The Northeast has added another feather to its cap: 36 north-eastern women have been included in the first ever all-women combat force, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). The strength of this elite force is 40. So the north-eastern dominance in this newly constituted force is unquestionable. If one takes into account the tough selection process and rigorous training regime that goes into constituting such elite forces, it is not a mean achievement. It clearly shows that women from the north-eastern region are well ahead in physical fitness, stamina, and sharpness than generally those from other regions of the country. Hope SWAT will earn laurels in the future and make the Northeast proud. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is hopeful about the new force. The Union minister is of the view that the force would perform its assigned tasks with ease, and successfully. The SWAT has been specially trained to thwart terror strikes besides engaging in jungle warfare. Besides, the new combat force has been trained to handle VVIP security and hostage rescue. SWAT members have been trained in India and abroad. Out of the 36 personnel from the Northeast in the force, 13 are from Assam, while five each are from Arunachal, Manipur, and Sikkim; Meghalaya (four), Nagaland (two), Mizoram (one) and Tripura (one). It’s a pity that the region has had to wait for more than seven decades after Independence to show its might to the nation. It is not because that the north-easterners lacked courage or talent. There was no dearth of such strength in the region’s character. The truth lies in the fact that north-easterners never had proper opportunities. As a matter of fact no one informed the people of the region that such scopes were available. Many may blame the geographical distance or even lack of communication as the reasons for the failure to ensure opportunities for the people of the region. The bitter truth is that the so-called ‘mainlanders’ never thought of involving the region in the nation building process. They never failed to talk about the unrest in the region and never recognised the fact that the apathy itself was causing trouble in the Northeast. Delhi has always tried to solve the problems of the region by force than by development. It has never tried to create employment avenues for the youths of the Northeast. Delhi was never sincere in checking infiltration from across the border, which effectively made the region more backward. Delhi’s policy toward the Northeast all these years was confined to mere lip-service and knee-jerk reactions. In this context, credit should be given to the north-easterners that they have taken everything in to their stride and came out victorious in a battle, which heavily favored the ‘mainlanders.’ These days it is next to impossible to ignore the region in any sphere be it in education, culture, sports and even politics. The north-easterners are visible everywhere. But at the same time, people of the region should keep in mind that this is only a partial victory. The real victory is still to be achieved. The real victory will come the day when the mainlanders ask the region to take the lead in nation building. North-easterners will be an integral part of every decision that would be taken in the interest of the country. The tag of ‘trouble makers’ has successfully been removed. From now onward, the fight will be to earn the reputation of a ‘nation maker.’
