A one-day public discussion on Act East Policy and Manipur on the theme ‘Our People's Future’ was organised by the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), Tengnoupal District Committee at Ima Kondong Lairembi Haraobung, Moreh on Sunday.
During the programme, AMSU Tengnoupal District Committee president N Tomba highlighted the importance of border trade that exists in Moreh town. He said that Myanmar being the neighbouring country has a vital role in the context of trade between India and South East Asian countries.
Moreh town has a vital role in the context of trade and economy of the state and in the global context, the town is located in an important place of India's Act East Policy and it has the strategic role in the economy of the state, he added.
As a resource person, professor of Economics department, Manipur University, Ch Proyoranjan said that after the opening of ‘Look East Policy’ by former Union Minister, P Chidambaram in the year 1995, what is the merit and demerit of the policy are the questions of the area. Is it the failure of the nation or a failure of the trade community? He questioned.
He further said that some of the northeast states lack Act East Policy, so there is always a backward or slow process in the implementation of this policy.
He continued that Manipur and Mizoram should take special vision on this policy to implement it in the larger interest. Traders and the government of these two states should keep more vision on this policy.
Assistant professor of Political Science department, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Homen Thangjam said that the people of the region are against the ‘free trade agreement’ and had protested against the policy in the year 1996. The trade policy should emphasise the development and upliftment to the people of this region. Natural resources and the environment should be protected in the process of this trade.
The government should keep a special vision for the development and economy of the people of this region, he added.
He also spoke on how to train the people in trade between India and South East Asian Countries. Many suggestions and policies were highlighted in his speech.
Deputy commissioner of Tengnoupal, L Bikram appealed for 100 percent vaccination of the district and said that after the vaccination is completed in the entire town and district, trade can be opened normally. He said that any plans of the government should be operational and payment of formal trade tax is for the income generation of the country. He suggested that it would be good if all the academicians, administration and traders come forward and work together.
The programme was also attended by Tengnoupal SP Th Vikramjit; Land Custom superintendent SK Gangte; Punjab National Bank, Moreh manager L Suraj Kumar; State Bank of India, Moreh manager Haridev Sharma; AMSU Tengnoupal District Committee advisor Thoiba Ningthoucha; and AMSU headquarters general secretary Bikramjit Thongam as dais members.
Representatives from MCM, ACODOM, MMCM, Tamil Sangam, Gorkha Samaj, Border trade and Chambers of Commerce Moreh along with leaders of different CVOs, student organisations, and meira paibis were present in the programme.
