Prospects of International Border Trade in Arunachal Pradesh

From time immemorial we had never been so much dependent on others. But today, we are left at the mercy of the Indian Government.Why is it so? Didn't we traded with the people from the plains or beyond the so called International border(present day India with Bhuthan, China/Tibet and Myanmar). Absolutely, we did. The closing down of this border trade has made us totally dependent on the Indian Government, which is a policy outcome of the "Indian think-tanks".

Sometimes, its quite embrassing when ever an Indian questions, 'What is your contribution to the Indian State?' They don't realise that we are the protector of the longest International boundary of the Indian State having 160 Km with Bhutan, 1080 Km with China/Tibet and a stretch of 540 Kms with Myanmar. Above all, our economy have been totally uprooted by the Indian Government by closing down the International trade, so that we be dependent on them. This is nothing, but something comes behind it.

We are contributing to the Indian Economy in the other way round. In what way? On behalf of us, the Indian coastal states are contributing as they are the one who are benefitting a lot out of the closure of our Border Trade which we had been practising since ancient times. The "Look East Policy" of the Indian Government is one such important example through which the coastal states have benefitted a lot, which in real sense should had been ours. Therefore, the Inernational Border Trade should be opened so that we no longer remain under the clutches of Indian Hegemony.

As such, the proposal brought out by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in regard to the International Border Trade is a wel come gesture.Following are the proposed border trade points/centres as put up by the Arunachal Pradesh Government(North East Sun, November 16-30, 2007, Vol XIII, No. 08, p.10.)-

-Pangsu Pass (Nampong) in Changlang District(Indo-Myanmar border)
-Kibithoo in Anjaw District (Indo-China border)
-Kepangla Pass(Gelling) in Upper Siang District(Indo-China border)
-Lolla Pass(Mechuka) in West Siang District (Indo-China)
-Dumla Pass( Monigong) in West Siang District(Indo-China).
-Taksing in Upper Subansiri District(Indo-China).
-Bumla and Kenzamane (Zeminthang) in Tawang District(Indo-China border).
-Bleeting (Namstering)/Dongshengmang in Tawang District(Indo-Bhutan).

But a big question that lies to be answered is "Who is going to control all the trade?" It's "we" or someone else. When present day trade in our state is controlled by the outsiders, "What do we expect?"

Reference

North East Sun, "Khandu on Look East Policy", November 16-30, 2007, Vol XIII, No.08, p.10.