Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria addresses interactive meet on border issues

 GUWAHATI: Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurated a programme titled "Seema Ke Vishay Pe Charcha (An interactive discussion on border issues) at Jyoti Chitraban Auditoirum here today.

The National Institute of Border Studies (NIBS), under the aegis of Seemanta Chetana Mancha Purvottar, organized the programme with a view to nurturing a collaborative approach among educational institutions to generate more awareness on boundary issues and how development can be expedited in the areas bordering inter-state and international boundaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Kataria said that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been paying special attention to the development of the region. The Northeast is now getting special attention. Considering the immense potential of the region, the Prime Minister has termed it Astalakshmi and the New Engine of India's Growth. Giving a different perspective on the programme, the Governor said that the programme is of immense importance for those whose field of study or research is related to India's National and International borders.

Giving a snapshot of different development initiatives for the Northeast, the Governor said that in the last few years, the number of airports in the region jumped from nine to 16, and the number of flights increased from about 900 before 2014 to around 1900. After 2014, as a result of special treatment meted out to the Northeast, all the states have made their way onto India's railway map for the first time, and efforts are being made to expand the waterways as well. The length of national highways, since 2014, has increased by 50 percent in the region. Moreover, under his leadership, long-pending border and boundary disputes are being resolved rather amicably.

The Governor expressed hope that the deliberations on the topic will bring to light the whole dynamics of the boundary issue and the steps the government is taking to meet them harmoniously. The Governor said that the discussion will also create more academic awareness and more pragmatic resolutions of the inter-state boundary and inter-national border issues. He also hoped that the discussion would help the government formulate policies beneficial to the faster development of border areas and the people living along the borders, a press release said.

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