Regulation of Open Border with India Essential

May 23, 2001
2 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

Birgunj, April May 18. The Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) organized a one-day seminar on “Nepal-India Open Border: Positive and Negative Aspects” in close cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).

Working papers related to the said theme was presented by Dr. Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar, Chairman, Central Department of Geography, Tribhuvan University. The basic objectives of the seminar, being conducted in series, were to collect feed-backs on both positive and negative aspects of open border syndrome and furnish appropriate measures to control negative aspects, such as cross border smuggling, drug peddling, girl trafficking, terrorism and other anti-social aspects while promoting mutuality of interests as well as healthy social, economic and cultural cooperation between the people of Nepal and India.

Among the three options, such as sealing of the long and porous border, regulating the border and maintaining status quo, consensus emerged in the proper management of border through proper regulatory frameworks. Participants also viewed that before the management of border, the problem of citizenship of the people of Terai must be solved, ID card for all the cross border visitors must be introduced including the registration of their names and addresses, the purpose of visit and the location of their activities.

Participants attending the one-day seminar were from the sectors such as, for example, security, revenue, immigration, district administration, elected representatives, business community, representatives of all the major political parties, lawyers, etc. The IFA had organized similar types of interaction programs in Nepalgunj and very recently in Biratnagar.

The last round of interaction program will take place in Kathmandu next month, revealed the organizers.