NE cannot be controlled from Delhi: Lyngdoh

Shillong, Sep 1 (UNI) Asserting that everything cannot be controlled from Delhi former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh today urged the Centre to reopen the traditional trade routes in the North Eastern states with neigbouring countries for the region's economic development.

''You cannot control everything from the Delhi and if the region has to develop, it is through these traditional trade routes with Bangladesh, Tibet and other neighbouring countries,'' Mr Lyngdoh said at a press briefing here after inaugurating the Alpha foundation school for the economically weaker sections of students in Shillong.

Pointing out that most of these trade routes had been cut off after partition, Mr Lyngdoh said the Union government should revive these trade routes rather than continuing pumping crore of rupees to the region.

Mr Lyngdoh, who was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for holding free and fair elections, expressed concerns over the government withdrawing themselves from setting up more educational institutions.

''Educational institutions set up by private sectors across the country would surely affect the middle class family because of its exorbitant fees structure,'' he said.

He added that ''this is a serious problem and it is inevitable that most of the children will remain uneducated and they will be prone to crimes even to the extend of compelling them to join the militant groups.'' UNI RRK KK JT UCS2113