REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR CONDUCTED BY RESEARCH CENTRE FOR EASTERN & NORTH EASTERN STUDIES KOLKATA (CENERS – K) IN CONJUNCTION WITH MIZORAM UNIVERSITY (MZU), AIZAWL , MIZORAM, AT AIZAWL, ON 5 & 6 OCTOBER 2015 ON
“MIZORAM, GATEWAY TO S E ASIA? WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?”
SUPPORTED BY
GOVERNMENT OF MIZORAM, CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRY (CII) & THE NUMALIGARH REFINERY, LIMITED (NRL)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
General
This International seminar, held on 5 & 6 October 2016 at the MZU, Aizawl, was a felt need since India’s “Look East Policy”, has not benefited the NER. Analyses indicates that, the policy to “Act East”, will succeed only if these states work out their own local solutions towards development, ensuring peoples’ ownership and active participation. The aim of this Seminar was to examine, “Mizoram becoming India’s Overland Gateway to S E Asia” and to recommend “What needs to be done?”. It was very well attended, with eminent participants including His Excellency, the Governor, Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Gen (Dr) V K Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, VSM (Retd), MoS Ministry of External Affairs, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Lal Thanhawla, the Hon’ble Mr Muhammad Nazrul Islam, MP, Birprotik, Minister of State for Water Resources, Government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Amb Ong Keng Yong, former Ambassador of Singapore to India and now Director of RSIS, Singapore, Mr Jitendra Chaudhury, Hon’ble MP & Chairman Tripura Industrial Development Corporation besides a host of other eminent participants. The Seminar was conceived by CENERS – K, a premier think – tank based in Eastern India.
Important Issues that Emerged and Recommendations
Mizoram was strongly recommended to be India’s Overland Gateway to S E Asia. Further, if the overland “Act East” policy is to succeed, connectivity through Mizoram was the only functional option, as it provided the most peaceful and shortest option. Current connectivity planned through Manipur is unlikely to succeed due to the unrest in Manipur, which may NOT be resolved in the foreseeable future. The Central Government would need to facilitate infrastructural and other development. Mizoram will need to interact more closely with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Tripura.
Recommended Routing for Trans Asian Highway (AH1). The routing recommended is – Kolkata – Dacca – Agartala – Mamit – Aizawl – Champhai – Zowkhathar – Rhi (Myanmar) – Tiddim (Myanmar) – Kalewa (Myanmar) – Mandalay (Myanmar) – Yunnan (China)/Yangon (Myanmar)/S E Asia/East Asia, with a northern loop running through Gauhati – Shillong – Silchar – Aizawl on to AH1. The route recommended above would use improved Indian, Bangladesh and Myanmar Highways (NH).
Kaladan Multi Modal Transportation Project. The project may take 5 years or more, as Myanmar is still to start road construction and dredging of the Kaladan River; there are political disturbances in Rakhine State (Myanmar); Mizoram is still to resolve issues of land acquisition for stretches of the new Highway; there are still 7 bridges to be constructed; also the simultaneous construction of Hydro Electric Projects on the Chhimtuipui River is posing technical problems. Sitwe on completion of dredging would at best be a coastal craft port. The plan requires transhipment from shipping onto coastal craft to Sitwe port; then onto IWT to Paletwa (Myanmar); transhipment to trucks at Paletwa to Zorinpuii (Mizoram border); breaking of bulk at Lawngtlai (Mizoram). This is not cost effective. It is recommended that the plan be modified by using heavy duty IWT from Kolkata/Bangladesh via Sitwe to Paletwa – this would reduce two transhipments. Further, efforts be made for Bangladesh to permit the NER states to use the IWT route from Kolkata/Bangladesh to Ashuganj River Port (Bangladesh) and then to Agartala (Tripura) – Aizawl (Mizoram)/South Assam/Manipur.
National Highways – Almost all NHs in the NER hills are in a deplorable condition due to heavy rains, extensive landslides, poor construction and inadequacy of funds. In Mizoram other than the World Bank funded NH 54 to Lunglei, all the NHs are in an bad state. Increase in rates for road maintenance and Central assistance to resolve the problem has been recommended.
Bangladesh China India Myanmar – Economic Corridor (BCIM EC). It was strongly felt that there should be no objection to the BCIM EC running from Kolkata – Dacca – Agartala (Tripura) – Aizawl– Champhai – Zowkhathar– Rhi (Myanmar) – Tiddim – Kalewa – Mandalay (Myanmar) – Kunming using Chinese investment. This would reduce the investment load on India, Bangladesh and Myanmar and facilitate industrial development of Tripura, Mizoram and South Assam.
