1. INDIA’S LOOK EAST POLICY AND NORTH EASTERN REGION: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS Dr. Tanusree Sarker Women’s College, Tinsukia

2. INTRODUCTION Origin of Look East policy The reasons for adopting LEP by India Objective of the paper

3. NORTH EAST INDIA: GATEWAY TO INDIA’S LEP Geographical location of the region- India’s North East shares borders with Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It covers 8% of India’s land and 3% of population. Unique feature of North Eastern region-More than 200 ethnic groups, large number of immigrants from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar added tension in the region. NE is the bridge between two sub regions of Asia

4. Objectives of India’s LEP To encourage the trade links with the individual nations of South East Asia To provide foreign employment for India’s own working force

5. Attempts made by the Govt. Of India to facilitate trade and improvement of infra structure in the region Construction of 165 km long Indo-Myanmar friendship road connectivity to connect Tamu and Kalaymyo- Kalewa India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway The stillwell road Myanmar-India gas pipeline ASEAN-India car rally etc.

6. Problems of India’s North Eastern region Lack of infra structure of the region Insurgency problem Economically backward Plural society Ethnic clashes Unemployment Poverty Massive influx of illegal infiltrators Drug-trafficking and arms smuggling etc

7. Prospects of the region NE India is rich in medicinal plants- Arunachal Pradesh has nearly 500 species of medicinal plants Favourable climate in Assam and Tripura for rubber plantation Forest in Nagaland is rich in plants like agar, tejpata, dalchini, mint etc Tourism

8. Role of NE India in India’s LEP Regarding NE’s role a number of suggestions made by the Round Table organised by the institute of defence studies and analysis are: Significant policy should be taken by the central Govt. to invest in capacity building, health, education, human resource to equip NE for participating LEP Multi cultural and ethnic studies should be encouraged and flow of businessmen and politicians between NE India and ASEAN should be encouraged Asian states like Singapore, Japan,South Korea, Taiwan should be welcomed in the NE for capacity building in areas like agriculture, tourism, hotel development, bamboo technology. The ASEAN countries are interested to invest in NE but they are deterred by the security situation of this area. They also complain of lack of information about NE India.

9. Contd. The NE states do not show interest in benefiting from LEP by not participating in various India ASEAN summits A small group of ministers at the centre and state level should be set up to coordinate various projects that are being implemented in the North East Transportation and communication link between NE and ASEAN states should be developed and accordingly resource should be allocated People in NE could be induced to take up land on lease for cultivation for various crops in Myanmar and set up food processing units in Myanmar Training centre for vocational training to the local youths should be established and they could seek employment in the ASEAN countries Cultural troups from NE should be sent to ASEAN and ASEAN delegates should be invited to various local festivals of the region Eco-tourism should be encouraged in the region 2/3 fellowship under India-ASEAN cultural exchange programme could be instituted

10. Contd. The NE should be integrated with the rest of the country through the development of road, rail and air links. The proposed suggestions made by the RT are important for the development of NE states and to boost Indo-ASEAN relations. Development of the region will help to solve a number of problems including poverty, insurgency, terrorism etc.

11. Conclusion It is the vision and concentrated efforts in various thrust areas after micro studies and appropriate project formulation which can bring NE to a standard in which it will be able to stand the challenge of the LEP and will also be able to fully participate in a new milieu. The condition of NE region has been described as low-level equilibrium of poverty, no development, civil conflict and lack of trust in political leadership. Insurgency and counter insurgency has become a part and parcel of daily life of this region. The failure of the Government to tackle the crucial problems and provide security to the people of this region generating doubt and discontent among the people of this region.

12. Contd. All the sensitive issues of the region need to be examined and thoroughly studied in a collective manner by the intelligentsia, academicians, social activists, NGOs and Government taking into confidence the people of the region. Policy makers in the centre should realize that in order to increase connectivity with Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore and other South East Asian states, it is important to change its approach towards NE states. India should follow a policy that focuses on comprehensive development of NE Region and allow them to be the key stakeholders in all stages of the decision making process. This process will bring the feelings of integration and benefit from better relations with its SE Asian neighbours. By making closer relations with the SE Asian nations India will be able to achieve the status of key regional power and for that she should follow certain steps to develop her NE Region.

13. Contd. The development is not only for economic and political development of the region but for the development of the people in general. In this regard the Govt should focus on developing its ‘soft’ power regionally by establishing sports tournament among the NE states and SE Asian states. This would enhance the ‘people to people contact’. The central Government should consider the views of the state Govts and local people of the region in both economic and foreign policy issues. India can make a successful Look East Policy if the central Govt. invests not just economic development of the region but for political, social and all round development of the region.

14. REFERENCES H.N. Das, “Preparing North East for Look East Policy”; Dialogue, July-Sept,2007, Vol.9,No. 1 M.S. Prabhakara, “Is North East India landlocked?” Economic and Political Weekly, October 16, 2004 M.P. Bezbaruah, “Indo-Myanmar Border Trade: The stakes for North East India”, Dialogue, July-Sept.2007, Vol.9, No-1 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s key note address at special leaders dialogue at ASEAN Business Advisory Council on Dec. 12,2005 at Kualalampure, www.primeindia.nic.in/speech/contentwww.primeindia.nic.in/speech/content Sinha Yashwant, “Resurgent India in Asia”-speech at Havard University on 29 th Sept, 2003, www.meaindia.nic.in/speech/2003/9/29 www.meaindia.nic.in/speech/2003/9/29 Sushil Khanna, “Economic opportunities or continuing stagnation”, Gateway to the East:A symposium on North East India and the Look East Policy, Seminar, June, 2005 Thingnam Kishan Singh(ed), “Look East Policy & India’s North East: Polemics and Perspectives”, Concept Publishing Co. New Delhi, 2009 India’s Role in promoting ASEAN Cooperation; Hemant Sharma, 9 th August, 2014; www.careerride.comwww.careerride.com The North East in India’s Look East Policy; Sabina Yasmin Rahman, 15 th May,2013, www.idsa.in/event/NorthEsts role in India’s look East policy. www.idsa.in/event/NorthEsts

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