Democracy is the only way to solve problems of NE region: Dr Heptulla

Imphal,June 16 (EMN): Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla attending the ongoing 16th North East Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference (NERCPAC) on Friday observed that democracy is the only way to solve problems of North East Region. Recalling her efforts to highlight the topical issues during her long stint as the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, she urged the Presiding Officers to work beyond their conventional mandate to ensure that critical areas of national interest are debated and discussed inside their legislatures and outside it. Urging the authorities to explore the feasibility of ‘flying doctors’ to attend to emergent situations in the hilly areas,she also highlighted the need for better roads and rail network, education and job-creation,health related infrastructure etc . Nagaland Speaker Dr Imtiwapang Aier expressed the need to revive the special status for NE states for economic rejuvenation of the region while Assam Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami delineated that conducive atmosphere, better connectivity, funds and strong will of the people as four dimensions for the development of the region. Arunachal Pradesh Speaker of Tenzing Norbu Thongdok felt that the delayed execution of the project due to lack of necessary clearance is also a major problem. Manipur chief minister’s economic advisor and MLA P Sarat called for finding ways and means for integration with the mainland and for connectivity with South East Asia. The day’s session also took up a special discussion on ‘Parliamentary Procedure for the New Millennium’ proposed by Arunachal Pradesh Speaker. Later the ongoing NERCPAC resolved to urge the centre “to create a separate Ministry, Department or Forum exclusively for Act East Policy (AEP) for giving importance, focus, direction and implementation.” Expressing the need for revival of Special Category State Status, Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) etc for all round development and investment in the State, the NERCPAC also resolved the need to expand and upgrade Telecommunication and High Speed Band width networks. The conference is participated by Speakers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Deputy Speakers of Sikkim and Tripura, was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Thursday. Deliberating on the necessity for all round development of the region with respect to transport, communication and connectivity in terms of Road ways, Railways, Airways and Water ways, the conference also resolved to take prompt action in order to accelerate the Act East Policy in the right earnest, and in letter in spirit for all round development of the entire NE region.