the Assam Rifles are the "FRIENDS OF THE HILLS" Why not recruit only the local people from northeast or at least 60% of Assam Rifles?

As the central govt. is recruiting mostly from other states in Assam Rifles, the frustrated young people in the region have not other option but to join only in their own group set up by their local insurgent groups. Some people thoughts that only Arms can bring justice in this neglected and human rights violated region. Thus many insurgency groups were formed for many reasons or aim and objectives.

Present situation in N.E. Region

The North Eastern States are in the transitional stage wanting to solve all the problems in the region. It can go worst or better after 10-15 years. The Indian govt. is trying to suppress down the insurgency groups by sending more forces and many innocent civilians are harassed, raped and killed. So instead of giving the information and leading to arrest the insurgents - the people hate the Assam Rifles popularly known as "Friends of the Hills".

Unless the Friends of the Hills are friends of the hills- with the word "Friends of the Hills" in paper or mouth and in heart treating the people as enemy cannot solve the problem in northeast. "Friends of the Hills" need friends from the civilian who will support them. But instead of supporting the Friends of the Hills- the civilian support the insurgents due to harassment and brutal killing by the Friends of the Hills.

"Friends of the Hills" is commonly known among the civilian as "Enemy of the Hills" because the Friends of the Hills are harassing, raping and brutally killing the innocent civilian. The Indian armies need to deal and treat the N.E. people with love and understanding.

The more the central government send army and rise the number of army to suppress down the N.E insurgents and killed the civilian, the more insurgency group will become stronger and all the people will only support the insurgent instead of supporting the Indian army.

If we go to North East region and take personal interviews or survey to all the educated people and common people, more than 90% of the educated people will respond that the region is Neglected Region of India. If we go to central government and ask them - they will respond that we are always ready to bring peace and development in the region.

However due to insurgents, we cannot bring any successful development project. If we go to insurgency groups and ask them about the problem - they will say that we had formed the insurgency groups because the central government is injustice to our people and neglected our people. Now the problem is how to solve the problem in Northeast India? What will be the best solution now?

What will be the situation after 10-15 years?

Will the North Eastern region remain the same like last 3-4 decades after 10 years? I am sure it won't remains perpetually. The literacy rate in the region is becoming very high in all the states. After 10 years the entire insurgents group will be well equipped with sophisticated weapons. If there is fire in the house, we need to put it off or let it burn the house. If the seed is sown, it will be sprouted automatically.

Today many educated and frustrated job seekers in the region are attracted to join in different insurgency groups and after 10-15 years, more educated people will join and attracted to take up arms due to frustration and to get justice of human right violation. The literacy rate in North East is high as 65.8% but after 10-15 years, more than 70% of the total population will be literate but possibly only 10%-15% will hardly get proper job.

When people are educated, they want to live a happy live doing something good for themselves and for the societies. However if such educated people are not given the justice to get the job to survive. What will be the reaction? Where will they heading to? Especially in Northeast, there is a very attractive job for the educated people.

Arms are always ready for the educated people. Money is no problem for the educated people in all the insurgency groups. Instead of dying out of frustration and hunger, many will join the insurgency groups. So will the educated people after 10-15 years continue to suffer due to absent of justice and negligence from the central government?

The people from other states will find difficult to join in insurgency group and they may not understand the inner feeling of the northeast people. But the people in N.E. will always attracted to join in insurgency group than dying out of frustration due to absent of job opportunity and human right violation in the region.

There is very good environment for the N.E. people to join in insurgency group. Every thing is ready there, it doesn't need to form new group or new route to go anywhere in the world. More serious than job is the violation of human rights in the region, which can never bear by any human being.

Another good reason to join the insurgency group is the human rights violation in the region. If your parents are harassed and killed without any reason, what will be your reaction to the armed personnel? When women are forced to deliver their babies in open ground, men anus is penetrated with stick, women are molested and raped infront of their kin, loved ones are shot dead mercilessly - how can the people tolerate and bear the situation?

N.E. Iraq of India or Switzerland of India

After 10-15 years the North Eastern States will be like the present situation in Iraq bomb blasting almost everyday incase the state and central government do not bring any development project and take the initiative to solve the insurgent problem. It may be known as "Iraq of India"

However the North East region can be also known as "Switzerland of India" after 10-15 years if the central government takes the initiative to solve the entire insurgency problem and bring development and peace in the region. It is high time for the central government and the people of North East to decide. If the central govt. is not taking the initiative to solve the insurgency problem there will be lots of bomb blast in North East and in some cities in India after 10-15 years.

The last bomb blast in Assam and Nagaland will be nothing comparing the bomb blast to blast after 10-15 years. However the future of N.E. is totally depend on central government and the people of North East especially the insurgency groups. If the people have good job and enough food to eat, who would want to go to jungle with empty stomach?

