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Kalam for SEZs in Meghalaya |
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The debate over setting up special economic zones (SEZs) on agricultural land may be growing increasingly bitter in view of the violent reaction in the neighbouring West Bengal, but President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has advocated the need for creating such exclusive zones in Meghalaya to transform it “into an economically prosperous state before 2017”.
In his first Presidential address to the state Assembly on March 16, Kalam said Meghalaya should have three SEZs. He suggested one in Shillong for farming of herbal, aromatic and ginger products. The second could be set up exclusively as a tourist attraction with waterfalls, an open museum of tribal culture, orchid and other floriculture farms and a science and technology park. The third SEZ will be centred around the mining of “special materials and associated products”, he said.
“Such SEZs are definitely possible in Meghalaya, where peace prevails and the people are tourist friendly,” Kalam said. He also conceded that it was important to identify “cultivable lands and dry lands” while setting up SEZs.
The President, who has earlier worked with nuclear scientists, was asked if he thought that extraction of uranium ore would pose a health hazard. Kalam said there were 10 nuclear reactors in the country using uranium and all of them have “a very good and clean safety record”.
President for speeding up the Naga peace process
Earlier, during his stay in Kohima, the President promised a delegation that he would impress upon the Centre and policy-makers to speed up the Naga peace process. Kalam gave this assurance to representatives of several Naga NGOs, who called on him at Raj Bhavan. They apprised him of the need to expedite the “almost” stalled Naga peace process between the Centre and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah).
“I’ll impress upon the government about the unique issue of Nagaland,” Kalam was quoted by Naga Students Federation general secretary K. Elu Ndang as saying.
The NSF leader said Kalam was informed that the Naga political talks with the Centre, almost 10 years old now, have not been making any headway. He claimed that the President has accepted the uniqueness of the Naga political problem, which has been dragging for more than 60 years.
The federation also sought the intervention of the President to ensure affiliation of schools in the four hill districts of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of School Education. The NSF alleged that the Meitei-dominated Manipur government was trying to impose that community’s script on the Nagas and distorting the facts of Naga history.
Addressing the Second Convocation Programme of the Nagaland University on March 15, the President showered praise on the youth of Nagaland.
“It’s a beautiful state where everyone shares a bond of friendship,” the President said. He said Nagaland was high on the priority list of India’s Look East Policy. The state had the potential to play an important role in India’s programme for a World Knowledge Platform, he added.
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