Lately, the Union Government reported an 80% decrease in civilian deaths in North East India since 2014, along with the surrender of 6,000 militants. This article focuses on the key peace developments, the significance of the area, and the government’s initiatives for North East India.
Key Peace Developments in North East India
Several important agreements have been instrumental in restoring peace and ending disputes in North East India. The Assam-Meghalaya Inter State Boundary Agreement (2022) resolved six disputed sectors, dividing them between Assam and Meghalaya. The Karbi Anglong Agreement (2021) is another tripartite agreement involving five insurgent groups of Assam, the Centre, and the state government which resulted in over 1000 militants renouncing violence.
The Bodo Accord (2020) involved the central government, the Assam government, and the Bodo groups, which led to renaming Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Similarly, the Bru-Reang Agreement (2020) and the NLFT-Tripura Agreement (2019) were significant in resolving tribal and ethnic disputes. One of the main development has also been the rollback of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from large parts of North East India, including Tripura and Meghalaya.
The Significance of North East India
North-East India holds strategic importance as it serves as India’s gateway to South-East Asia and Myanmar. It plays a key role in India’s Act East Policy. Additionally, the region boasts of cultural diversity, home to over 200 tribes and many popular festivals.
Economically, the North-East region is rich in natural resources such as tea, oil, timber and has massive potential for hydroelectric power generation. Ecologically, the area is part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and houses one of the highest avian and plant biodiversity of the Indian subcontinent.
Government Initiatives for Development in North East India
The government has undertaken several initiatives to facilitate development in North East India. The Bharatmala Pariyojana and the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN are aimed at improving infrastructure and connectivity. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway are also significant projects.
Other initiatives include the Swadesh Darshan Scheme for promoting tourism, the Digital North East Vision 2022 for advancing digital infrastructure, and the National Bamboo Mission for promoting bamboo cultivation and related industries.
Questions for UPSC Civil Services Examination
In addition to understanding the developments and significance of North East India, aspirants for the UPSC Civil Services Examination should be prepared to answer questions consistent with the following:
1. What sections of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) are opposed by activists?
2. Analyze the major reasons for the survival of armed insurgency in North East India.
By gaining a comprehensive understanding of these topics, candidates can enhance their chances of success in the examination while contributing positively to discussions on North East India’s growth and development.