BG Rail Connectivity – currently Gauhati – Lumding – Silchar– Bhairabi – being extended to Sairang near Aizawl. Extension is recommended to Agartala to link Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Ashuganj Port. Sairang be also linked to Champhai – Tiddim (Myanmar) – Kalewa – Mandalay onto China or S E Asia.
Airports – Lengpui airport (Mizoram) should be made an International Airport for tourist traffic and exports of floriculture, horticulture. A second airport also needs to be constructed in South Mizoram.
Relations with Neighbours – though a Central subject, it is imperative that Mizoram, sandwiched between Bangladesh & Myanmar, establish good relations with them to facilitate connectivity/trade.
Myanmar is yet to forget sanctuary given in Mizoram to CNA rebels. Myanmar still notes Mizoram showed little sympathy for Budhist Chakmas refugees, fleeing Bangladesh. Also, the new Myanmar NLD Government has not forgotten the Indian support to the SDPC Military Government or Indian SFs cross border strikes into Myanmar. Consequently, a lack lustre attitude is observed in Myanmar developing connectivity towards the Indian NER. The Indian and Mizoram Governments therefore need to make concerted efforts to improve relations with the NLD Government. It is also recommended that this issue be pursued by CENERS – K with Myanmar Think tanks.
Psychological preparation – Mizoram “Opening Up” means an influx of non Mizos to create infrastructure, set up factories and for tourism. Cheap labour will have to be imported from Manipur, Assam and Myanmar. Work culture would need to change, e.g. no totally closed holidays on Sundays. Land reforms will be needed to facilitate acquisition for infrastructure creation and so on. Mizo society and culture would come under stress. If the political leaders, the church and the NGOs do not prepare the people for this, there would discontentment and possibly violence.
Assets of Mizoram that Need to be Exploited to facilitate Mizoram “Acting East”
Highly Literate People – Mizoram’s 92% literate population, with many English speakers must be exploited to develop her service sector (hotels, call centres, spas, restaurants, tourism and so on). Mizoram must invest extensively in education and the service sector and make private investment in these sectors attractive. With its salubrious climate, it should be developed as education and service sector hubs for the entire region. Attention needs to be paid to skills and language training.
Exploiting the Service and Tourist Sector – Mizos must intensify efforts towards homes/cottages/farms based hospitality for tourists and ecological and adventure tourism. Golf and health tourism also offer scope. Digital connectivity must be improved and the call centre industry developed rapidly. More emphasis must be placed on education in Information Technology. Private sector should be invited to invest in this field. With the connectivity planned, there is need to create a large transportation service industry, including motels, restaurants, medical services, vehicle parking, refuelling stations, vehicle repair shops, godowns and cold storage services.
Availability of Land – With an asset of about 21,000 sq kms of land, there is tremendous scope in Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture. Tea production has also started. Strong incentives need to be offered to draw more people into these fields to make Mizoram self-sufficient in food. Mizoram would need to carry out major land reforms as most of the land is the property of the community.
Forests and Environment – Mizoram has 70% forest cover – the largest bamboo reserves in India. Unfortunately, large areas have been laid bare by slash and burn cultivation. While the new land use policy has reduced jhooming, this needs to be further regulated and controlled. Infrastructure projects have also laid waste vast areas and prone to landslides. This needs to be addressed immediately by carrying out extensive afforestation. It is strongly recommended that two ASSAM Regiment Ecological Territorial Army Battalions (one for South and one for North Mizoram) be raised immediately, for afforestation work. Forest wealth must be judiciously exploited to set up plants to produce bamboo and wood ply, corrugated sheets, brooms. The availability of medicinal plants should be exploited by Pharmaceutical companies setting up factories to produce drugs.
Hydro Electricity – Mizoram has suitably located hydroelectricity potential much in excess of its requirements, which needs to be exploited to generate power to Mizoram and export of surplus to Bangladesh and Myanmar. While a number of hydroelectricity projects are under construction, the balance exploitable projects need to be executed.
Gas and Oil – Surveys indicate considerable natural gas deposits in South Mizoram. Exploration work has been extremely tardy – this needs to be resolved. There would also be a need to lay pipelines to evacuate the gas from the production sites to the required locations which may include Sitwe port/Bangladesh. Oil deposits have also been reported in North Mizoram. Exploration here has also been tardy – the exploration and commercial extraction need to be expedited.