When we observe the present scenario, it seems there is no chances to bring any development project in the region unless the insurgency problem is solved. However there is means to bring any kinds of development project for the northeastern people from different channel if the central govt. is sincere enough to bring development in the region.

It is high time for the central government to bring some successful development project in the region so that North East India will be another Switzerland of India but not the Iraq of India after 10 years.

It is also high time for the northeastern people to accept the entire development project from the central or state government. Let us hope and pray with our fingers crossed that North East India will be called the Switzerland of India after 10-15 years.

(Note: If you want to read more articles from the same author, you can login to www.nagasonline.com)


*R.B. Thohe Pou contributes regularly to E-pao.net
The writer can be reached at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on May 27th, 2006



* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.


LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #16
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2026 : Timeline
  • The borders the Nagas never chose
  • Bend, Don't Break :: Poem
  • NE moved out of tropical climate zone
  • 'Soil Intelligence' is reshaping infrastructure
  • Naga Peace Process: Indo-Naga Talk: Timeline
  • Noise protest: Manipur Violence : Gallery
  • Nasha Mukt Bharat: A message beyond slogan
  • Bringing books back to living rooms
  • Slams Govt over Escalating Violence
  • When truth becomes the enemy :: Poem
  • The neuroscience of learning
  • 'Hiraeth' at Asian Film Fest Barcelona
  • Marching towards the next Assembly polls
  • The story behind Chahi Taret Khuntakpa
  • Biofortified sweet potatoes in Manipur
  • Probe into alleged Political-militant Nexus
  • Nimai Sarungbam - Lalit Kala Akademi Award
  • "Issue is very Delicate & Sensitive"
  • Festive fitness
  • Shilp Samagam Mela 2026
  • Noting Oct 19, 20, 21 : CoBRA at Sinai camp
  • 48-hour shutdown: Sunurok Killing #1: Gallery
  • The long road without God for 75 years
  • 30 Candidates for Employment in Japan
  • Peace cannot become a political PR exercise
  • Searching for scientific consciousness
  • Time :: Poem
  • India's journey from cotton heritage to new age
  • Tragedy scripted by geo-politics
  • Northeast Book Fair Imphal #2: Gallery
  • World Space Week 2026: The rocket revolution
  • Nomination: RIST Scientist Award 2026
  • Myanmar's return from isolation
  • Deepest Solidarity to Families
  • ABHA and Medical Transcription
  • Manipur Police arrest Three Suspect
  • Sunurok massacre: Politics of selective silence
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #2 : Gallery
  • Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy : Obituary
  • Tale of Ahu, Alang & Apapang: Amur Falcon
  • Consumerism :: Poem
  • Condemns Khamenlok Killings
  • Humble Appeal to All Concerns
  • Envious of the Chief Minister
  • Delivering a powerful point
  • Catholic Valley Schools Sports #1: Gallery
  • When the extraordinary becomes ordinary
  • The Map We Chose :: Poem
  • Dhakeswar Potsangbam : ToI Wellness Award
  • Nigeria calls on world to turn AMR pledges
  • Understanding the pressure students face
  • Training on Mushroom at Khagempali
  • Pointing finger of accusation
  • Digital Revolution & MK Binodini Devi
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #15
  • Letter From A Lost Crony :: Poem
  • Procedural lapses in dismissal of Dr Bimol
  • Manipur Sanaleibak (The Golden land)
  • Training on Seismic Hazard @MU
  • 2026 edition of Hnahsin Kut
  • Oncology & Neurosurgery OPD launched
  • Yaoshang Thabal Competition #5: Gallery
  • Orchids of Manipur
  • Pharmacists: A misunderstood profession
  • Vision Service Week at Ibotonsana School
  • Drone Tech Bootcamp at NIT Meghalaya
  • Athokpam Krishnakanta : World 2% Scientist
  • No Solution Without Identifying "Kuki"
  • Stands in Solidarity with Prof Bimol
  • Taking the idea of Manipur to Senapati
  • Yumjao Lairembi Haraoba #3: Gallery
  • 'Enoong Ngallamdai' :: Movie Review
  • VanDyke Release: Diplomacy or US pressure
  • Mental Health Awareness at High Court
  • 2026 NAMA Research Grant [Upd]
  • Fermented food for beauty
  • Mizoram Targets 5-7% Tourism Share
  • The hills continue to burn
  • Hearthside Story of Naothingkhong #2
