Guwahati hosts seminar on peace and development

Guwahati, Jan 17 (ANI): A three-day seminar was recently organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra here, attracting participants from Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam and Manipur.

Peace and development were the central issues of discussion among participants.

They expressed their happiness over the increasing number of surrenders and growing trend of peace talks in the region.

In 2011, more than 250 insurgents surrendered to the security forces.

In the same year the Centre signed the peace accord with United People's Democratic Solidarity, initiated talks with United Liberation front of Asom and inked Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki groups.

During discussions, the participants clearly rejected the idea of violence and voted for peace.

They urged the insurgents to initiate talks with the government so that the region can develop.

"Before 1986, there was insurgency in Mizoram, but after the accord that was inked with the government, there has been considerable improvement in the situation and today there are many development activities that are taking place in the region," said Johny Ngurthansanga, a participant from Mizoram.

The seminar was a great chance for the youth to interact with the senior state and central officials.

Aspirations of the youth, condition of rural areas, infrastructure, employment opportunities, possibilities of industrialization and other aspects were discussed.

The young participants were happy about the increasing economic activity in the region.

The seminar also provided the officials an insight on the ground level problems occurring in the implementation of the state and central schemes in the region.

But the entire hall unanimously accepted that violence and unlawful activities from miscreants pose the biggest hindrance to the development projects.

"There are different insurgent groups that are creating problems in the states. This is true for Nagaland and if insurgency can be finished from Nagaland then it could be one of the most prosperous states of the region," said Akom, a participant from Nagaland.

Peace and development go hand in hand. If there is peace in the region, automatically development will take place. (ANI)