Urbanisation – Mizoram is now excessively urbanised with uncontrolled construction. This has put tremendous pressure on the land and services and has created disasters such as landslides and loss of life within the city. Action needs to be initiated to spread out the urbanisation.
Entrepreneurship, Industry & Investment – While Mizoram has high economic growth, she has little or no industry or entrepreneurship. Incentives need to be given to resolve this situation and by giving training to entrepreneurs. A new Industrial and Investment policy is required to attract both investment and industry. The power, tea, agriculture, tourism, service, pharmaceutical, food processing, hotel, infrastructure creation, transportation, gas, oil, forest produce and handicrafts sectors offer such scope. There is need to relax the ILP system and evolve a more workable work permit system, as there is an acute shortage of labour. New labour laws will also have to be enacted. A concerted effort needs to be made by the State to attract external investment in almost all fields.
Medical facilities, Health – Mizoram is ideally suited to be developed as a medical care and Health Tourism Centre for the region. This would require creation of the necessary infrastructure and training of its people for the same.
Border Management (BM) of the Bangladesh and Myanmar Borders – India needs to evolve its own model of BM to ensure a secure border that prevents the cross border move of insurgents, arms, drugs and smuggling and yet permits legal trade through soft, border crossing points. The present trading arrangements are totally unsatisfactory; consequently there is a tremendous quantum of illegal and unrecorded trade. This issue needs resolution. Border Haats have proved extremely successful. Creation of Haats on the Bangladesh and Myanmar borders needs to be given impetus.
Setting up of Experts Committee – It is strongly recommended that the Government of India and the Government of Mizoram immediately set up a Committee of Experts to work out a time bound 10 year plan, coupled with a financial analysis of what needs to be done, to make Mizoram india’s overland “Gateway to S E Asia and thereafter put in concerted efforts to execute the same. Either PMO or the DONER needs to be the nodal Central Government Agency, to coordinate the activity of all Ministries in Delhi to bring the “Act East Policy” in this regard through Mizoram to fruition.
Conclusion – The Seminar concluded that “Mizoram must be developed as India’s overland Gateway to South East Asia”. It however also clearly emerged that for this to truly happen and for the Act East policy to succeed, a tremendous amount of work needs to be done by all stake holders – the Central and State Governments, Civil Society and by the people of Mizoram To facilitate the same the Government must immediately convene a Committee of Experts to work out a time bound 10 years plan to guide the Government on how and what to do on a time bound basis.
MIZORAM THE GATEWAY TO SE ASIA? -THE REPORT
GENERAL
This International seminar, held on 5 & 6 October 2016 at the Mizoram University (MZU), Aizawl, was a felt need since India’s “Look East Policy”, has not really benefited the North East Region (NER). Analyses by experts indicates that, the new policy of the Prime Minister of India, to “Act East”, will only succeed if the states of the NER work out their own local solutions towards development and “Acting East”, in a home grown manner, thereby ensuring peoples’ ownership and active participation. The aim of this International Seminar was to examine the feasibility of “Mizoram becoming India’s Overland Gateway to S E Asia” and to recommend “What needs to be done?” for this to bear fruition, to the Central and State Governments and the Mizo Civil Society.
