ENTRY POINT Strike A Fine Balance

HIMALAYAN Guardian  Jan 12, 2011

EDITORIAL

The Centre’s decision to lift restrictions on foreigners entering prohibited areas in India’s trouble-torn states of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram is aimed at promoting tourism in the region. The decision to open up the area also comes at a time when the local people are demanding further relaxation on foreigners visiting the region for various activities, including development of the tourism sector in the backward tribal region, which has largely been ignored by the Centre.

Even Indians visiting these places have to have special permits to enter and stay in the region. Now that insurgency in the region is on the wane the authorities need to rise up to the occasion and respond positively to the people’s aspirations. More than financial aid people in the Northeast need to grow and develop at their own pace and according to their own genre.

The restrictions have been lifted for a trial period of one year and it is up to the people to ensure that it is extended further if the new move is beneficial to them. If the move to do away with the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in these areas is successful the Centre needs to look into the demand for doing away with the Inner-Line Permit (ILP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) system in the region. Care should be taken that the local population and their unique cultural heritage are carefully safeguarded while opening the region to domestic and foreign tourists.