GUWAHATI, July 8 � Importance should be given on the restoration of permanent peace in Assam and there is a need to develop small and medium-scale industries for employment generation so that the youths do not get lured by militants. These were some of the major recommendations in a seminar organised by the Red Horns Division of the Indian Army involving senior officers of the Army, police, civil servants and intellectuals to formulate strategies to deal with militancy in Assam.
Another major recommendation was creating an environment to bring more investment and promote the development of Guwahati as the hub in the implementation of the Act East Policy of the Government of India.
The seminar maintained that there should be a comprehensive scheme for rehabilitation of surrendered militants so that they can be brought back to the mainstream. Another major recommendation was raising at least two Home and Hearth Territorial Army Battalions in the region with the dual aim of generating employment and environmental preservation in the region.
An Army release said that the Indian Army, in the preceding two decades, has made major contributions to check insurgency in Assam and bring the violence down to the present levels. As the State slowly returns to normalcy, there is a need to modify the overall strategy so that the long cherished dream of lasting peace and tranquillity is achieved in the near future.
The formulation of a precise and optimal strategy requires the comprehensive examination of the prevailing internal security turmoil in Assam, drifting ideologies of the insurgent groups, political and economic initiatives by the Government and the compulsions and aspirations of the common man for development and a bright future. To that end, the Red Horns Division of the Gajraj Corps organised the seminar, �Peace, Security and Development in Assam.�
The seminar commenced with a presentation on the �Saga of Assam.� It set the stage for the subsequent proceedings of the seminar.�Welcoming the participants and speakers, Major General CP Mohanty, General Officer Commanding, Red Horns Division, presented a broad�view of the prevailing situation in the State from the socio-political, economic and security points of view.�He also introduced the topic and the themes of the seminar, giving the audience a preview of the proceedings to follow.
The seminar was chaired by HN Das, former Chief Secretary, Assam.�The panellists included Wasbir Hussain, Director, Centre for Peace and Development Studies,� Dr Biswajeet Mahapatra, Department of�Political Science, NEHU, Jaideep Saikia, security analyst, R Chandranathan, ADGP (Vigilance) and Dr LR Bishnoi, IG, BTAD.�
Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, concluded the seminar by stating that a coordinated approach needs to be adopted to bring stability, peace and development to the State.�He underscored the fact that development in Assam depends on peace and security and vice versa. He appreciated the exemplary synergy and functioning of the Unified Command in Assam, highlighting that the same has also been emulated by other States.
The General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, lauded the Red Horns Division for organising the seminar in a professional manner.�He also felicitated the distinguished speakers and key organisers of the event. �
