Academics, journalists and social activists urged the north east people to stand united to address the various issues confronting the region. The appeal came from an interaction held in New Delhi on Sunday.
Speakers in the interaction stressed a mechanism to work together for various organizations which are active in the field of civil society, environment and human right issues in the region.
Veteran journalist and eminent professor and director of the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research in New Delhi’s central university Jamia Millia Islamia, Sanjoy Hazarika said that the people of the north east have never worked together.
“The people in Assam do not think the things beyond their state. Same it is in the case of the Nagas. They don’t think about each other,” said Hazarika.
“You need to tell your stories to the media. Then the world will get to know what is going on in the region,” Hazarika.
Veteran author Joydeep Gupta said, “the people outside the North East are always eager to know the region. Need for information is paramount. Many people from the north east hardly have any knowledge of their own region,” said Gupta.
Participating in the discussion on the issue of development and destruction of natural resources allegedly by corporate houses, journalist and author Kishalay Bhatarjee said that apart from the corporate houses, a section of local power groups are no less responsible for the destruction of natural resources.
Bhattacharya dwelt at length how the Bodo militants have denuded the dense forest areas in Nameri. “They did all these to claim the Bodo land,” he rued.
Earlier, Mary Beth Sanate in her address highlighted the common issues confronting the north eastern region. Shengnaider Tontang discussed recent incidents of flood and landslide in the region.
The program was organized by the Coalition on Environment and Natural Resources Television for Environment, and Assam Times Foundation.
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