The International Seminar endeavoured to obtain the participation of experts from Mizoram, besides subject experts from other parts of India. Aspects that were discussed included connectivity, industry, energy and power, trade/commerce, transit, required value addition on primary goods, culture, ecology, border management and security, improvement of foreign and interstate relations to facilitate the same, and to solicit views, particularly of the youth, on the entire matter. The Seminar assumed special significance in light of the recent efforts being made to “Act East” as directed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
The International Seminar was very well attended by important personages in the Government, the intelligentsia of Mizoram, professors, staff and students of the MZU, the media, representatives from the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, BSF, Police, NGOs, the Church, business, Oil Industry and CII. A number of very eminent speakers/participants, including His Excellency the Governor, Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma, PVSM,UYSM,AVSM,VSM (Retd), Gen (Dr) V K Singh, PVSM, AVSM,YSM,VSM (Retd), MoS Ministry of External Affairs, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri Lal Thanhawla, the Hon’ble Mr Muhammad Nazrul Islam, MP, Birprotik, Minister of State for Water Resources, Government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, Amb K Srinivasan, former Foreign Secretary of India, Amb R Mitter, former Ambassador of India to Bangladesh, Amb Ong Keng Yong, former Ambassador of Singapore to India and now Director of RSIS, a reputed Singapore Think Tank, along with a five member team, Mr Zokey Ahad, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh based at Kolkata, Mr Jitendra Chaudhury, Hon’ble MP & Chairman Tripura Industrial Development Corporation, Mr Prasenjit R Gupta, Deputy Consul General of USA based in Kolkata, Mr Dipankar Chatterji, Former Chairman, North East Council, CII, Mr Arvind Kumar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI and Senior Adviser, ASSOCHAM, New Delhi, Mr Subir Bhaumik, former BBC Correspondent & Author, Mr A Dasgupta, President IPPAI, Mr S C Sethi, Chairman SPML, Lt Gen J R Mukherjee (Retd), former Chief of Staff Eastern Command & President CENERS – K, Maj Gen Arun Roye, AVSM, VSM (Retd), former GOC Bengal Area and Executive Director CENERS – K and a host of other distinguished participants and scholars.
The Seminar was conceived by CENERS – K, a premier think – tank based in Eastern India to provide a forum for research, discussions and debate concerning development, peace and security in the eastern hemisphere as a whole and the eastern and north-eastern states of India in particular. A write up on CENERS – K is given in the Brochure cum Programme of the Seminar attached.
Important Issues that Emerged and Recommendations
Mizoram Recommended to be India’s Overland Gateway to S E Asia
From analysis of the “Act East” Policy it is apparent that access routes to Myanmar, China and South East Asia, from the NER are either through Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur or Mizoram. Of these the only state that is peaceful and likely to remain so is Mizoram. Thus connectivity to Myanmar and ASEAN, whether it is from the NER or from Bangladesh – Tripura, would in reality be best through Mizoram, with communication linkages to it from the other NER states – this is also the shortest route to the ASEAN countries from Kolkata. There should in addition be loops from the other NER states linking on to this corridor. Action therefore needs to be initiated to convince New Delhi, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the neighbouring NER states, of the same and that, if there is to be a start to the “Act East” policy, connectivity through Mizoram was the only functional option, as the current connectivity planned is through Manipur – whereas the Manipur problem is most unlikely be resolved in the foreseeable future. There would also be the issue of creation of value addition/levy of cess on goods that would be exported/imported through this economic corridor and consequent infrastructural development needed to facilitate Mizoram becoming the Gateway to South East Asia.
For this to happen, Mizoram will need to “Open Up” and look much more outwards and also “Look West” to interact much more closely with Bangladesh and Tripura than hitherto fore. They will also need the active support of Assam, Manipur, Tripura and for that matter West Bengal, and may have to modify her policies in order to make this happen.
Consequent to detailed discussion there was unanimous, positive, civil society consensus that Mizoram be developed to be India’s Overland “Gateway to S E Asia”.
Physical Connectivity Issues to be Attended to on Priority
Recommended Routing for Trans Asian Highway (AH1)
The routing now recommended (shortest) is – Kolkata – Dacca (Bangladesh) – Agartala (Tripura) – Mamit (Mizoram) – Aizawl (Mizoram) – Champhai (Mizoram) – Zowkhathar (Mizoram) – Rhi (Myanmar) – Tiddim (Myanmar) – Kalewa (Myanmar) – linking to the Indian constructed Friendship Highway in North Myanmar to Mandalay (Myanmar) & then to Yunnan (China)/Yangon (Myanmar)/ S E Asia/East Asia. The route recommended above would utilise suitably improved Indian, Bangladesh and Myanmar National Highways (NH).
This should also be considered to be the modified routing for the Trans Asian Highway (AH1), with a northern loop running through Gauhati – Shillong – Silchar – Aizawl on to AH1 and given the highest priority for development. A map showing routes is given in the Brochure cum Programme attached.
The Manipur loop from Silchar via Bishenpur – Imphal – Moreh – Tamu – Kalewa (that was the originally routing planned for AH1) should also continue, but be activated fully only when the political and insurgency problems are resolved, as this would take quite some time – this route is currently more or less non-functional due to the insurgency and exorbitant cess levied by a multitude of insurgent groups. For the interim, Dimapur – Kohima – Imphal – Churachandpur – Aizawl NH needs to be activated as another loop to AH1.
