During my childhood days, I heard many news stories about clashes between Assamese and Naga people in the border area of Merapani in Golaghat district. The people residing in the border areas of Assam and Nagaland were in constant dispute after the Assam State Reorganization Act and Nagaland’s separation from Assam in 1963. Due to the absence of proper demarcation of borders between the states, the border areas of Assam and Nagaland were always in dispute.
There were complaints from people residing on both sides of the border about land encroachment, which resulted in sudden conflicts between the people. For this reason, the government declared the region a Disturbed Area Belt (DAB) after the war at Merapani in 1985 and deployed various central forces in the region. Initially, forces like SSB, ITBP, and CRPF were placed, but later all were withdrawn from the area, and the full responsibility was given to the CRPF to maintain the status quo in the region.
It’s been nearly 40 years since the Merapani war in 1985. If we flash back to the region 40 years ago and compare it to the present scenario, we can see a complete transformation in the region with many positive changes and developments. At the same time, it is disappointing to talk about how these developments are also exploiting the inhabitants and natural resources in the region.
The ill stories I heard during childhood are no longer prevalent. There is stability and peace in the region because of the cordial relationship between the administrations of both states, the economic interdependence of people from both sides, and the equal sharing of natural resources. For example, we can take the Doyang River, which is a lifeline for the people of both states for agriculture and electricity production.
The regular market points like Merapani, Dayalpur, Bhandari, etc., and weekly markets in Gomari, Sarupani, Sanghati, Kolajan, Bhandari, Bakti, etc., continuing for ages, are places for exchanging commodities, culture, and language for the people of both states. The CRPF deployed in the region acts as a neutral force and has complete control over the area by setting up multiple border outposts (BOP) in conflict-prone areas. Due to their stronghold and presence on the ground and their community development work under the Civic Action Program, they have built trust between the CRPF and the local community in the region.
Although the DAB is flourishing with good roads and transport connectivity and the establishment of a marketplace, on the other side of the coin, there is huge exploitation of natural resources available in the region. The question is whether the road connectivity is making it a safer place for traders to extract stones, sand, gravel, and oil from the region or if the roads are mainly built to give safe passage to these traders.
The changing ecology of the region is affecting the livelihood of the inhabitants. The DAB is inhabited by people from diverse communities like Bodo, Mising, Axomia, Adivasi, Naga, Muslim, etc., and their livelihood is at stake due to changes in the region’s ecology. The bank of the Doyang River, once known for its fertility and surplus agricultural production, is now saddening to encounter due to its poor and degrading quality and characteristics. Even the yields are not up to the mark, whether it be crops or vegetables. Additionally, the vegetables produced here were supplied to far distant districts of Assam. The disturbances in the ecology of that particular region are caused by cutting down the reserve forest, digging the river, blasting the land for oil rigs, etc., which impacts the livelihood of the inhabitants.
The region has a colorful culture because of mixed communities that celebrate different festivals in different months of the year. The intercultural and intermarriage relationships between the communities make the region a safer place to inhabit. In contrast, after living in the region for almost 30 to 40 years, the people are yet to get their independence in our own independent nation.
Every movement and activity of the people are being monitored. The people need to take permission from the District administration, like the Border Magistrate, Forest Dept, and CRPF officials, for any kind of construction, whether it’s a multi-storied building or a simple livable house, digging a pond for water, or cutting a small tree for firewood or construction. For any suspicious activity in the areas, the individual households are being checked and raided by police personnel.
Women and girls always need to live in constant fear of being unsafe and vulnerable. This has raised a question about the rights and privacy of the people inhabiting the region. All this also has a large psychological impact on the children and youth of the region. They are not getting similar freedom and luxury of resources like other children and youth living on the mainland.
Concluding the matter, it is likely to state that, despite all the differences, the contrast, and all of that, we still somewhere share a pure and strong bond, which creates a room for betterment from all aspects, be it commercial or people residing in peace and harmony.
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The author is a PhD Scholar at TATA Institute of Social Science, Guwahati. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect EastMojo’s stance on the issue.