  • Between Delhi Power & Valley's Protagonists
  • The Zeliangrongpui at a crossroad
  • Mushroom Cultivation Training at Konthoujam
  • Break from within :: Poem
  • White Canes to Govt Ideal Blind School
  • Concerned: Conflict - Yimkhiung & Tikhir
  • Mizoram Travel Fest 2026
  • Condolence : Kh Armstrong Charang
  • Turning Imphal into a dumping site
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #2: Gallery
  • When prime-time spectacle replaces priorities
  • For a new world organization for peace
  • Intl Day for Disaster Risk Reduction @MTU
  • Solidarity with Professor Angomcha Bimol
  • Intl Day for Disaster Reduction @Wangkhei
  • Condemns Barbaric Killings
  • Schools, roads, power & water supply
  • 'Meeyamgi Khollao Khongchat' #2 : Gallery
  • RIST Talk #76: Gravitational-Wave
  • Breast cancer month, October, 2026
  • Free Screening of "Ishanou"
  • Unlocking potentials of 7 horticultural crops
  • Skies and me :: Poem
  • Eramdam hanna kanbiyu
  • The hills, the SoO camps
  • Mera Chaorel Houba @ Kangla #1 : Gallery
  • China's Mayor Economy
  • My muse :: Poem
  • Condemns Killings & Beheading of Civilian
  • Who doesn't do Vote Chori ?
  • EZE Perfumes Enters Northeast
  • One to one meet with PM
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #14
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #3 : Gallery
  • Humlennganba, Saka : Eming
  • Two interviews, one empty table
  • A landscape of silence :: Poem
  • NSS Runathon for Peace 2026
  • Gender equality- central to diplomatic leaders
  • Manipuri Calendar for year 2027 : Download
  • Meiteilon not Tibeto-Burman language: Rvw
  • Visit to George Gordon's tomb at Canchipur
  • Anandkumar Naorem: World Top 2% Scientist
  • Protect the hills to protect the valley
  • Call for Papers on Manipuri Pony
  • Ashok Singhal Ji - A Karmayogi
  • Addressing the basics of life
  • 228th Bheigyachandra @Nabadwip #1: Gallery
  • Wildlife Week Celebration at Thanga
  • Evolving women's role in Manipur tourism
  • Where do we go from here ?
  • Training Programme on Mushroom
  • Festival look for Navratras
  • Condolence : Demise of Adino Phizo
  • Significant Delhi invite to 3 leaders
  • Heterogeneous Structure of Meitei Society
  • Concert @ 18th Orange Fest #1: Gallery
  • When water management was Statecraft
  • Who switched off the respect :: Poem
  • All is not yet lost for Manipur
  • Wildlife Conservation: Securing the Future
  • Exam : Post of Under Secretary (Law)
  • Understanding narco-terrorism
  • 1500 Burma Refugees Families in 1968-1973
  • 17th World Bamboo Day : Gallery
  • Land affected families: NH-202 in Ukhrul
  • Training Programme on PCB Repair
  • World Habitat Day 2026
  • AMR survivor & WHO call to protect medicines
  • Cut fuel taxes, not food
  • Creating chaos on roads of Imphal
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #1: Gallery
  • Manipuri Pony: Case for Animal Science Univ
  • Hemp plant for sustainable textile & Manipur
  • Flame of the lamp & our cultural sensibility
  • Without you :: Poem
  • Welcomes Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • On the growing roadside eateries
  • 36 Names: Manipur at the Asian Games
  • Abok Ki Singju to Premiere
  • A vision fragmented by corruption :: Poem
  • Gandhi Ji's 3 monkeys and Manipur
  • AI-powered X-Rays are helping find TB
  • Mizoram Reward Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • 15 years in power Vs 10 years in power
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #13
  • US-Manipur Digital Archiving Workshop
  • 8th Cultural/ Freshers' Meet for Rongmei
  • The Same Smoke :: Poem
  • Supriya looks at HYROX World C'ships
  • AI4SEVA Hackathon @IT SEZ, Mantripukhri
  • 38th Foundation Day- NIELIT Imphal #2
  • Heikru Hidongba @Bijoy Govinda : Gallery
  • Manipur's Indigenous Natural Farming System
  • Basic human needs a struggle for Sinakeithei
  • Demise of Pame, Marinmai, Lianvela
  • When I met the pugilist Sarita
  • 38th Foundation Day of NIELIT Imphal #1
  • Mizoram's Anthurium Festival Returns
  • Poll fever seems to be catching up
  • My attempt - Meiteilon is not Tibeto-Burman
  • XXXII National Thang-Ta C'ship concluded
  • One Village One Product: A better alternative
  • When machines can answer, who will judge ?
  • Explain motive- Tronglaobi Terror Attack
  • Merger of 5 elected members of NPP
  • Namghar Unites Assam & Maharashtra
  • Trade and commerce : In a limbo
  • 130th Irawat Anniversary : Gallery
  • Lamyanba Irabot Day at Itanagar