Kaladan Multi Modal Transportation Project
After detailed discussions, it was assessed that the project would still take quite some time to take off as (5 years or more), as Myanmar is still to start road construction and dredging of the Kaladan River; there are also major political disturbances continuing in Rakhine State (Myanmar) which hamper construction; Mizoram is still to resolve issues of land acquisition for a few stretches of the Highway linking Lawngtlai to the Myanmar border at Zorinpui; there are still 7 bridges to be constructed; also the simultaneous construction of Hydro Electric Projects on the Chhimtuipui River (Mizo name for Kaladan River) is posing technical problems, which may cause further delays.
Sitwe (a shallow water port) even after completion of dredging would at best be a coastal craft port. The existing plan would demand transhipment from deep sea shipping off the coast onto coastal craft to Sitwe port; then transhipment to IWT for river transportation to Paletwa (Myanmar); then again transhipment to trucks at Paletwa to the proposed land customs stations at Zorinpuii (Mizoram border); then breaking of bulk and further transhipment at Lawngtlai (Mizoram) for onward transportation. This is not a cost effective plan. Also, in view of Rakhine State having major political disturbances, the use of this route may well be fraught with the same sort of problems that we face with Manipur. Unofficial discussions with experts reveal that at the time of conception, the experts had stated the plan to be unviable – they were however negated on grounds of so called strategic necessity.
It is therefore strongly recommended that the above plan be modified by using primarily heavy duty IWT craft from Kolkata/Bangladesh via Sitwe to Paletwa – this would then reduce two transhipments. The route should be used primarily for oil/gas exploration (major gas reserves have been discovered in South Mizoram near Saiha (Mizoram)) and the evacuation of the same by laying pipelines to Sitwe and further. It could also be used for tourism (as the area is beautiful and untouched); to supply goods to South Mizoram; by the forest & bamboo industry; or for strategic purposes, when cost is not the major criteria.
It is further recommended that all out efforts be made to convince Bangladesh to allow Mizoram, Manipur/Nagaland and South Assam to use the heavy duty IWT route from Kolkata/Bangladesh to Ashuganj River Port (Bangladesh) and thence to by road/rail via Agartala (Tripura) – Aizawl (Mizoram)/South Assam – onwards to their destination. This routing would be much shorter than via Sitwe and be much more cost effective as only one transhipment would be involved.
State of NHs in the Entire NER including Mizoram
Almost all NHs in the hill/mountain sectors of the NER are in a deplorable condition due to heavy rains, particularly during the monsoon, extensive landslides, poor standard of construction and inadequacy of maintenance funds with the states. Unfortunately, the Border Roads Organisation maintained roads are in fact the worst maintained. In Mizoram other than the World Bank funded NH 54 to Lunglei, all the NHs are in an atrocious state. This needs to be remedied on priority. The NHs in particularly bad condition in Mizoram are –
- Stretch of NH 54 in the North astride & North of Kolosib (Mizoram).
- Stretch of NH 54 from Lunglei to Lawngtlai and Saiha.
- NH 44A from Aizawl to Mamit (Mizoram) – Tuidam (Mizoram) – Manu (Tripura) – very bad.
- NH 6 (AH1) from Seling to Champhai – handing over by BRO is being delayed by the BRO.
- NH 150 from Seling (Mizoram) via Tipaimukh (Mizoram) to Manipur.
- NH 302 from Lunglei to Demagiri (Tlabung) (Mizoram) – Bangladesh – very bad
It was recommended to the State Government that Civil Society take on the social responsibility of keeping the drains clear and the clearing of undergrowth from the NHs in their particular sectors thereby allowing the PWD more funds for repair of roads and landslide clearance which is fairly extensive. Further, a case be taken up for increase in rates for road maintenance with the competent authority and for specific Central assistance to resolve the problem in the hill sectors.
Bangladesh China India Myanmar – Economic Corridor (BCIM EC)
Whilst from the security and strategic point of view, connectivity with Yunnan (China) through Arunachal/ Nagaland/ Manipur was NOT recommended, it was strongly felt that there should be no objection to the BCIM EC running from Kolkata – Dacca – Agartala (Tripura) – Aizawl (Mizoram) – Champhai – Zowkhathar (Mizoram) – Rhi (Myanmar) – Tiddim – Kalewa – Mandalay (Myanmar) – Kunming (Yunnan – China) using Chinese investment. This would also reduce the investment load on India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It would also facilitate industrial development of Tripura, Mizoram and South Assam.
