To,
Shri Narendra Modiji
Honourable Prime Minister of India
Respected Sir,
I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your visionary
leadership and tireless dedication to the nation. As we approach the upcoming
Lok Sabha elections, I offer some humble suggestions and feedback aimed at the
betterment of our beloved nation. I am deeply appreciative of your continued
commitment to guiding India towards a prosperous future, and I pray for your
long-lasting health and success in leading our nation forward.
However, it grieves me to observe that none of the political
parties across India seem to prioritize crucial matters such as ecological
preservation, environmental sustainability, and national security. These issues
demand urgent attention for the welfare and safeguarding of our nation and its
citizens. Therefore, I present the following suggestions for your esteemed
consideration:
1. The 1600 kms plus international border between India and
Myanmar in the NE India is according to my mind the soft belly of India. It is
vulnerable to future planned military attacks by China or to China sponsored
anti-India infiltration or insurgency in the highly sensitive region. It is one
of the highest points of human trafficking, wildlife and wildlife body parts
trafficking, illegal arms and ammunition and drug trafficking, hotbed of
insurgency, rampant illegal immigration and infiltration to and from India. The
sensitive Indo-Myanmar border areas are simply unguarded and unprotected; and
susceptible to antisocial and antinational activities. The Government of India
(GOI) needs to take urgent measures to protect the border, increase monitoring
and surveillance at multiple levels to ensure security and safety and establish
the rule of the law. It is extremely
important to increase the ground activity of customs and immigration
departments here; as well as increase highly coordinated intelligence network
to improve and enhance the security of the region.
2. Three illegal wildlife trafficking corridors are
operating in India and needs immediate attention of the GOI, namely the
Siliguri corridor (West Bengal), the Indo-Myanmar illegal border cross points
(Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram) and the Indo- Bangladesh
illegal border cross points (West Bangal, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram). The
other important wildlife trafficking area is the numerous creeks and channels
of the Sunderban mangrove forest areas between India (West Bengal) and neighbouring
Bangladesh. All these above flash point areas are also vulnerable to extensive
smuggling of contraband commodities, drugs, weapons, fake currencies and
rampant human trafficking particularly women and children. The GOI needs to
take numerous bold steps to secure these fringe areas both for forest and
biodiversity conservation as well as for the purpose of national security.
3. Honey bees, wild bees and other biological (natural)
pollinators are showing alarming decline around the planet, India is not immune
to these challenges. It is therefore important to establish numerous small,
medium and large Pollinator Sanctuaries and Bee Gardens across the nation in
both agricultural areas and non- agronomically suitable areas, forests, fringe
forest areas, unused spaces in rural and urban localities, social forest areas,
along and adjacent to different water bodies (irrigation canals, ponds, swamps,
ditches, pools, lakes, bogs, streams, waterfalls, rivers, rivulets, tributaries
and distributaries).
4. Establishing a modern para military Forest Protection
Force in the line of CISF for the purpose of protection of the vast unprotected
areas of Indian forests from hunters and poachers, infiltrators, land sharks,
illegal immigrants and refugees,
insurgents, terrorists and anti social elements taking refuge in our
forests with special emphasis to sensitive inter state boundaries and
international borders. It will contribute both to successful biodiversity conservation
and our national security. Better salary and insurance packages for forest
guards.
5. Need for various national agencies to work together on a
common platform for collecting ground data, collecting specimens and samples,
conducting joint surveys, preparing resource and political maps, sharing and gathering intelligence, inputs,
suggestions and feedbacks from one another. These include State and Central
security and intelligence agencies, Forest, Environment, Health and Rural
Development departments, Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India,
Geological Survey of India, Anthropological Survey of India, Archaeological
Survey of India etc for better, high quality and comprehensive data, various
maps, specimens, samples, photo and video documentations as well as creation of
national databases on our current available natural bioresources. There is need
for coordination, cooperation, collaboration and communication (4Cs) between
these important organizations.
6. Need for documenting money frauds and various financial
scams happening across the country and book those involved under the law and
punish them for their economic crimes.
7. Strengthening the existing environmental legislations of
the country by amending them according to the present circumstantial needs.
8. Continue working and investing on the infrastructure of
the nation for future economic growth.
9. Establishing Universal Health Care for the entire nation
across all States and Union Territories.
10. Continuing the work on education, awareness and
sensitivity about local, regional and global ecological and environmental
issues among students belonging to primary, secondary and tertiary levels of
education as well as for the general public.
11. Opportunity of school education for all.
12. Funding and
developing shelters, accommodation and residence for homeless and land less
people, marginal labourers, rural and urban poor (below poverty levels), legal
immigrants and refugees, destitute, beggars, bats and other underprivileged
section if our society.
13. Strict rules and penalty for railway drivers traveling
above the prescribed speed limits in forested areas and responsible for animal
deaths due to railway collisions.
14. Work towards reducing human-animal conflicts in
vulnerable areas through application of 4C principals between Central and State
agencies, Inter- and Intra- State agencies and governments as well as between
Indian and neighbouring country governments for joint monitoring and
surveillance of forest areas along international borders.
15. Establishing Joint Forest Management, Security,
Conservation and Protection between India, Pakistan, China, Tibet, Nepal,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives where applicable.
Thanking you
Sincerely yours
SAIKAT KUMAR BASU
378, Prince Anwar Shah Road
Kolkata 700045 West Bengal
Mobile: 8697491914
WhatsApp: 8697491914
Email: saikat.basu@alumni.uleth.ca
