Dimapur, November 13 (MExN): The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), representing eight of the most prominent and influential student movements across the seven North Eastern states of lndia, on November 13 called upon the Government of India seeking urgent intervention regarding the long-standing, unaddressed and escalating issue of illegal migration into the NE region.
In an update received here, it stated that the consequences of illegal migration have been devastating and that it was at the most alarming state, stating that ‘Tripura, where the indigenous people once the overwhelming majority, have now been reduced to a minority in their own ancestral land.
It stated that the problem has only deepened and Assam is witnessing the radical change in the demographic structure of the state. ‘This shift in demographics is not confined to one state- it is spilling over into others, notably into the plain belt areas of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, as well as other parts of the North East,’ it stated.
NESO stressed that this was not merely a political or administrative issue but it was a matter of survival to the indigenous communities of the North East.
The organisation claimed it had repeatedly placed the issue before the GoI, urging for concrete and sustained measure. However, it said, the responses have been inadequate, often limited to temporary and reactionary measures rather than comprehensive, long-term solutions.
It stated that the organisation remains committed to continuing its engagement with the Government of India to safeguard the future of the North East and its people from this illegal migration onslaught.
At the same time, the NESO urged the Government of India to implement strict measures for the immediate detection and deportation of illegal migrants, seal off the Indo-Bangla borber and strengthen border control and monitoring.
Likewise, it also called for the total exemptions of the applicability of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025 from the whole of the North Eastern.
It called for the implementation of the historic Assam Accord while providing Constitutional safeguard to the indigenous people of Assam and Tripura.
Furthermore, it urged the government to prepare National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the whole of North East with a specific base year according to the unique history of each State and to reexamine the NRC of Assam.
