Ashish Singh
(writer is an alumni of TISS and after finishing his tenure as a national leader of International Students’ Union in Norway, he is now a member of youth-led initiate “Youth in Social Action”)
Last year, Assam saw two notorious events that killed more than 100 people. There were no statements from any organisation, but it was widely believed that the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) was responsible – this belief might have largely been driven by media reports. The state and central government’s combined response in the aftermath saw more armed forces being deployed on the ground to clean up the rebel groups.
However, before one forms a firm belief and begins to actually see credence in conspiracy theory, one might do well to also consider that NDFB(S) Secretary (Information & Publicity Wing) N E Esara had on the third day of violence, in May 2014, denied the group’s involvement in these incidents. Also, it might be a good idea to look at some of the beyond-violence issues that tend to drive passion.
Assam has for decades had some issues that are hotly contested – be it development, conservation of forests or demand for a separate/autonomous state. The state has since the pre-independence era faced certain events that have pushed it towards backwardness.
Akash Daimari, a student of Globalisation and Labour Studies at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, says: “Every year, floods devastate lives of the farmers residing along the bank of the river Brahmaputra, taking away their hard work and leaving back little food and shelter. It is almost an annual feature but the government seems to do very little, or nothing, to either avert or control such disasters.”
Much of the funds sanctioned for flood control and rehabilitation mostly remain unutilised. The government’s response in terms of finding a viable solution to the flood problem – which not only affects people but the environment through massive soil erosion, and loss of farmland and forests – remains less than satisfactory, he says.
According to a United Nations report, 3.2 million Bangladeshis immigrated to Assam, without proper legal documentation, in 2014. These immigrants first go to Meghalaya and then turn to Assam, and most settle in the districts of lower Assam in Dhubri. The influx has been too high in recent times. The problem caused by this is an open secret. But the government continues to be in a state of denial over presence of illegal immigrants. As such, the govt should take appropriate legal action to control this practice, which is also a threat to national security and sovereignty.
In 2008 and 2012, the areas under the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) were widely affected by communal violence; many innocent people were killed and livelihoods and properties were plundered or destroyed. These acts of violence were not over religious beliefs or the lack of those. These were understood to be over land issues because of Bangladeshi immigrants illegally staying in Assam, especially the BTAD areas. Using religious sentiment and turning it into religious killings might have only been a ploy. The result: The main issue of illegal immigration took back seat.
Among other issues, there continues to be a dearth of central educational institutes to provide quality education to youngsters in Assam. Education can and has proved to be an enabler, through developing communities economically, politically and socially, Daimari adds.
Charan Basumatary, who has lately been an active member of the All Bodo Students’ Union, says that districts of the demanded Bodoland area face problems related to basic amenities. His aunt, he says, was severely ill and their family had to suffer a lot due to the absence of good medical facilities in the region.
A majority of people in Assam are farmers; agriculture is their main source of income and livelihood. So, the government should focus on pro-agriculture policies to improve the lives of the common citizens. Labour-intensive industries should be encouraged in Assam which could solve the issue of unemployment in the state.
Historically, it has been seen that people begin to ask for land of their own when they feel neglected. The case with Bodoland is similar. State as political entity has the function of ruling its people. But if this rule is not just and equitable, dissatisfaction germinates and takes different forms among people. Armed resistance, rebellion and protests are some such means for the suppressed to express their anger.
It might be time for India to shed its sense of insecurity when it comes to creating a new state. Also, we need to remind ourselves that there has been very little involvement of multilateral agencies, foreign governments and representatives of separatists groups in policy making for Northeastern states.
Maybe, it is time we as a democratic country start giving space to the voices of these people in our political and not-so-political spheres. But, of course, that might hold only if we are willing to find a solution.
(this article was originally published online on www.istupefy.com)
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