Centre's nod to border haats on Bangla border

From a Correspondent

New Delhi, Jan 6: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up border haats along the Bangladesh border. The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister rendra Modi.

"The approval was given for MoU and Mode of Operation of Border Haats signed on October 23, 2010 with Bangladesh for setting up Border Haats on India-Bangladesh Border," a government official said.

The border haats aim at promoting the well-being of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by establishing traditiol system of marketing the local produce thorough local markets in local currency.

Though not significant as a percentage of bilateral trade, these measures help to improve economic well-being of margilized sections of society. During the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister to India in 2010, it was agreed that border haats will be established on a pilot basis at selected areas, including on the Meghalaya border, to allow trade in specified products and in accordance with the regulations agreed and notified by both governments.

In order to implement the agreement, a MoU and the Mode of Operation of Border Haats across the border between Bangladesh and lndia was signed on October 23, 2010. Subsequently, an addendum to Mode of Operation of border haats across the Border between Bangladesh and India was also signed on May 15, 2012.

Already four border haats including - Kalaichar (Meghalaya-Bangladesh border); Balat (Meghalaya-Bangladesh border); Kamlasagar (Tripura-Bangladesh border) and Srigar (Tripura-Bangladesh border) are in operation.

In addition, both the governments have also agreed to establish two border haats in Tripura and four in Meghalaya on the Bangladesh border.