CPA India Region Zone-III conference concludes with eight-point resolution

DIMAPUR — The 22nd Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-III, held in Kohima on the theme “Policy, progress and people: Legislature as catalysts of change”, concluded with the unanimous adoption of an eight-point resolution reaffirming regional cooperation and legislative commitment to inclusive growth.

According to an update on Wednesday, the house resolved to renew the commitment of the Northeast state legislatures to connect legislators more closely with the people and contribute towards a developed Northeast as a partner in the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

It further urged the Central government to initiate dialogue with all northeastern states to prepare a comprehensive, sustainable development plan that accounts for the region’s ethnic diversity and long-term growth needs. While acknowledging recent Central initiatives under the Act East Policy, the house noted that the region’s socio-economic disparity with the rest of the country still requires fuller recognition and redress.

Recognising the geopolitical importance of the Northeast as India’s gateway to ASEAN, the conference impressed upon the Centre the need for an exclusive, targeted development programme in partnership with ASEAN nations to promote social, cultural, and economic growth.

It also endorsed continued cooperation among northeastern states in areas such as trade, culture, healthcare, education, and tourism.

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Expressing collective support for Nagaland’s developmental aspirations, the resolution urged the Centre to prioritise the upgrading of Kohima Medical College into a Central Institute on the lines of AIIMS and RIMS, Imphal; implement the proposed Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) or Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) announced in the 2015–2016 Union Budget; and consider the Chiethu Airport project to enhance regional connectivity.

Acknowledging the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity and climate change, the House resolved to promote climate-resilient policies and action plans through state legislatures and encouraged respective governments to formulate dedicated climate action plans. It also called for collaboration to establish a research centre to monitor and address the impacts of global warming on the region’s socio-economic development.

To further strengthen public engagement, the house resolved to use legislative platforms to raise awareness on climate change through committees, workshops, and symposiums, the update stated.

The conference, hosted by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from November 9 to the 13th, brought together presiding officers and delegates from across the Northeast. The session concluded with a condemnation of the November 10 bomb blast at Red Fort, New Delhi, and an expression of condolences to the victims.