Rail Connectivity
Broad Guage rail connectivity for Mizoram is currently from Gauhati – Lumding – Silchar (Assam) – Bhairabi (Mizoram foothills) and is being extended to Sairang (Mizoram) close to Aizawl. This needs to be extended from Sairang to Agartala (Tripura) from where it could link onto Akhaura (Bangladesh) and thence to Ashuganj Port, from where goods for Mizoram could be pumped in from Kolkata and Bangladesh. This would be the shortest route to Aizawl and reduce cost of goods in Mizoram/Manipur/Tripura/ South Assam tremendously.
The above railway network should also be extended from Sairang – running alongside the proposed alignment of AH1 to Champhai (Mizoram) – Tiddim (Myanmar) – Kalewa – Mandalay (Myanmar) thereby linking on to the Myanmar Railway network from where it could run onto China or S E Asia.
Airports
Lengpui airport (Mizoram) needs to be upgraded and converted into an International Airport to facilitate tourist traffic and exports for the floriculture, horticulture industry and other industries. A second airport needs to be constructed in South Mizoram. All major towns also need to be connected by a greater frequency of helicopter services.
Relations with Neighbouring Countries and States to facilitate Physical Connectivity and Trade
While foreign relations is a Central Government subject under the Indian Constitution, it is imperative that regions/states that have extensive international borders develop and maintain good sub regional relations with their neighbours for purposes of trade. In the case of Mizoram, which is sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar, this is most essential – Mizoram needs to be proactive in this respect and follow the example of Tripura which is almost surrounded by Bangladesh – they have developed excellent relations with Bangladesh, consequent to which their connectivity to mainland India is now much better through Bangladesh.
Mizoram needs to improve its relations and connectivity with both Bangladesh and Tripura so as to facilitate connectivity and trade with both Bangladesh and mainland India along the shortest possible routes.
While Mizoram enjoys the advantage of having the same ethnic groups located on both sides of the Indo Myanmar border in Chin Hills (Myanmar) and Mizo Hills (Mizoram – India) and that this should have facilitated better relations, this in reality is NOT necessarily so on ground. The majority Myanmarese have yet to forget the sanctuary given by India and the Mizos to the rebel Chin National Army (CNA) personnel against the Myanmar Army and Government. Also Myanmar being predominantly Budhist, have not forgotten that Mizoram did not sympathise with the Budhist Chakma tribes, who were forced out of the Chittagong Hill Tracts by the Bangladesh Army operations against Chakma insurgents. The complex issue of the interse relationship between India and the new Myanmar NLD Government in relation to Indian dealings with the earlier SDPC Military Government is also yet to be resolved, as also an outright rejection by Myanmar to cross border strikes by Indian Security Forces into Myanmar. Consequently, a studied, somewhat lack lustre attitude is observed in terms of Myanmar developing connectivity and trade towards the Indian NER and Mizoram. The Indian and Mizoram Governments therefore need to make a concerted effort to improve relations with the NLD Government and the Myanmar Army to facilitate India’s “Act East” policy. It is also recommended that the issue of improvement of relations and India’s “Act East Policy”, be pursued through this organisation (CENERS – K), with Myanmar based Think tanks.
Mizoram needs to improve its relations with Assam, resolve its border dispute with them and soften its border to facilitate movement to and from Assam and trade and commerce in the area (Cachar Dist of Assam). Mizoram also needs to mend fences with the majority Meitei Government in Manipur to ensure better treatment of Mizo ethnic groups in Churachandpur and Chandel Districts of Manipur.
Need to Psychologically Condition the Mizos to Opening Up and Connectivity to Act East
While there was cent percent positive consensus to becoming the “Gateway to S E Asia amongst the audience, this is easier said than done. Acting East and being a Gateway implies Mizoram “Opening Up” – that means an influx of non Mizos to create facilities, infrastructure, set up factories and for tourism. There is a shortage of cheap labour in Mizoram – that means cheaper labour will have to be imported from Manipur, Assam, Bangladesh (though cheap labour is now also difficult to come by from Bangladesh) and Myanmar. Work culture would need to change, more discipline would be needed – “Act East and being a Gateway” means, there can be no totally closed holidays on Sundays as at present, as trade and movement of traffic must continue along with all support services even on Sundays – the Church and NGOs will have to accept this. Land reforms will need to be brought into play to facilitate acquisition of property for infrastructure creation and so on. The existing Mizo society and culture would resultantly come under a fair degree of stress. If the political leaders, the Church and the NGOs do not prepare the people for this there would discontentment and maybe even violence. The Government, the Church, NGOs such as the YMA and other Civil Society leaders all have a major role to play, hand in hand with each other, in deciding “What Needs to be Done?”, how and when, in conjunction with the people.
