At a time when joblessness among our youth has taken centre-stage primarily due to COVID-19 lockdown, Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya, Chief Adviser AASU and Adviser NESO feels it is time to re-launch the student body's planned economic movement to help every youth live a confident, economically self-dependent life. Speaking exclusively to sentinelassam.com, Dr Bhattacharjya also spoke about NESO's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to take immediate effective steps against those perpetrating racism against people of Northeast. Here are the excerpts from the interview.
Sentinel Assam: The biggest worry or challenge at this time is joblessness among our youth. A lot of them have returned home. What is AASU or NESO planning to do about their livelihood?
Samujjal Bhattacharyja: Since we are associated with students, I would like to talk about our students first. Unlock 1 has started, offices, shops have opened, curfew is now from 9pm. Schools too would open. Parents, guardians and all of us are anxious about the future of our children. We want the government and the education boards like SEBA to take necessary steps so that our students do not lose an academic year. But whatever measures are taken, health concerns of our students have to be taken care of. We have also suggested extra classes. The authorities should also consider relaxing the policy that the syllabus needs to be completed within this year itself. Authorities and the government will have to extend all support to the school authorities to ensure that students do not face any kind of health issue because of attending school.
Sentinel Assam: Coming back to my earlier question about joblessness among youth and migrant workers who have come back.
Samujjal Bhattacharyja: Assam and northeast already has unemployed youth. Now a lot of people who were working outside have returned. Be it the tourism sector or the handloom weavers of Sualkuchi, bell-metal artisans of Sarthebari, artistes, our first-generation entrepreneurs, farmers and mobile theatre groups, all have been impacted. Now what is the way out? During our Assam agitation we had started a self-reliance movement. It showed us the way to move ahead with economic prowess and its influence can be still seen. The need of the hour is a planned economic movement in Assam and Northeast. Under the movement initiatives taken in every district, every location will be different and unique to each of these locations. Similarly, it would differ from state to state across Northeast depending on the requirement of each state. We have already started our discussions and dialogue with domain experts, farmers, youth who are involved in different sectors about how we should move ahead in a planned manner, what needs to be done.
I would like to talk here about the economic package announced by the government. Economic experts have been commenting on the package. They are the experts and it is their domain. I am going to talk about the feedback that we have got from the people. The government has extended the timelines for loan repayment. But this is not relief in its real sense. Because loan has to be cleared and interest has to be paid. But many people are out of job so the concern among most of them is how will they pay within the new timeline. Therefore, the government should extend the timeline further and the interest part should be borne by the government. Fixed charges on electricity should be waived. If there is no consumption then no bill should be raised. Thirdly, all those youth who are in trade and business should be given a tax holiday for 10 years. These are some of the concerns flagged by people who are working. Government should take steps to address their concerns.
Northeast also has to develop as a producer be it in the agriculture space or pisciculture, veterinary or tourism and we have to have proper market linkages.
We have to move ahead in a planned manner with the confidence that we can do it, we can achieve.
Sentinel Assam: Is NESO also involved in the process of building this economic movement. Would you expand this movement to cover whole of Northeast?
Samujjal Bhattacharjya: Here is Assam we are already in talks with Assam Unnati Sabha, a wing of AASU and the people. We are discussing with leaders of NESO as well. We are in touch with the NESO leadership, Chairman Samuel Jyrwa, General Secretary Srinam Prakash, leaders of Khasi Students Union, Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Garo Students Union, Tripura Students Federation, Naga Students Federation, All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union, Manipur Students Union. We are in touch and definitely we will discuss in the forum of NESO how we can start this planned economic movement in entire Northeast.
Sentinel Assam: The points that you are making about Northeast becoming a leader in producing local stuff with market linkages and becoming self reliant is something very similar to what Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about – going local and being vocal about it and being atmanirbhar.
Samujjal Bhattacharjya: Whatever the people of Northeast have been doing or saying is what is happening now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced janta curfew, people of Assam had implemented janta curfew during Assam agitation. They did it on their own. Prime Minister Modi is just repeating all of these. During the Assam agitation a self-reliance movement was started when youth of Assam undertook several economic activities for self-reliance so that every youth can live life head held high and the living standard of every household improves.
Sentinel Assam: Floods in Assam is a regular phenomenon. Other parts of Northeast also get affected by floods. Any plans from AASU and NESO?
Samujjal Bhattacharjya: We have a lot of natural resources but we are not rich. We have been flagging the floods and erosion problem of Assam and Northeast and we have been demanding from the Centre that flood and erosion be declared a national problem. Prime Minister Narendra Modi refers to Northeast as 'Asthlakhsmi' then why is the Prime Minister and the Central government not declaring flood and erosion as a national problem. On the other hand, we have seen that recently a wall collapsed at the Lower Subansiri hydro power project. Even experts have said that this is an earthquake-prone area therefore experts have been saying that large dam projects should not be constructed. The recent incident simply proved the experts right. Government should take steps to address flood and erosion of Assam and Northeast as a national problem.
Sentinel Assam: What are your views on the Dehing-Patkai coal mining issue?
Samujjal Bhattacharjya: We have been raising this issue. Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary has to be preserved, saved. We oppose the Centre's plans to allow coal mining there. We oppose support extended by Assam government. Assam government is now saying that they would not allow coal mining in Dehing-Patkai but the decision has already been taken. Government is giving explanations like mining will take place here and not there. We do not want explanations. We want the Wildlife Sanctuary preserved. The entire region is Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary and a rain forest. It extends upto the border of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, the explanation given by Assam government that mining would not take place in a certain area is mis-leading. Coal India was already doing mining activities illegally for which they have been fined now. Assam government should now convey to the Central government that coal mining cannot take place in any part of Dehing-Patkai.
Sentinel Assam: Students and people of Northeast have been facing a lot of racial prejudice. What action has AASU and NESO taken?
Samujjal Bhattacharjya: NESO is concerned and has been raising this issue. We have written a letter to the Prime Minister and have approached the states where students from Northeast are studying or working that they must be protected. Government should take effective steps so that students and people of Northeast working outside feel safe. We want states and the Centre to take appropriate initiatives. NESO is committed and determined to protect the students and people of Northeast who are studying or working outside. We are putting pressure on the Central government and requesting northeastern states so that they too raise their voice and put pressure on the Central government so that people and students from Northeast who are working or studying in other parts of the country feel safe.