SHILLONG:
The North East Students Organization (NESO) has re-elected former Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president Samuel B Jyrwa as its chairman during the general council held at Khumulwng in Tripura from November 24 to 26.
The general council also nominated Daniel Khyriem, also a former KSU president, as one of its six coordinators.
During its 6th general conference, the NESO also resolved to fight against the issue of infiltration of foreigners, which is still a very serious threat to the identity and security of the indigenous peoples of the North East region, by taking it up with the concerned state governments or at the central level.
On education in different states of North East, the general conference has emphasised the need to set up more professional and technical institutes in all states of the region.
Further, the NESO strongly urged the Centre to make the North East a Special Employment Zone and set up a regional placement/ employment exchange in the region with its networking covering the whole of the North East.
It said that the recruitment of local youth in central government establishments needs to be reviewed and that they should have cent per cent employment in whichever state such an establishment is set up, that is, not only in Grade III and IV but also maximum absorption in Grades I and II. The North East should be treated as a special economic zone, the organisation said.
The conference also unanimously adopted a resolution to demand for a Special Constitutional safeguard for Tripura with vast federal authority and said NESO and the people of North East will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the indigenous people of Tripura to protect and uplift their identity, culture with rights over land and natural resources.
Meanwhile, the NESO also reiterated its stand on many important issues that include implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in all the remaining states of North East, to conduct NRC in all the other remaining states of North East with a specific cut-off year according to the unique situation of that particular state. As the published updated NRC of Assam is not fully correct, there should be re-examination of the whole process of NRC of Assam, the organisation said.
The NESO also demanded the implementation of all provisions of the Assam Accord (1985) and for the implementation of the recommendation of the Committee on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord for Constitutional Safeguard. d) Repeal of the impunitive legislation like AFSPA.
It also demands the immediate repeal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and special constitutional status with rights over land and natural resources and a separate time zone for NE besides declaring flood and erosion of NE as a national problem.
The NESO further demanded settlement of the inter-state boundary, inclusion of the Kok Borok, Khasi and Garo language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The other new office bearers of the NESO for the term 2022-25 include Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya as chief advisor, Upendra Debbarma and Sinam Prakash Singh as advisors, Dipanka Kr Nath and Ricky Lalbiakmawia as vice chairmen, Mutsikhoyo Yhobo as secretary general, Manseng A. Sangma and Wangjam Sanatomba Meitei as assistant secretary generals, John Debbarma as finance secretary and Sanker Jyoti Baruah, Ejanthag Ngullie, Prikeshwar Moirangthem, Lalremruata Hlondo and Bikash Debbarma as coordinators.