If the above psychological preparation is not done, the Act East policy would undoubtedly NOT succeed.
Assets of Mizoram that Need to be Exploited to facilitate Mizoram “Acting East”
Highly Literate People
The 2011 census assessed Mizoram’s population to be about 11 lacs, which should now be in the region of about 15 lacs, with about 92% literacy and a fair number of English speaking people. This is currently being exploited in the rest of India in the service sector (hotels, call centres, spas, restaurants, tourism and so on). Mizoram with its highly organised and relatively disciplined civil society and NGOs, needs to exploit this to the optimum by investing heavily in education and the service sector and by making investment into Mizoram in these sectors attractive to the private sector. With its salubrious climate throughout the year, the big towns should be developed as educational and service sector hubs for the entire region, on the lines of Shillong and Darjeeling. This would facilitate provision of educational facilities for Northern Myanmar, Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and Manipur. A great deal of attention needs to be paid to skills and language training – there is need to increase and improve the number of English, Bengali, Hindi, Myanmarese speaking people to facilitate trade and business.
Exploiting the Service and Tourist Sector
While more hotels will undoubtedly be required, Mizoram’s educated and relatively well to do population must intensify their efforts towards enticing tourists to come and stay in their homes, cottages, farms and go in for ecological and adventure tourism in a big way. Golf and health tourism also offer a lot of scope for development.
Digital connectivity must be improved dramatically and the call centre industry developed rapidly inside Mizoram. Much more emphasis must be placed on education in Information technology. The private sector should be invited to invest in this field.
With connectivity as indicated above being planned and constructed, there is great scope in creating a large transportation service industry. This would include motels, restaurants, medical services, vehicle parking, refuelling stations, vehicle repair shops, godowns and cold storage services.
Availability of Land
With a small population and an asset of about 21,000 sq kms of land, there is tremendous scope of land based productivity in the fields of Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture. Tea production has also started. Unfortunately the counter insurgency operations based grouping of villages, severely harmed Mizoram’s agricultural economy and has led to over urbanisation in the state, with very few people now devoted to agriculture. This damage now needs to be undone by offering strong incentives for going back to farming, so as to grow more food and become self-sufficient in basic commodities (Mizoram has to now import a large proportion of its food). Horticulture and floriculture offer tremendous scope for exports.
In order to do the above, Mizoram would need to carry out major land reforms after psychologically attuning its civil society to the same, as most of the land is the property of the community.
Forests and Environment
Mizoram theoretically has the asset of 70% forest cover with a large proportion being bamboo forest (the largest bamboo reserves in India). Unfortunately a large amount of the forest cover has been damaged by indiscriminate “Jhooming”(slash and burn cultivation) and felling of trees. While the new land use policy has reduced jhooming, it is still fairly extensive. This needs to be further regulated and controlled. Construction of roads/connectivity/infrastructure projects have also laid vast areas bare and prone to landslides. This needs to be addressed immediately by carrying out extensive afforestation. To facilitate this, it is strongly recommended that two, ASSAM Regiment Ecological Territorial Army Battalions (one for South and one for North Mizoram) be raised immediately, with funding from the Environment Ministry and put to immediate afforestation work. The Mizoram Government as verbally agreed, is advised to take this matter up with Environment and Defence Ministries at their earliest.
Forest wealth must be judiciously exploited – particularly bamboo, plywood, medicinal plant based industry. There is tremendous scope to set up bamboo and ply wood processing plants to produce bamboo and wood ply, corrugated sheets, brooms, paper which could then be used domestically and exported. Pharmaceutical companies should be approached to set up factories to produce drugs.
Hydro Electricity
Mizoram has been assessed to have the asset of hydroelectricity potential which is suitably located for transmission purposes, much in excess of its requirements. This needs to be exploited to the maximum to facilitate provision of power to the entire Mizoram and export of surplus power to Bangladesh and Myanmar. Export of power would bring income to facilitate investment in infrastructure so badly required. While a number of hydroelectricity projects are under construction, the same need to be expedited and the balance exploitable projects executed.
