Issues Faced By 'the Seven Sister States': An Unexplored Fantasyland On Earth!

North East India- A charm that will sweep off your feet. This paradise is a land of diverse cultures, festivals, tribes and their practices. It 7 contiguous states Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, Hence also known as Seven Sister States of India and also includes the brother state Sikkim and some parts of Bengal. It is one of the most treasured and Eco-friendly area in India with vast natural resources and a unique tribal culture, tribal folk dance and food and crafts. The region offers a mixed culture of Hindu, Christianity, Muslim and Buddhism. It is blessed with natural beauty and colorful flora and fauna.

These states are connected with the Indian mainland through Siliguri corridor also known as chicken neck. Though beautiful yet unexplored, because of the issues of issurgency it has facing since last 5 decades. The conflicts in these states initiated due to loose administration control by the Britishers, after independence, there is a consistent conflict of interest among the states and the Central government and also due to the application of AFSPA (Armed forces special protection act) and ethnic unrest i.efeeling of ethnocentrism among different communities which is evident from the violence that broke out betweenBodotribes andMuslimmigrant settlers in theKokrajhar district of Assamwhich resulted in the death of around 45 people. If these problems are not properly addressed the region may fall into the trap of vicious cycle instead of moving to a virtuous one.

In recent times the picture is getting somewhat better.Besides so many hurdles, Digboi in Assam, is the first ever oil well in Asia, the tea industry in Assam is the second largest commercial producer of tea. Even the government has implemented North East Industrial & Investment Promotion Policyby offering incentives to the investors, for the development of these states. And even article 371(A) deals with special provisions with respect to state of Nagaland. The central government needs to divert special attention towards the development of these states so that these can recapture it's past glory.