  • Irabot's Ideals Remembered at Mumbai
  • Coffee as a sustainable alternative to poppy
  • Her Godname :: Poem
  • Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Rejoinder to NPCC
  • Need to get priorities right
  • Irawat and Meetei National question
  • XXXII National Junior Thang-Ta C'ship
  • World Heart Day 2026: Don't miss a beat
  • Science in everyday life
  • Nature Education Workshop
  • Rejoinder to Dr S C Jamir
  • Daslakshan Mahaparva: Festival of 10 supreme
  • Focus back on SoO camps
  • Raengdai Vs NEROCA : Durand Cup : Gallery
  • October Calendar for Year 2026 : Tools
  • Lebensraum or ethnic cleansing
  • World Alzheimer's Day 2026
  • Sensitization Workshop on POSH
  • Mourns Passing of Aribam Shantimo
  • Lecture on 'Indigenous Knowledge Systems'
  • Rejects allegations by NPCC President
  • The narrative Manipur needs
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #2
  • Laitonjam Rishikanta @ Asian Bodybuilding
  • First poster of Interlude released
  • In the womb of time :: Poem
  • Running an abnormal State
  • Khunung Eshei & Mukna competitions
  • Conference: Challenge in Sustainable Science
  • Rolling back the highway blockade
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #12
  • Manipur Mesopotamia Force WWI : Gallery
  • PhD in Manipur : Fund it, Fix it
  • Many Voices, One State: Manipur's dilemma
  • Me and Moon: Both do the night shift : Poem
  • Putting rights: Body autonomy & sexual health
  • Green Tea for beauty
  • Yaoshang Thabal @Khurai #2: Gallery
  • AI = Arangpham Intelligence, the Frankenstein
  • Chali-Saba - Kang Ningol Palli #1: Gallery
  • Book Release: Exploring The Vanishing Self
  • The paradox of Kukiland
  • Dr Wairokpam Yaiphaba : Fulbright Fellowship
  • Naothingkhong & Pitanga #1: Hearthside Story
  • Meiteilon is still not a Tibeto-Burman language
  • 52nd Foundation Day of AMWJU : Gallery
  • Another Langban has com :: Poem
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #2 : Gallery
  • lEkoLdugi warisiH :: Seireng
  • Can Strong Anti-Racism Law save NE Indians
  • Culturals @Beating of Retreat #4 : Gallery
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #2 : Gallery
  • 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly : Gallery
  • The 731, and those who may follow
  • Little Flower School, 1973 batch : Gallery
  • Bichu Kharibam: FIH Magic Skill Award
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #1
  • Ningol Phida - Shumang Leela #2 : Gallery
  • Study: Social Worker on Counselling Practice
  • India-Myanmar boundary : Mistakes of 1967
  • Radio E-pao: 5 new songs updated
  • To our star Tamo Vicky, Vikram Chongtham
  • Vice President visited Manipur : Gallery
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #1 : Gallery
  • Hiring @ 4-Star Hotel in Udupi
  • Protest by Researchers @DM Univ : Gallery
  • Meitei Esei
  • US Ambassador @ CM Mantripukhri : Gallery
  • A teacher does not leave when his classroom
  • 'Meeyamgi Khollao Khongchat' #1 : Gallery
  • Candle Light- Chongtham Vikram : Gallery
  • Manipuri Pony Heritage Talk to Students
  • Colonial records: Hill Areas, 1891-1947
  • Joint Resolution: Abrogation of SoO
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #1 : Gallery
  • Manipur Can Simply Be Manipur
  • PhD Admission at Assam University
  • Census 2027 for Manipur deferred
  • Read Meitei Mayek news in romanized English
  • 24-hour Gen Strike (Sep 1) : Gallery
  • Panthoibi Anoi Khuthek #1 : Gallery
  • 48-hour General Strike by JFD #3 : Gallery
  • The flame of Haipou Jadonang
  • Kang Khichri Chaba #2 : Gallery
  • Relevance of NRC, 1951 for immigrants
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2026 #4: Gallery
  • The King Who Caught a Bird : Konthoupa
  • 48-hour General Strike by JFD #2 : Gallery
  • 35th Manipuri Language Day, 20 August
  • The chappals we leave behind
  • Search 25 years of e-pao.net
  • Colonial Knowledge Production in NE India #23
  • 360° panoramic view of spots in Manipur
  • Final Merit List : Manipur Civil Services 2022
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #3
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #2
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #1
  • Jump Start
    DBS Imphal SubSite | Readers Mail | Editorials | Education Announcements | Essay | Exclusive Event | Flash - Audio Visual | Incidents | LFS Imphal SubSite | News Timeline | Poetry | Opinion | Sports | Rock Concert | RSS | Top Stories | Wathi Jugai