Gas and Oil
Surveys indicate considerable natural gas deposits in South Mizoram in the vicinity of Saiha. Exploration work for exploitation of the same has been extremely tardy – apparently the firms employed to do the exploration, lacked the necessary technical and financial capabilities to do the job. This issue needs to be resolved on priority. Once the gas is under commercial production Mizoram would gain from royalties and from export to Bangladesh and elsewhere. There would also be a need to lay pipelines to evacuate the gas from the production sites to the required locations which may include Sitwe port.
Oil deposits have also reported in North Mizoram in the vicinity of Kolosib. Exploration here has also been tardy – the exploration and commercial extraction need to be expedited.
Urbanisation
Mizoram is now excessively urbanised – primarily at Aizawl where the majority of the population resides with totally uncontrolled construction. This has put tremendous pressure on the land and services and has created disasters such as landslides and loss of life within the city. Necessary action needs to be initiated to get people back into rural area and to spread out the urbanisation.
Entrepreneurship, Industry & Investment
Notwithstanding the fact that Mizoram has in the past few years exhibited high economic growth, she has little or no industry or entrepreneurship. Incentives need to be given to resolve this situation, by giving training to entrepreneurs. The Hon’ble MoS MEA, Gen (Dr) V K Singh must be taken up on his offer to train entrepreneurs at the institute in his constituency near Faridabad.
The CII has made a commitment to set up a “Skills Training Facility” at Aizawl – this needs to done on the highest priority by CII.
A new Industrial and Investment policy must be evolved which will attract both investment and industry. There is great scope for this in the power, tea, agriculture, tourism, service sector, pharmaceutical, food processing, hotel, infrastructure creation, transportation, gas, oil, forest produce and handicrafts sectors. If Mizoram wishes to progress it will have to relax its Inner Line Permit system and evolve a more workable work permit system, as there is an acute shortage of cheap labour. New labour laws will also have to be enacted to facilitate all this if Mizoram is to flourish.
A concerted effort needs to be made by the state to attract external investment in almost all fields.
Medical facilities, Health & Drugs
With its salubrious climate Mizoram is ideally suited to develop itself as a medical care and Health Tourism Centre for the region. This would require creation of the necessary infrastructure and training of its people for the same.
A great deal more effort is required to stop drug and tobacco abuse in order to have a healthy and efficient working population.
Border Management of the Bangladesh and Myanmar Borders
While a lot of international border management models are available, India needs to evolve its own particular model to ensure a secure border that prevents the cross border move of insurgents, arms, drugs and smuggling and yet permits legal trade through soft border crossing points. The present trading arrangements are totally unsatisfactory; consequently there is a tremendous quantum of illegal and unrecorded trade. This issue needs resolution.
Border Haats have proved extremely successful on the Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya borders. Creation of such Haats on both the Mizoram – Bangladesh and Mizoram – Myanmar borders needs to be given impetus.
External Advice and Assistance
Mizoram has done splendidly in the last 30 years since the Mizo Peace Accord brought peace and harmony back to Mizoram with a very high current GDP. However, it now needs to develop rapidly and carry out extensive preparation to meet the challenges and competition that would inevitably come into play on opening up to the world and becoming a Gateway. Mizoram should not hesitate or feel shy to learn from Tripura, other parts of India, Singapore, China or Bangladesh. A tremendous amount of preparatory work is required to take on these challenges.
It is strongly recommended that the Government of India and the Government of Mizoram immediately and if possibly conjointly (if not possible, the same should be done by Mizoram separately), set up a Committee of Experts to work out a time bound 10 year plan, coupled with a financial analysis of what needs to be done, to make it India’s overland NER “Gateway to S E Asia”, as it is strategically located to do so. This Committee should submit its report to the Government of Mizoram and the Government of India within a period of three months. Either DONER or the PMO needs to be the nodal Central Government Agency to coordinate the activity of all Ministries in Delhi to bring the Act East Policy in this regard through Mizoram to fruition.
Conclusion
The above Seminar successfully concluded that “Mizoram must be developed as India’s overland Gateway to South East Asia”. It however also clearly emerged that for this to truly happen and for the Act East policy to succeed, a tremendous amount of work needs to be done by all stake holders – the Central and State Governments, Civil Society and by the people of Mizoram – both psychological and physical. To facilitate the same the Government must immediately convene a Committee of Experts to work out a time bound 10 years plan within three months to guide the Government on how and what to do on a time bound basis.